Campus To Become More Bike-Friendly.
May 3rd, 2009 | by Clay Gump | Published in Bicycles, On Campus Development, Transportation | 2 Comments
You see anyplace for a bike? I've lost track of how many times I've been squeezed into that curb going to work or a game. Where is the love for our carbon-free friends?
The Campus Department of Transportation solicited a eight month study to determine the best way to improve bike ridership on campus. This Gazette Article reports the details.
A university survey found that 5 percent of respondents rode their bikes on campus. J. David Allen, director of the university’s Department of Transportation Services, said he’d like to get that number up to 9 percent.
The campaign would address the many obstacles — too few curb ramps and marked bike lanes, narrow trails and a lack of parking — that hinder on-campus riders.
“There are these little things that will discourage people from biking,” Allen said. “We want to eliminate as many of these things as possible.”
I can tell you from years of personal experience that UMCP is certainly not the most bike-friendly campus and DOTS should be applauded for taking steps to improve. 9 percent is still a dismal number but it is a step in the right direction.
Another contributor to RTCP says.
“I think you’re not casting your net wide enough,” said Councilman Robert Catlin (Dist. 2).
Preach on Brother Bob, preach on.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm (#)
easy – don’t let cars on campus.
Sound crazy?
I went to school in western MA, and none of the five colleges in my town allowed cars on any of the campuses. In fact, the first time I went to college park I was shocked that there were cars on the campus, because to me that was actually a novel concept.
Amazingly, the campuses functioned just fine without cars on them. People just brought bicycles or walked instead. I never even thoughough twice about it. Shocking, I know!
May 8th, 2009 at 9:11 am (#)
I spent a week at Berkeley a few years ago and was so impressed with how they handled different modes of transportation. The main avenue was closed to personal vehicles but they had the barriers that automatically lowered for campus shuttles.