If the Department of Public Safety gets its way, bicyclists will be required to pay $5 to park their bikes on campus in 2002-03.
The bicycle parking fee is one of several hundred fee changes proposed by University officials to offset rising program costs. It is also one of several proposed changes that the Office of Student Advocacy plans to challenge at a public hearing at 3 p.m. today in the EMU Board Room.
Hilary Berkman, director of student advocacy, said in addition to the bicycle parking fee, she plans to challenge a proposed increase to the fee for failing to obey a “Dismount and Walk” sign, and the addition of an education practicum fee. Berkman called the fees excessive and expressed concern that the bicycle parking fee “may keep people from riding their bikes.”
While she said she doesn’t object to the idea of fees, Berkman said she does object to what basically amounts to hidden costs being passed on to students.
“One of my concerns with course fees is that people are unaware of them,” she said. “They disturb me because they are so hard to absorb.”
The full list of proposed changes is available in Room 3 of Johnson Hall, and the hearing is open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.