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.

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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.