2008 Woodie Awards
Students back to biking
By Jeffrey Roman
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Features
They are seen around cruising around campus at top speeds. They are parked in front of every residence hall, and they are helping to get anxious students to class on time. They are popping up more frequently, and you can't go a day without seeing one while strolling around campus. It's official: Bikes are back.
The College has recently seen a renaissance in bicycle riding on campus over the past few years, with more students riding instead of walking to get around. And that surge doesn't seem to be fading.
According to a Rutgers University study, bicycle riding has doubled over the past two decades, with more of an initiative being taken nationwide to produce new bicycle lanes in public areas and to add more bicycle racks near buildings and schools.
The recent increase in gas prices across the nation has been one of the major factors in increased bicycle popularity.
A Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia report showed the city had seen a significant increase in bike riding throughout the metropolitan area, and said those who ride bikes get to work much faster because they avoid traffic and overall congestion in the streets.
But what is it putting more students behind the handle bars at the College?
"It's a convenient way to get around faster," Tom Pagnotta, junior business administration major, said. "It helps if I'm running late to class or if I have to run all over campus."
Pagnotta started riding around campus last year.
"I started riding because it seemed to take forever to walk to class, walk back, and if I forgot something it would take forever to walk all the way back to my dorm and grab it … so I decided that I would bring my bike from home," Pagnotta said.
However, there are some concerns for those who decide to ride their bikes around campus.
"It is hard to find a place to park your bike, especially around high-traffic areas," Pagnotta said. "It's a little bit of an inconvenience to have to secure it to a bench or guard-rail."
With the bike riding trend becoming more prevalent, some are questioning whether the College has sufficient parking for bike riders. In front of the dorms, there is usually one bike rack, which can hold approximately five bikes.
Some students have started to lock up their bikes inside the dorms' main lounges. Signs in the Norsworthy main lounge forbid bikes to be chained to the railings.
Earlier this month, SGA asked for more ideas concerning additional bike racks on campus.
So what about those students who still walk around campus, taking the longer alternative in getting from point A to point B? According to Pagnotta, "If they have a bike, I'd say it's a quick and convenient way to get around."
The College has recently seen a renaissance in bicycle riding on campus over the past few years, with more students riding instead of walking to get around. And that surge doesn't seem to be fading.
According to a Rutgers University study, bicycle riding has doubled over the past two decades, with more of an initiative being taken nationwide to produce new bicycle lanes in public areas and to add more bicycle racks near buildings and schools.
The recent increase in gas prices across the nation has been one of the major factors in increased bicycle popularity.
A Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia report showed the city had seen a significant increase in bike riding throughout the metropolitan area, and said those who ride bikes get to work much faster because they avoid traffic and overall congestion in the streets.
But what is it putting more students behind the handle bars at the College?
"It's a convenient way to get around faster," Tom Pagnotta, junior business administration major, said. "It helps if I'm running late to class or if I have to run all over campus."
Pagnotta started riding around campus last year.
"I started riding because it seemed to take forever to walk to class, walk back, and if I forgot something it would take forever to walk all the way back to my dorm and grab it … so I decided that I would bring my bike from home," Pagnotta said.
However, there are some concerns for those who decide to ride their bikes around campus.
"It is hard to find a place to park your bike, especially around high-traffic areas," Pagnotta said. "It's a little bit of an inconvenience to have to secure it to a bench or guard-rail."
With the bike riding trend becoming more prevalent, some are questioning whether the College has sufficient parking for bike riders. In front of the dorms, there is usually one bike rack, which can hold approximately five bikes.
Some students have started to lock up their bikes inside the dorms' main lounges. Signs in the Norsworthy main lounge forbid bikes to be chained to the railings.
Earlier this month, SGA asked for more ideas concerning additional bike racks on campus.
So what about those students who still walk around campus, taking the longer alternative in getting from point A to point B? According to Pagnotta, "If they have a bike, I'd say it's a quick and convenient way to get around."
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