TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
The annual bike auction and “Spoke Speak” event lets students talk directly to administration about bike-related concerns and buy impounded bikes in an auction run by Student Government and the Environmental Conservation Organization.
Bikes that were impounded in the fall semester are auctioned off every year as a way of giving back to the student body.
This year SG teamed up with ECO to give students the opportunity to speak with director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation Gary Graham, manager of Facility Services Brad Silva and assistant director of Facility Services Jason Soileau at the event about bike-related issues.
“This is a great opportunity to let the administration know what facilities need updating,” said Moshe Cohen, bike auctioneer and mathematics graduate student. “They are coming to the students instead of letting the students come to them.”
Money from the auction will be earmarked for bike-related services and the Bike Committee, comprised of SG and ECO members and any other student who wants to join, will decide how to use it.
“We want to see funds go to revolving bike funds,” said ECO President Katie Peterson. “Last year the money went toward bike pumps and the fix-it station.”
Facility Services is in the process of evaluating the need for bike facilities like racks and pumps on campus by breaking down campus into bike districts. The department determines exactly how many bike parking spots are needed based on 5 percent of the occupancies of buildings in the district.
Phase one of the Bike Facilities Master Plan, the program dedicated to updating bike facilities, is expected to be finished by mid-November. Phase two will be bid on in the spring.
Soileau said the bike racks for phase one will cost approximately $150,000.
“Right now the quad has 536 bike spots,” Silva said. “We’re going to put in 240 more in the spring, and that will complete the quad.”
Facility Services is also working on Easy Streets phase two, which will feature bike lanes, Soileau said.
“Bike use has exploded,” said Soileau. “We’re promoting education about rules, biking facilities and a pedestrian campus…this is what the students want.”
An increase in biking could ease campus problems such as traffic congestion and parking shortages. Graham said one goal of the Bike Facilities Master Plan is to provide forms of alternative transportation to students.
“It’s cheaper to build 100 bike spaces than 100 parking spaces for cars,” Graham said. “The bus system is the main alternative transportation, but bike-friendly campus will provide more options.”
In addition to safety, an increase in biking means a more sustainable campus. Peterson said ECO has been in charge of the bike auction for the past four years and has promoted the event to give back to students while protecting the environment.
“The bike auction gives students transportation that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases,” Peterson said. “It’s also healthier for the students and by auctioning off impounded bikes we’re recycling what would’ve gone to waste.”
The auction fills a need for students, who use bikes to commute from several miles away or to get around campus more efficiently. They also find getting a bike at the auction is easier financially.
“All of my classes are back-to-back, and it’s nice to get to them on time,” said political science sophomore Emory Roane.
”We’re getting cheap bikes and giving back to the organizations that do this,” said Abdul Mannan, a graduate student. “It’s more feasible for students than buying a new bike.”
Bike week ends Saturday, but the push for change and resulting improvement for campus bike-riders won’t stop there, Graham said.
“This all contributes to making campus safer and more pedestrian friendly,” Graham said. “It will be an on-going project.”
