Campus bicyclists will be able to clean up 'n' lock up
BY ANNE BURKE
UCLA Today Staff
UCLA isn’t just spinning its wheels when it comes to two-wheel
transit. The campus is becoming more bicycle-friendly, with new
racks, shower facilities for riders and storage lockers.
Staff and faculty bicycle riders may now purchase Commuter Passports
entitling them to use showers and lockers at the Student Activity
Center on Bruin Plaza and Fit Center South near the Capital Programs
Building. Cost is $20 per calendar year for shower access or $40
per year for lockers and showers.
New bike racks have been installed at Engineering I, the Factor
Building and the Strathmore Building. More racks should be installed
during coming months.
For pedalers concerned about security, Transportation Services
(TS) is purchasing several bicycle storage lockers. These lockable
structures will soon be available for a nominal rental fee at various
campus parking structures, said Sam Corbett, TS planning and analysis
manager.
Riders may now register their bicycles at the UCLA Police Department
at 601 Westwood Plaza. Registration, which is optional, improves
chances that a recovered bicycle will be returned to its owner.
Bike-friendly changes come partly in response to an online survey
of the bike community recently conducted by TS. About 1,700 cyclists
responded, an impressive number given that only 1% to 2% of UCLA
employees and 2% to 3% of students ride bicycles to campus, Corbett
said.
About two dozen Bruin bicyclists showed up at a Dec. 2 meeting
conducted by TS to collect ideas about ways to make the campus more
hospitable to cyclists. In the audience was Chris Norlin, an administrative
compliance coordinator, who quit riding his bicycle to work about
a year ago and now takes the bus.
“For me, the big issue is safety; having to compete with
the SUVs is a real challenge,” said Norlin, a 10-year UCLA
employee.
Corbett hopes that the new improvements — and those planned
for the future — will persuade riders like Norlin to get back
on their bikes.
For the first time ever, the university is developing a campus
bicycle plan. The document will serve as a blueprint for improving
bike conditions on campus for years to come.
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