Resolutions on Bicycles
The issue of making the campus more bicycle
friendly by adding bicycle lanes, as specified in the Texas Tech
University Master Plan, at the close of the spring semester of 2005,
prompted the following resolutions from the Faculty Senate and the Staff
Senate:
Faculty Senate, May 11, 2005:
- Whereas the main Texas Tech University campus does not have bike
lanes connecting many areas of campus, particularly in and around
the Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center, 15th Street, 18th
Street and around Memorial Circle;
- And, whereas bike lanes were originally proposed in the 1997
campus master plan (CMP);
- And, whereas bike lanes would improve safety for faculty,
students, and staff cycling on campus;
- And, whereas development of bike lanes on campus is of interest
to Faculty, students, and staff;
- And, whereas installation of bike lanes on campus would
encourage more students to bicycle back and forth to campus, thereby
relieving and reducing vehicle parking demands;
- And, whereas, as the campus expands beyond the original center
of campus, a comprehensive system of bike lanes would permit
students to travel between classes safely and more quickly;
Therefore, be it resolved (1) that the Faculty Senate urges the
administration to incorporate bike lanes into the revised CMP, and (2)
that the Faculty Senate begin working immediately with the Student and
Staff Senates to strongly encourage the administration to seek funds
immediately to develop and construct a comprehensive system of bike
lanes on campus.
Staff Senate (emphasizing a Flint Avenue
barrier), April 6, 2005:
- Whereas pedestrian traffic across Flint Avenue between the
parking facility and the dormitory complex creates a dangerous
situation for both pedestrians and drivers;
- And, whereas pedestrians cross Flint Avenue at various
locations, not restricted to the crosswalk;
- And, whereas the combination bicycle and pedestrian path under
construction east of the parking facility is only a partial
solution, intended to improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic
entering campus from 19th Street;
- And, whereas a physical barrier along Flint Avenue could guide
pedestrian traffic to only cross Flint Avenue at the provided
crosswalks, which would greatly improve pedestrian and driver safety
in that area;
- And, whereas a physical barrier, in the form of a fence or sea
wall along the east side of Flint Avenue between 18th and 19th
Streets has been estimated by the Site Development Workgroup to cost
between $150,00 and $200,000, with a more elaborate structure being
more costly;
Therefore, be it resolved this day that the Texas Tech University
Staff Senate fully supports the need for a physical barrier along the
east side of Flint Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets to guide
pedestrian traffic toward the crosswalks in order to increase pedestrian
and driver safety. Further, the Texas Tech University Staff Senate
requests that the University administration give significant priority to
funding and implementing such a project.