You would probably have good luck on Knoxblab

http://funhouserock.com/funhouse/blab/index.php

Will you be renting or buying?
Do you want an apartment, condo, house?

There is a University of Tennesse student community in Fort Sanders area (right at the UT campus). Apartments and condos. Safe? Don't know.

There is Maplehurst Park, right next to campus. Very small neighborhood of apartments in old houses. Safe? Maybe, probably.

There is South Knoxville, right across the river from downtown and the University (two or three miles). Apartments and small rental houses. Safe? Mostly.

Specifically, there is the Island Home area of South Knoxville, right across the river from downtown and the University (two or three miles). Small rental houses. Safe? Think so.

There is Sequoyah Hills, down the street from the University (two or three miles). More upscale. Great green areas along the river. Has a dog park (no fence). Limited apartments, rental condos, and small houses. Safe? Think so.

There is downtown Knoxville (within 1/2 to 1 mile). Condo rentals, maybe apartments, not sure. Very little green space. Safe? Probably.

Vibrant? Definition: pulsating with vigor and energy; lively:
the vibrant life of a large city.
Don't know what to say about this. Some say downtown. Maybe you should visit for several days (weekend and two week days).

Bike friendly? Knoxville is not all that bike friendly. There are bike trails here and there. If you are biking to a destination via streets, Knoxville is not bike friendly.

Well, smalc, the person was trying to have a conversaion here, thread hijacker! (But that's correct, the folks over at the Knox Blab will be helpful.)

To the original poster, a couple of years ago a journalism professor moving to UT from Boston asked the same thing. He ended up in the Maplehurst community that bizgrrl mentioned earlier, and seems to like it for the most part. It's near the campus and downtown (biking/walking distance). You might be able to contact him through his website linked above, and he might be able to give you the skinny on that neighborhood, and the other neighborhoods he looked at and what he found. Bizgrrl pretty much runs down the rest of your options. Let us know if you want more details. And welcome to East Tennessee!

Fountain City is pretty nice (pretty active community, wonderful public park and duck pond, up-and-coming shops and specialty niche boutiques). Also Old North Knoxville (lots of older Victorian style houses that people are fixing up). South Knoxville has a lot to offer as well (established neighborhoods, close to downtown and UT, reasonable prices, not as crowded as West Knoxville). West Knoxville is a little pricier, but has some nice bike trails in the Cherokee Boulevard/Sequoyah Hills area. Most biking right now by necessity has to take place on the road, but we're working on getting bike trails...the current mayor of Knoxville, Bill Haslam is a bike rider so that is helpful, even if he is a Republican...

They did just open a dog park, but for the life of me I can't remember where it is. I must be gettin' senile. LOL 

Honestly, any area of town has it's attractive features and it's blemishes too. The worst problem that affects any resident north, south, east, or west is the constant construction of the interstates and roads. Getting across town takes patience, perseverance, and fuel. 

"You can't fix stupid..." Ron White

Will also add the Westwood neighborhood, just off Kingston Pike. 4-5 miles to campus, close to bus line. Very convenient to just about everything you would need. Some rental houses. Safe? Think so.

I live in Island Home Park (on the south side of the river, approx. 2 1/2 miles upstream from downtown).  My husband bikes to work downtown, and a UT professor down the street from us bikes to work at UT.  There's really a pretty decent route from here to there, although in general Knoxville's not very bike friendly.

If you're looking to rent, there's a very nice smallish house for rent in the 'hood.  Several for sale too, although they're larger.

Mutulj, not sure what you meant by the remark on Craigslist usage. All my comment meant was that I have gotten very used to the Craigslist community, and it is very underutilized in comparison to Fort Collins.

Gemini-could you send me the info about the place you saw for rent in your neighborhoos? Thx, M