Biking for a Change

With almost 100,000 students with bicycles on the Tempe campus alone, ASU has been known as the bicycle friendly school. However, many have their issues. It seems that around the Tempe area, the campus is the only bike friendly area, where rules are abided by. Living on University and Dorsey, I can say that I have seen people biking towards that area with no regard to people walking on the sidewalk.

It is in fact, against the law to bike on the sidewalk, however, since the rules are so much more stringent around ASU, the rest of Tempe seems to be forgotten. It becomes a hassle for cars trying to drive towards gas stations if a bicycle zooms past.

I conducted an interview last year around Tempe, asking people what their preferred means of transportation is. I found out that almost all the people that answered biking, said it was because they wanted to get place faster when there is tight traffic. This makes sense, since it gives them a chance to just hitch a ride on the sidewalk.

For those who answered driving, walking or the metro for their preferred means of transportation, have no choice but to abide by the strict laws that come with that such as speeding, or not paying for a ticket. Although it is for the better, the same should be applied towards the strictness of the laws for biking.