Story by: Brandon Thompson
Laura Felis stands by the student bike rack, and she can’t do anything but wait.
That’s because her bike is locked to another student’s bike. Felis rides her bike to and from school everyday, but lately the lack of available bike rack space has made leaving school a challenge.
Thunder Ridge’s student population this year is bursting at the seams. Students who bike to school have been feeling the negative side effects as a result, because the school’s three bike racks just cannot hold everyone’s bikes.
“If a student locks their bike to another bike, then that student cannot go home because they have to wait for another student,” says Felis, who, like many students, thinks that the school needs more bike racks. “If there’s no space,” she said, “the school has to give more space or make more space so we can all lock up our bikes.”
Bike racks probably can’t be obtained with the school budget this school year, but possibly could be in future years, said Administrative Dean Aryann Roberts.
In the meantime, she continues, students should not lock their bikes to other student’s bikes without their consent.
“We can’t have that happen...in a parking lot you can’t block a car in; people need to be able to access their bike or car. Since we do have minimal bike space, at this point it is based on [a] first come, first serve [basis],” said Roberts.
The Front Office wants to remind students that they cannot lock their bikes to the school’s fences and trees either. “School racks are made of metal and trees and fences are made of wood, so when you chain your bike up to [them] you are potentially causing damage,” said Roberts.
In the end, it all comes down to both students and staff taking responsibility and initiative.
“We probably need more bike racks, but we can’t keep buying [them],” Roberts said. “Students need to come early to ensure they get a spot.”
Laura Felis stands by the student bike rack, and she can’t do anything but wait.
That’s because her bike is locked to another student’s bike. Felis rides her bike to and from school everyday, but lately the lack of available bike rack space has made leaving school a challenge.
Thunder Ridge’s student population this year is bursting at the seams. Students who bike to school have been feeling the negative side effects as a result, because the school’s three bike racks just cannot hold everyone’s bikes.
“If a student locks their bike to another bike, then that student cannot go home because they have to wait for another student,” says Felis, who, like many students, thinks that the school needs more bike racks. “If there’s no space,” she said, “the school has to give more space or make more space so we can all lock up our bikes.”
Bike racks probably can’t be obtained with the school budget this school year, but possibly could be in future years, said Administrative Dean Aryann Roberts.
In the meantime, she continues, students should not lock their bikes to other student’s bikes without their consent.
“We can’t have that happen...in a parking lot you can’t block a car in; people need to be able to access their bike or car. Since we do have minimal bike space, at this point it is based on [a] first come, first serve [basis],” said Roberts.
The Front Office wants to remind students that they cannot lock their bikes to the school’s fences and trees either. “School racks are made of metal and trees and fences are made of wood, so when you chain your bike up to [them] you are potentially causing damage,” said Roberts.
In the end, it all comes down to both students and staff taking responsibility and initiative.
“We probably need more bike racks, but we can’t keep buying [them],” Roberts said. “Students need to come early to ensure they get a spot.”