City College Lacks Bike Racks

By JESSEN JURADO

There are a lot of bicyclists at City College, especially compared to some of the other CUNY schools–even though there are few places to lock your bike up.That means City College students have to get creative about where to lock their bikes.

On a recent fall day, dozens of mountain, racing, touring, fixed gear, and folding bikes were chained to the bike racks and railing near the City College’s main entrance. Although City College does not have a bike lane on Convent Avenue and offers just one officially designated bike lock-up area, the college appears to be more attractive to bicycle commuters than other CUNY Schools, students say. One reason is that many students say they feel their bike is safe on campus, even if students must find creative ways to lock their bike.

“I feel my bike is very safe here,” say Jim Kroener, a Childhood Education major at CCNY who rides a Specialized mountain bike that he locks to the railing beside Wingate Hall. “I have a used, but very nice bike and I feel safer locking it up on campus than I do in the surrounding neighborhood. One time I even left it here until 2 a.m.–it was fine.”

While bike theft is down in New York City, according to the Kryptonite Lock Company’s statistics for 2007, it is still one of the top three bike-theft cities in the U.S.. Despite this, City College bicyclists are willing to risk theft for the convenience, exercise, and pollution-free transport. But finding a place on campus to lock a bike can be a challenge.

An informal search for bike racks on campus found just one designated place to lock up bicycles on campus: the six racks near the main entrance, next to Wingate Hall. These racks are usually packed with bicycles, and the safety railing that leads to Wingate Hall’s basement access usually pulls double duty as extra lock-up space. The National Bike Registry recommends locking bicycles near other bikes as a deterrent to theft; City College bicyclists mostly heed this advice, judging from the numerous of bikes at Wingate Hall. On a recent weekday, approximately thirty-five bikes were seen locked to bike racks, trees, and the railing that leads to Wingate’s lower level. Not everyone is thinks this is an ideal situation, however.

“All over the college people are tying up their bikes to trees or railings, which they shouldn’t be doing,” said Lydia Shestopalova, a history major at City College. “But the racks at Wingate are so crowded.”

Students who have been at the college for more than one year will remember the recent addition of new carpets, doors, picnic tables and benches appearing that have appeared on campus since last fall. Assuming this trend of improvements to student life and comfort continues, will there be money, in light of recent budget cuts, for more bike racks at City College?

Other senior colleges in the city such as Queens College, provide bikers with paths, racks, lockers, or a combination of all three.

“It would be nice to have more racks, by the NAC entrance especially.” says Ayame Mizutome, a History major at City. The racks here are too close to the street, and I take my bike seat and handlebar with me.”

Other senior colleges in the city such as Queens College, provide bikers with paths, racks, lockers, or a combination of all three.

With winter here, the need for more bike racks on campus will disappear under the snow and ice. But along with the warmer weather, the problem of bike rack space at City will return for the spring semester.