Editor,
Once again, the powers-at-be at UNM act to penalize students for the University's own narrow vision. Yes, it is a shame that bicyclists are parking their bikes in such a way that they impede access to others.
However, this is a direct result of the University's inability, particularly the department of planning and the physical plant, to provide appropriate accommodations for bicyclists, disabled and pedestrians.
The issue is simple: UNM has never appropriated enough bike racks of rational design or function to properly accommodate bicycles.
In fact, UNM has put a great deal of effort into discouraging non-motorized, sensible transportation to its sprawling campus. This effort has been a unilateral one, despite the overt efforts of many in our community to promote reasonable alternatives.
They, the UNM administrators and planners, have held some open hearings for community input, but have done so only to promote a self-serving image of community cooperation, only to ignore or disdain such input and plow ahead with their own uninspired and narrow vision of unfettered development.
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So, now they threaten to damage and confiscate personal property, obfuscate reality and make this a divisive issue to detract from their own shortcomings.
Shame on them.
I suggest that anybody that is harmed by UNM's negligence - bicyclists, disabled, pedestrians, community members - organize and file a class action lawsuit.
Once again, it's a sad day when we, the community at large, must hold UNM in contempt ... which seems to be their usual position.
Sam Bawcum
Community member, bicyclist and concerned citizen
