This is a rebuttal on my behalf of bicyclists everywhere on campus. Oh, Mr. Leemans, wise graduate student that you are, if you would know who I am and others like me, you would understand that I’m not the road-hogging speed monster you make me out to be. Instead, you, like others who demonstrate ignorance, judge me before finding out who I am. It’s ironic that you take the negative aspects of bicyclists and fit me into that stereotype. I think that I’ll take you and put you into a stereotype as well.

First of all, don’t get sarcastic with me. I don’t appreciate it.

Second, I love safety, and no one said that I was going to be slamming into people. The mere fact of this issue is that bicyclists on campus can’t ride in the streets nor on the sidewalks. If I use my bicycle path, I find objects that aren’t supposed to be on it. These, I believe, are people. I’m no dare-devil, and I ride at a reasonable speed.

Third, these bike paths are far away from classes. I would have to get off my bike and walk it to class. Now what’s the purpose in that? If I wanted to walk to class, I wouldn’t have taken my bike.

Fourth, on the subject of cars, just this weekend I was riding my bicycle on the sidewalk when a car came speeding around a corner and hit me head on. Thankfully, I was fast enough to lift my legs and let my bicycle take the brunt of the hit. I was a little bit shocked, but unharmed. So I’m pretty sure that cars will win ALL the time.

As for hurting people, I don’t get on my bicycle and intentionally try to injure as many people as possible. All I’m doing is going to class and other places in a way that gets me there faster and more efficiently. So let’s not get into a debate on this issue because it seems trivial and stupid.

I’m just saying that the rules on campus are unjust and not understanding of bicyclists’ needs. So before you stereotype someone again, find out WHO it is you are talking about.

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Andy Gonzales

Sophomore

Political science