Amelia Ward
Assistant Opinion Editor
Costa administration caught the attention of students and parents when they announced their plan to create an E-Bike Garage on campus for student bike parking this year. With bike thefts on the rise, according to MBPD (Manhattan Beach Police Department), and insufficient space for parking, the garage will provide students with a safe space to store their bikes on campus.
Administrations’ goal was to address campus parking congestion and the rising number of bike thefts. Unlike traditional bike racks, this dedicated garage would exclusively accommodate electric bikes, offering a secure, well-lit, and surveilled environment near Waller Stadium Way.
The lack of safe and secure bike parking has become a growing issue throughout all of Manhattan Beach. MBPD’s 2022 Crime Report reported an increase of 18.1% vehicle theft and a 90.3% increase on a five-year average. Costa bike racks are overcrowded and located in areas prone to theft, being a major concern for students who bike to school. The E-Bike Garage addressed this issue directly. It would be exclusively dedicated to electric bikes and situated conveniently off Waller Stadium Way, a common entrance onto campus.
With this garage, administration encourages students to use electric bikes as a green alternative to car commuting, which the E-Bike Garage aimed to support. According to statistics from Los Angeles County, the region had been grappling with air quality issues, with 84% of days in 2022 experiencing unhealthy air quality levels due to emissions.
In a recent survey of 200 Costa students, it was revealed that 54% of underclassmen currently chose to bike or e-bike to school. Among this group, a substantial 31% expressed their intention to utilize the new E-Bike Garage once it becomes available.
Some students claim they don’t want their bikes to be “stuck” and inaccessible to them. However, the garage’s secure, well-lit, and surveilled environment provides peace of mind, knowing that their valuable electric bikes are protected from theft and damage while on campus. Administration intends to create a system that grants students access to the garage using their school ID, enabling them to retrieve their bikes in the event of early departures from school due to illness or other reasons. Additionally, the garage’s location on Waller Stadium Way guarantees that students can conveniently retrieve their bikes at the end of the school day.
The addition of the E-Bike Garage at Costa addresses important issues such as bike security and campus congestion, while also promoting eco-friendly commuting. The garage’s design prioritizes and helps to address both safety and convenience, proving to be a helpful resource for students.
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