A decent commuter bike for $250 or less?

Question

i need a new one for college and I'm broke.

Answer 1

For college, a good second-hand bike would be the way to go.

Not to shiny-new looking as to tempt thieve's & quality, reliable components so it will last.

It's possible to find a reasonable brand (Trek, Giant etc) for that money - perhraps a mountain bike or a hybrid.

Or maybe a retro road-bike. With a little maintance, they are built to last, and are less likely to go "missing" on campus.

Check out Craiglists, your nearby bike shops etc, you never know what you might find.