My sophomore year, I schwinned a girl.

That’s right. I am a biker on campus and proud of it. One of the first things I learned during my freshman year is the long-standing tradition that pedestrians hate bikers, cars hate bikers, and bikers hate bikers. Which, on most days, I would have to agree.

But on that fateful day, the girl I hit was walking aimlessly on the bike path between Henry Administration and the English Building. While I had tried to avoid her, she decided it was best to turn the same way I did, and my front tire went straight between her legs, slamming us both into the ground. Obviously some nice scrapes and bruises were a result.

Suddenly, through the crowd I heard a voice, which I thought was yelling at me, but instead the voice from beyond yelled, “This is why we don’t walk in the bike path,” finishing with a colorful expletive. (I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank that student. So, thanks!) It really was the perfect schwinn.

If biker-pedestrian accidents only happened once in a while, no one would care much. But here it’s an epidemic. Bikers are constantly hitting pedestrians or other bikers, trying to prevent as much damage as possible. Why? Because the bike lanes and pedestrian paths on campus need attention, desperately.

The girl I schwinned sophomore year, in all fairness, may have never known she was walking on a bike path because the lines were faded after years of wear-and-tear. Bike lanes all over campus have major issues beyond needing a fresh coat of paint.

Uneven sidewalks, cracks, obstructed views — they are unfortunately commonplace, like those just outside of Greg Hall on Wright Street. And where can bikes go on Green Street without getting hit?

Then there are the problems of pedestrians in the bike path just outside Wohlers Hall and the Architecture Building, the David Kinley Hall side of Gregory Street and all sides of the Armory. Pedestrians always step onto the bike path without looking because the sidewalk shrinks to accommodate the building size. Bikers get a bad reputation on campus, but it is not always our fault.

And when pedestrians start walking on the bike path, we are forced to ride in the streets. Especially on the corner of Armory and Wright, where buses, cars, pedestrians and bikers all converge to create one hodge podge of confusion at one corner.

Is there no money in the budget to beautify campus by improving sidewalks?

Clearly every year sees a tuition increase. While the 2017 class has the lowest percentage increase in tuition in 18 years, it still continues to rise. There has got to be some money in the budget to fix sidewalks. And what about the Illinois Student Senate? The starting budget for the 2012-2013 academic year was $65,642.60. On Quad Day alone, they spent $3,786.42 on promoting their own cause. Then spent another $7,500 on promotion at the United Center this past December.

I understand the need for a student organization on campus to get their name out. In a sea of 40,000 people, you want to be recognized. I get it.

However, wouldn’t money like that be better spent on issues to help make our campus better, like finding a way to fix such a fundamental issue on campus?

And even if the ISS can’t fix this, perhaps they can work with the cities of Urbana and Champaign to improve this.

We have construction all over this campus such as the newly created Bousfield Hall in Ikenberry South, opening this fall, or the new ECE building on the Engineering Quad.

Why are we constantly pushing for new construction instead of improving what we already have? The bike and pedestrian paths would be a good place to start.

But before I become too supportive of the bikers on campus, I too must note, bikers: If we want a good name on campus, we can start by not riding our bikes on the Quad’s main paths. Let’s not ask for trouble.

And to whoever stole my bike outside my apartment, I hope by now you have figured out that my breaks are in poor shape. Have fun schwinning someone else. You’re welcome. 

Joanna is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected].