USC sends out bike letter to students


Vice President for Student Affairs Michael L. Jackson sent an e-mail letter to the student body on Tuesday evening, reassuring students that the university has no plans to ban bikes.

The letter is in response to a Facebook group titled “USC Bike Ban Civil Disobedience,” which says it plans to gather students to ride through the campus bike ban tomorrow morning. More than 2,300 people have said they are attending the event.

“I want to assure you that the University has no plans to ban bikes from campus,” Jackson said. “For many years, we have been engaged in a discussion with students, faculty, and staff regarding how we may assure pedestrian safety and accessibility — particularly in light of the increasing use of bicycles, skateboards, carts, and other wheeled transportation in the core of campus.”

The university has also created a “Bikes@USC” Facebook group for dialogue between students, faculty and staff about bikes, according to the letter.

“We hope to continue to a university-wide dialogue on this issue, in which we will consult extensively with students and student leadership,” Jackson said. “So that our campus stays a vibrant, attractive, and safe space for all members of the Trojan Family.”

The full text of the e-mail is as follows:

Dear USC Students:

We are aware that a number of students have discussed holding a peaceful “bike protest” on Wednesday, October 20, in order to demonstrate against a perceived ban on bicycles on our University Park Campus.

I want to assure you that the University has no plans to ban bikes from campus.  For many years, we have been engaged in a discussion with students, faculty, and staff regarding how we may assure pedestrian safety and accessibility–particularly in light of the increasing use of bicycles, skateboards, carts, and other wheeled transportation in the core of campus.

We hope to continue to a university-wide dialogue on this issue, in which we will consult extensively with students and student leadership, so that our campus stays a vibrant, attractive, and safe space for all members of the Trojan Family.  To this end, we have created a “Bikes@USC” Facebook group in order to stay in contact with any students, faculty, and staff who are interested in this topic.  I hope you’ll join the conversation and share your thoughts/ideas in an open and deliberative process.

Sincerely,

Michael L. Jackson

Vice President for Student Affairs

2 replies
  1. Christopher Miranda
    Christopher Miranda says:

    Can anyone find this “Bikes@USC” group? Maybe I don’t know how to use Facebook well enough, but I can’t find the group.

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