DURHAM, NC—In a win for mobility advocates on campus, stationary bikes have been installed on Bryan Center Plaza.
Duke University has been made glaringly aware of the hostile biking environment on campus and on surrounding roads. Between the countless close calls to the tragic passing of Carr (T’26) last month, the pressure was on for Duke to create actionable and meaningful change to the school’s infrastructural environment.
After several petitions signed by urbanist clubs on campus, including one by the College Advocates for Road Safety which amassed an impressive 75 signatures, the Duke administration finally caved. Early Tuesday morning, three new state-of-the-art stationary bikes popped up on Bryan Center Plaza. On the fourth day of their installation, it was discovered that riding the bikes played music and blinked colored lights.
The bikes have made a big splash in the community. “I am such an admirer of public art,” said Amy Spangler (T’27), “It is so innovative of them to use items lying around campus to make something sort of pretty.” Meanwhile, the urbanist clubs have been pleased by the presence of bikes on campus.
This installation marks the first action of the newly formed Committee on Transportation, and with a price tag of just over $400,000, the project marks a precedent that puts it on par with other public transportation projects in the United States. With regards to utilization, initial numbers have been underwhelming, but for the region, the average two riders a day is a triumph.
The BC bikes concept almost didn’t happen, almost beaten out by the significantly cheaper option of painting bike lanes on Campus Drive. However, after deliberations, the Committee recognized that Campus Drive must remain without bike lanes. As chairman Richard Rider pointed out, “It’s Campus Drive, it exists to be driven on.”
UPDATE: It was later revealed that the stationary bikes replaced bike racks.
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