Bike system requires earlier rental times, helmet availability
Crystal Marshall
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Opinion
Two Saturdays ago, my roommate and I resisted the temptation to sleep in and instead stumbled out of bed to meet with five other girls for what promised to be a fun morning bike ride to a breakfast café on the outskirts of Hillsdale. Since neither my roommate nor I brought bikes to campus, we headed up to the Grewcock Student Union around 8:30 a.m. in order to rent bikes, having done so for a previous outing to Wal-Mart.
For several minutes we wandered through the union, searching for anyone who would be able to unlock the rental bikes, but to no avail. We considered delaying our excursion until we discovered, on a crumpled sign next to the bikes, that the bikes were not available for renting until 1 p.m. that afternoon. Eventually we made do with what we had, with five girls riding bikes and two girls running alongside, having to forego our original breakfast place in favor of a closer option.
For those of us who don't have bikes, the rental bikes are a much-needed transportation, whether for a trip to the grocery store or for a relaxing ride on country roads. But the rental system needs revision to really benefit students.
Currently, students can rent bikes Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. While the 9 p.m. deadline is reasonable, the bikes need to be available at an earlier time, perhaps 8 a.m. This is a viable time; contrary to stereotypes, many college students are early risers who would prefer to get errands done or squeeze in some exercise before classes on weekdays, or before afternoon activities on the weekends.
However, student monitors would need to be available to supervise the rentals and collect student IDs as collateral. Budget and time constraints might not make this possible, so the implementation of a second option-an honor system-would be the best solution.
Before entering Hillsdale College, each of us signed the Honor Code, promising to pursue an exemplary life void of lying, cheating, or stealing. This allows students to leave their backpacks outside of Saga and their computers unattended without fear.
If the bike locks and keys were made available in the union, students could rent a bike any time of the day or night by signing a form with their name and phone number, indicating when they took the bike and at what time they would return it. This convenient system would demonstrate the high level of integrity among the student body.
Another issue is the lack of helmets. We may be Hillsdale College students, but our intellectual superiority, conservative values, and winning football team won't decrease our chances of suffering a bike crash-which could cause student injury and college liability. Helmet use should not be mandatory, but that option should be available for those who still wisely follow their mothers' advice.
These two changes: switching to an honors system and making helmets available, would benefit many students. Returning to campus after a Saturday morning pancake breakfast is much easier to do biking than running.
For several minutes we wandered through the union, searching for anyone who would be able to unlock the rental bikes, but to no avail. We considered delaying our excursion until we discovered, on a crumpled sign next to the bikes, that the bikes were not available for renting until 1 p.m. that afternoon. Eventually we made do with what we had, with five girls riding bikes and two girls running alongside, having to forego our original breakfast place in favor of a closer option.
For those of us who don't have bikes, the rental bikes are a much-needed transportation, whether for a trip to the grocery store or for a relaxing ride on country roads. But the rental system needs revision to really benefit students.
Currently, students can rent bikes Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. While the 9 p.m. deadline is reasonable, the bikes need to be available at an earlier time, perhaps 8 a.m. This is a viable time; contrary to stereotypes, many college students are early risers who would prefer to get errands done or squeeze in some exercise before classes on weekdays, or before afternoon activities on the weekends.
However, student monitors would need to be available to supervise the rentals and collect student IDs as collateral. Budget and time constraints might not make this possible, so the implementation of a second option-an honor system-would be the best solution.
Before entering Hillsdale College, each of us signed the Honor Code, promising to pursue an exemplary life void of lying, cheating, or stealing. This allows students to leave their backpacks outside of Saga and their computers unattended without fear.
If the bike locks and keys were made available in the union, students could rent a bike any time of the day or night by signing a form with their name and phone number, indicating when they took the bike and at what time they would return it. This convenient system would demonstrate the high level of integrity among the student body.
Another issue is the lack of helmets. We may be Hillsdale College students, but our intellectual superiority, conservative values, and winning football team won't decrease our chances of suffering a bike crash-which could cause student injury and college liability. Helmet use should not be mandatory, but that option should be available for those who still wisely follow their mothers' advice.
These two changes: switching to an honors system and making helmets available, would benefit many students. Returning to campus after a Saturday morning pancake breakfast is much easier to do biking than running.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
J.C.S.
posted 9/28/09 @ 3:13 PM EST
While it is unfortunate that you have no transportation, I suspect that the proposed changes would lead to two even more unfortunate results:
1. You would risk getting lice from communal helmets. (Continued…)
Post a Comment