Opinion Essay

My new topic: BYU needs more bike racks on campus.

I would like to submit that there are not enough bike racks to accommodate the bikes ridden to BYU campus.

This is an appropriate topic because gas prices have skyrocketed all across America. The gas prices have been especially harsh in Utah, with gas prices averaging twenty-five cents higher than any other state right now in the Continental US; including California! As a way to avoid unreasonable gas prices and to also prevent pollution many have chosen to ride a bike to BYU campus instead of drive. Due to the number of people riding their bikes to campus it has become a task to find a bike rack with adequate space to park your bike.

Thesis: Putting more bike racks on BYU campus would be a good thing because it would help provide incentive for students to ride their bikes, help prevent damage to bikes, and contribute to relieving the parking issues BYU has.

Outline

1. Intro- All bike racks on BYU campus- aside from the one just outside of the Maeser bldg. (how inconvenient)- are completely full with many people "stacking" bikes. There are a few designated bike parking areas around campus. Two solutions. Either create more parking areas, or add more bike racks to already existing areas. Riding bikes is also a healthy activity that is good for students.

2. Bike stacking makes it impossible to get your bike off the rack and a task to put new bikes on. When you have three bikes to a two foot "bike parking" space it makes it very difficult to put a bike in or take a bike out. There are so many in such a small space because it's the only place left to jam your bike and have it be locked to something stationary. Not only is there potential to damage your own and others bikes but next you have to slyly maneuver the lock to make sure you haven’t locked somebody else’s bike along with yours.

3. By putting more bike racks on campus there might be a greater incentive for people to ride their bikes to school. Parking has been a huge problem on BYU’s list for the last couple of years. With more people riding bikes it could really help with the parking problem.

4. Gas prices are ridiculous leading to more bikes. (Like any of us have money to spend on gas!)

5. "Go Green" fad has helped spike number of people riding bikes. (Help prevent pollution)

7. Conclusion- Happy solution- put more bike racks on campus. Less hastle in parking your bike leads to happy students.