Students looking for means of transportation other than walking
or driving may have more options available to them than they
realize.
At a bicycle-outreach meeting last Thursday, Sam Corbett,
manager of planning and analysis for UCLA Transportation Services,
provided updates regarding bicycling improvements on campus as well
as information about Flexcar, an alternative to bicycling.
In an effort to promote and improve current bicycling conditions
on campus, a master plan is in development to ensure that changes
are made to adapt to the need of UCLA bicyclists.
Recently, several improvements have been made as part of the
bicycle master plan, which will add and upgrade bicycling
facilities and make other changes to better bicycling conditions at
UCLA.
These changes include the creation of the Commuter Passport,
which provides shower and locker access to staff and faculty at a
discounted rate. For $20, a faculty or staff member can receive
annual access to the showers at the John Wooden Center, and for an
additional $20 a year, one can also receive access to a locker.
Corbett hopes this added feature will encourage more people to
choose bicycling as their mode of transportation by knowing they
have somewhere to shower, change, and store their belongings after
their bicycle ride.
In addition to the Commuter Passport, new bicycle racks have
been installed next to the Strathmore Building and the Engineering
Building. Additional bicycle racks have been ordered for the UCLA
Medical Center and other locations on campus.
Corbett said Transportation Services is focusing on installing
new bicycle racks in areas of demand and then they will work on
replacing the older bicycle racks. This process is projected to
take five to six years to complete.
In addition, bicycle registration with university police to
increase chances of recovery in the case of a theft has returned
and is currently available by going to the university police
department. A new brochure with a map of parking areas for bicycles
on campus is now available as well.
A “pilot project” has been planned in which 10-15
bicycle lockers will be placed around campus. For a nominal fee,
bicyclists can rent a bicycle locker for a specified amount of
time.
Unfortunately, due to the cost of the bicycle lockers ($1500 for
a locker that stores two bicycles), there will be a delay in
purchasing more bicycle racks, Corbett said.
In addition to improving bicycling conditions at UCLA and
promoting bicycling as a viable transportation alternative,
Transportation Services is working to promote
“multi-modal” transportation ““ the use of other
alternative modes of transportation.
Though Los Angeles is automobile-oriented, Corbett said, there
are other ways to get around for those without a vehicle of their
own.
At the bicycle-outreach meeting, Katie Bennett from the Flexcar
Team of Los Angeles explained how Flexcar, a car-rental company, is
a beneficial alternative to bicycling.
According to the Flexcar Web site, Flexcar provides its members
with access to a fleet of vehicles located throughout several
metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles.
Vehicles are reserved for hourly use with Flexcar, which charges
fees that pay for the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance and
maintenance, the site said.
In order to rent a vehicle from Flexcar, one must be a member of
the program and be at least 21 years old.
Normally, annual membership is $35. However, there is free
membership during the months of December and January.
In January, UCLA is offering all new Flexcar members four free
hours of car rental, valued at $30.
Two cars are parked on campus for use at an hourly rate of
$7.50. One of the cars is parked by Parking Structure 32 and the
other is by Parking Information Booth 2, Bennett said.