I read with interest OPRF High School student George Summy’s letter (Viewpoints, July 17) about the lack of bike racks at the school. First of all, bravo to George, for his willingness to speak out on this issue and engage the community. I live at the corner of Scoville and Ontario, right across from the main entrance to OPRF, and I not only agree, but support with evidence, George’s claims about the shortage of bike racks.
In 2018 I wrote to the school about this issue. I volunteered the parkway in front of my home on Scoville, between the sidewalk and the street. I don’t think I got a response. A year later, I wrote again, this time with 16 photos I took on a September morning on streets around the high school showing bikes locked to every imaginable vertical object. I again volunteered my parkway, and made these additional claims: the bike-riding season is longer than ever; more students are biking to school; additional racks could also be used by people on weekdays and weekends, especially during the Farmers Market season; less grass for me to mow and water.
This time I did hear back, but was told it would be up to the village, and that there would be no security cameras for bikes on the parkway. (Of course, there are no security cameras on the bikes parked all over Erie, Ontario, and Scoville either!)
Last winter I attended one of the informational meetings for the neighbors who would be impacted by the construction of the new pool and field house. We learned that the existing bike racks on Scoville would be removed during construction. That was a surprise. Those racks must hold 50 or more bikes! And even with the racks on the west side of the high school, I can’t imagine there will be enough racks for all of the bikes. I again made my offer at the meeting, this time adding the parkway of my neighbor across Ontario, who would also be willing to have less lawn and to provide space for bike racks.
I learned that at a later meeting (which I could not attend) this offer would need cooperation by the village and the school, and was essentially a no-go.
After reading George’s letter, I decided to write again, but this time to Wednesday Journal, instead of the school. George also noted that more bike racks, and more bike usage, would improve the quality of life for OPRF students.
Can’t the village and the school work together and figure this out?
Catherine Baumann
OPRF High School neighbor