Riders' laziness led to decision to move racks to edges of campus
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Letters
When visiting students walk around our Quad this fall, they see lots of tall, gorgeous old trees - with bikes locked to them. I am writing in regards to the article in the Sept. 22 issue of the Index, "Relocated racks frustrate some student cyclists." I am frustrated also. I am frustrated that our campus looks cluttered and tacky because Truman students are so darn lazy. For a school like ours with so many intelligent students, people sure are acting stupid. Bike racks were relocated this summer with the hopes that students who choose to commute from off campus to class would park on the peripherals of the campus and then walk to class. However, students apparently are too lazy to park a bicycle behind either Baldwin or McClain halls and walk in the back door.
Our campus is only 140 acres in size. A student can walk from one side to another in ten minutes or less. And most students do. Walk, that is. This was the driving cause behind the decision by the administration to move the bicycle racks. The sidewalks on our campus aren't built for pedestrians and cyclists to share. At peak traffic times during the day, like between classes, I can't imagine why any student would want to be on a bike. There simply is no room and you end up creeping behind students (or clipping them) and causing more problems than if you had simply rode your bike around a few buildings and parked. I will not even entertain the issue of a student wishing to ride their bike from, say, Ryle Hall to Baldwin. Give me a break.
To prove my point that the underlying cause here is laziness, I will offer an example. One late afternoon last week, I walked out of Pershing Building and saw between ten and 15 bikes all locked to fences. I'll admit, the closest bike rack was rather full. However, about 50 yards away was another bike rack that was only half-full. Apparently our student-athletes also cannot be inconvenienced to walk a block to park.
I applaud the environmental advisory committee and Tom Johnson, the director of Public Safety. I agree that students should be willing to understand the rules regarding bikes and comply voluntarily. And if they refuse, I would be more than happy to pin on a badge and start issuing tickets for laziness.
Meghan Doherty
Senior
Our campus is only 140 acres in size. A student can walk from one side to another in ten minutes or less. And most students do. Walk, that is. This was the driving cause behind the decision by the administration to move the bicycle racks. The sidewalks on our campus aren't built for pedestrians and cyclists to share. At peak traffic times during the day, like between classes, I can't imagine why any student would want to be on a bike. There simply is no room and you end up creeping behind students (or clipping them) and causing more problems than if you had simply rode your bike around a few buildings and parked. I will not even entertain the issue of a student wishing to ride their bike from, say, Ryle Hall to Baldwin. Give me a break.
To prove my point that the underlying cause here is laziness, I will offer an example. One late afternoon last week, I walked out of Pershing Building and saw between ten and 15 bikes all locked to fences. I'll admit, the closest bike rack was rather full. However, about 50 yards away was another bike rack that was only half-full. Apparently our student-athletes also cannot be inconvenienced to walk a block to park.
I applaud the environmental advisory committee and Tom Johnson, the director of Public Safety. I agree that students should be willing to understand the rules regarding bikes and comply voluntarily. And if they refuse, I would be more than happy to pin on a badge and start issuing tickets for laziness.
Meghan Doherty
Senior