Let the wheels keep turning for students who bike to class as there are proposed plans to install additional bicycle racks on campus, according to Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management John Shupe.
Shupe said there are about 50 places so far where riders can chain up their bicycles with another dozen to be installed. Some students offered their suggestions as to where they think the bicycle racks should go to best serve the campus community.
Third-year graphic design major Kristin Scheff said when she lived in Bevier Hall and went to Hasbrouck Dining the bike racks would always be full.
“[There should be] more underneath the overhang outside of Bevier…There’s only one bike rack underneath and another can fit,” she said. “It [would] stop the bikes from getting wet.”
Scheff said she usually chained her bike to a nearby tree due to the limited amount of space.
Meanwhile, Muge Turegun, general business major, took a different approach and said more racks should be installed at the “backside of the buildings.” She also suggested placing racks around some of the lampposts as that’s where students tend to park their bicycles.
“If there was more [bike] parking, it [would] be better,” Turegun said.
Clare Ford, fourth-year history major, had her bike stolen twice outside her residence hall while it was placed on the bicycle racks. Despite this, she said that generally students are protective of their bikes and she supports the installation of more bicycle racks. She said she’d like to see more additions “outside the [Sojourner Truth] Library, by Humanities and the art buildings.”
“A lot of kids ride their bikes, [it is] definitely a bike-friendly town,” she said.
Ford said her friend’s bike was stolen outside of the library when it was locked up near bike rack. Again, like Scheff’s situation, Ford said there wasn’t enough space.
Still, those leaving their bikes docked to non-designated areas, on trees or lampposts, will have their locks cut, said Shupe, but first they will be given “sticker” warnings.
According to the New York City Department of Transportation, commuter cycling has increased 26 percent from 2008 to 2009, and has more than doubled since 2005. About 90 miles away, New York City bicycle commuting has doubled from 2007 to 2011, with the city’s intention to triple that number by 2017.
The Office of Student Affairs Student Handbook for 2011 is largely silent on the topic of bicycles and bicycle racks on campus.