Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Michelle Gachet Students ride their bikes on campus during "Bike to School Day" on Thursday.

Media Credit: Michelle Gachet Free buttons were given out to promote Bike to School Day on Thursday.

A SJSU bicycle owner watched as a Bicycle Express mechanic adjusted the brakes on her bike, while a SJ Bike Party representative used a cardboard stencil to spray paint red lines on a white T-shirt.

These were some of the sights at the Environmental Resource Center's second "Bike to School Day" at the Paseo de Cesar Chavez barbecue pits on Thursday.

Shamrina Oshana, a senior marketing major, said she discovered the event because a flier was attached to her bike, so she decided to bike over to have her bicycle tuned up.

"The brakes were rubbing against my tires and making horrible noises when I rode it," Oshana said.

Anna Le, co-director of the Environmental Resource Center, said the group hosted "Bike to School Day," because it wanted to encourage people to bike to school.

"I think it's ridiculous that a lot of people don't even carpool," said Le, a senior environmental studies major. "They just drive one person per car to school and can't even find parking.

"We need to be less dependent on oil. This is the best way for people to do that."

She said the Environmental Resource Center is considering creating a bicycle sharing program on campus to help promote human-powered commuting.

Transportation Solutions Manager Eyedin Zonobi said the event aims to promote safe riding to and on campus.

"We do encourage people to ride bicycles with helmets," Zinobi said. "And we encourage that people park their bicycles in appropriate areas and lock them with u-locks."

He said many students came by the event for bicycle route maps and to have their bikes tuned up.

"We are hoping more students and employees start riding to campus instead of driving," Zinobi said.

Bicycle Express purchaser Karen Clifford, said the business participated in "Bike to School Day," because it wanted to give something back to the SJSU community and to meet more students.

Clifford said she thinks SJSU's promotion of bicycle riding is important.

"We've been in business for over 25 years, so in the past 25 years, we have definitely seen a difference of growth in terms of bike riders," she said. "I think it is a good thing for the community and our business."

Michael Chu, a senior hospitality major, said bicycle commuting has made a positive impact on his life.

"I like riding so much," Chu said. "It is amazing. It's a good chance to keep fit, because before I was riding I was walking slowly to campus.

"After I bought the bike, I was pedaling faster and burning off more calories."

Sarah Stillman, a senior philosophy major, held a handmade red and white striped T-shirt in front of her face to check her work. She said she is creating give-away shirts for SJ Bike Party's Friday night "Where's Waldo" themed ride.

"Bike to School Day is important just because it is such an easy way for people to access the campus, and just in their general lives it is so easy to bike, because San Jose is so flat and accessible," Stillman said. "If we could promote people just getting to school on campus it could cut down on all the parking issues we have on campus and it is just a healthier way to go."

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