How much do you expect to spend on a bike? Gear? Insurance? Winter storage? Maintenance and tools (I doubt you're buying new)? Not to be rude, but even a Ivy League art school graduate student must be dirt poor, kinda goes with the territory.

Even a 250 or 500 Kawasaki Ninja or Suzuki TU250 is gonna be a few grand used with a question mark for vehicle history. I would get yourself a decent 12 speed rigid frame mountain bike and toss on some slicks and bomb that around town.

And for the record, I had both my motorcycle and bicycle stolen while living in town. It's not an if but a when.