Commuters options for alternative transportation limited
A lone bicycle in the rack outside the SSC building (Tim White)
Throughout California’s college towns, many students are in a struggle to find a place to lock their bikes up safely rather than a parking spot for their cars.
Major four-year universities encourage students to ride bicycles to school rather than use their automobiles. The University of San Diego offers 10 free days of parking to students who agree to primarily ride their bikes to school.
Other colleges and universities take this even further. According to Bicycle magazine article entitled “Bike U” by Lauren Sanders, incoming freshmen at Wisconsin’s Ripon College who sign a pledge to not bring a car to school are given a mountain bike along with a helmet and other accessories.
The benefits of choosing alternative methods of transportation are great both economically and environmentally. However, at Saddleback College there is a lack of students who are able to use these methods to get to school.
This is due largely in part to the main population of Saddleback students commuting from throughout Orange County rather than a college town area where students live close to campus and have bicycling as an option.
Lindsey Amado, 20, undecided, said that although she would like to ride a bike to school it just isn’t feasible.
“I live way too far, it would take me forever to get to school, maybe a motorcycle though,” said Amado.
Despite overcrowded parking lots and students struggling to find spots before class, alternative transportation just is not a viable option.
When asked if he would consider riding a bicycle to school, Chris Scanderbeg, 20, undecided said, “because of the distance I probably wouldn’t, I live in Aliso Viejo.”
“Well maybe I would if I lived across the street,” Spandenberg added.
There are many other viable sources of alternative transportation such as the bus and carpooling. By taking advantage of these, students are able to get the benefits of helping their pocketbook and the environment without the sweatiness and work of riding a bike to school.
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