Open West Lot 3, not bike track, to parking
Adding to the list of sacrifices students are making for construction, it looks like we will now lose our Beer-Bike track (see story, page 1). We understand the need for more parking for construction workers, but we feel that there are ways to provide more parking without having to close the track.
Instead, Rice should let construction workers park in West Lot Three, the Resident Student Parking lot, which is never filled to capacity. Part of the lot along Rice Boulevard could be sectioned off from the rest of the lot, with an entrance on the street. This step would provide convenient parking for construction workers without disrupting the bike track.
While these changes may require some effort, we feel that they would be beneficial in the long run. The current track has been quite an investment, built in 1985 for $11,000 and repaved in 1998 for $70,000. Having cars drive over the track on a regular basis would damage this investment and potentially require further costly repairs before the track is reopened in January. However, these repairs would only be until parking is again allowed after Beer-Bike, which would necessitate yet another round of repairs. Opening West Lot three would render these repairs unnecessary and provide increased parking even during Beer-Bike. And at a time when Rice is already spending a lot of money on construction, campus planners should do whatever they can to prevent unnecessary construction.
Furthermore, the Beer-Bike track serves as a resource not just for students, but for people throughout the community as well. If there is a way to provide parking without closing the track and closing this connection with the rest of Houston, then campus planners should embrace it.
Students are already inconvenienced by construction, but they adjust their plans because of the long-term benefits. We hope that construction planners will take the same attitude.
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