By Amber N. Carrier
I am dismayed at the carelessness of many cyclists on campus who are chaining their bikes to ramp handrails. These ramps are meant for two purposes – to facilitate loading into buildings and to provide motor-impaired individuals with equal building access.
By partially blocking access to these ramps, these bicyclists are not only showing a lack of regard for other students who need them, but they may also be breaking the law.
Sections 4.8.3 and 4.26.4 of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) state that a minimum clear width of access on a ramp must be 36 inches and section handrails must be free of any sharp or abrasive elements.
When bikes are chained to these handrails: handlebars, pedals and other parts may stick out into the ramp area, inhibiting those who require them. Also, with appendages of the bicycle taking up space in the ramp area.
I understand that students are health conscious and have limited budgets. However, if someone were driving a car and could not find a parking space, he or she would know that parking on the sidewalk is not a solution. The same is true of bike racks. If convenient bike racks are full by the time a student arrives to campus, then the student must locate another. U of L has stated in previous years that bicycles are not to be chained to anything other than bike racks.? However, at the very minimum, students should not be chaining their bikes to areas that block other students’ paths or that could be potentially hazardous to them.
For a complete list of measures that can be taken to combat this issue, view the full version of this commentary at www.louisvillecardinal.com.
