ASI government considers possible bicycle trail addition

By Brooke Karli
Daily Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

Have you ever caught yourself dodging a rocket-speeding cyclist as you are trying to answer your phone, finish your coffee and get to class all at the same time? If so, you are one of many who experience the frustrations of on-campus transportation.

Last year, a group of Cal State Long Beach Associated Students Incorporated officials traveled to see UC Santa Barbara's on-campus bike trail, hoping to add a comparable path to accommodate the students and cyclists at the Beach. It was recognized that UCSB students trek through campus primarily by bike, even offering on-campus services for damaged bikes. For such a campus community.

Currently, the ASI is at the drawing board deciding whether or not a bike trail would benefit Cal State Long Beach students, and to see if it would fit within budget constraints.

Like any other developing project, there lies a list of pros and cons. Students would benefit from paved sidewalks specialized for bikes only, campus obstacles such as steep hills and shallow stairs would be easily avoided and parking congestion could lessen.

While the positives seem endless, the negatives are costly. Bicycle racks would need to be installed to provide security and a secure route to the CSULB campus has yet to be mapped out according to city standards and regulations. Also approximately eight feet of concrete would be added to an already paved campus, taking away from its beautiful landscape.

Beyond the cons already attached to the project is the competition of a future recreation center which has been brewing as a complement on campus for the last few years.

"Ultimately, what gets added onto our campus, whether it's a recreation center or a bike trail, depends on the best interest of the students and faculty here at Long Beach
State," said Erik Jolliff, ASI vice president. He said that the most beneficial of the projects to the student body is what will be chosen. For example, if only 20 percent of students would gain from having an on-campus bike trial while 80 percent would make more use out of a recreation center, the majority wins.

Jolliff said another thing to keep in mind is the additional costs that would be added to tuition for either project. "Students want to get their money's worth and benefit from what they are paying for." "I rode a bike around campus my freshman year, and it benefited me then, but it wouldn't necessarily help me out now."

In the case of adding a bike trial, a parking refund would also be available to those who have paid for a parking permit, but have switched to cycling to and from school. April Olaes of the Parking and Transportation Office says "you can receive a refund of up to 75 percent by a certain deadline, up to 50 percent by a different deadline, and 25 percent by the last possible deadline."

Jessica Blair, a junior at CSULB, said "adding a bike trail would be convenient for me. I currently park off campus and hike to and through campus to avoid unreasonable permit prices and having to fight for a parking space. It would be nice to be able to completely ride through campus on my bike rather than having to frequently stop and walk it."

Eventually, contacts will be made and surveys handed out in order to gain the interests, opinions and votes given by students to determine what advances to a blue print. Contacts will consist of the two senators from each of the seven colleges e-mailing organizations such as Long Beach State clubs, athletics and Greek societies to get a diverse response. In the end, the ASI Senate will vote upon the propositions and elaborate the plans of the winning choice.