Page 2 • The BATTALION
CTATE /Lr T O CAL
Tuesday • January 31,
Campus bike laws must be followed, obeyed and enforce
l!C
Q Bicyclist says
cars parked in
bike lanes pose a
safety threat.
By Kasie Byers
The Battalion
Cars parked in bike lanes and
cars not yielding the right-of-way
to bicycles can be major concerns
to bicyclists obeying traffic laws.
Martin Ebel, a graduate stu
dent and bicyclist, said cars
parked in the bike lanes on Fri
days are a major danger to bicy
clists traveling on Bizzell.
"It seems that cars parked in
the bike lanes on Fridays aren't
even ticketed," Ebel said. "I real
ize that people are loading and
unloading their cars, but is their
convenience more important than
the bicyclists' safety? It's really an
added danger.
Not only do we have to dodge
the cars in the bike lanes, but we
have to swerve into lanes of traf
fic and increase our chances
of being hit."
Tom Williams, director of
Parking Transit and Traffic Ser-
vices(PTTS), said cars are al
lowed to park in the bike lanes at
certain times and some leave is
given to drivers who park
there on Fridays.
"We allow parking in the bike
lanes when students move in and
move out of the dorms and during
the home football games,"
Williams said. "On Fridays we
usually allow the students who
park there some slack. We moni
tor how long they are parked
there and give them warnings if
they have been parked too long.
After that they are given a ticket."
Ebel said that cars do not yield
the right-of-way to bicyclists
when crossing the bicyclists' path.
"The intersection of New Main
and Texas Avenue is a very dan
gerous spot for bicyclists because
the bike lane goes straight and
cars usually go right to merge
onto Texas," he said. "Cars do not
yield to the bicyclists and acci
dents nearly occur there all the
time. The UPD doesn't appear to
be enforcing the fact that the car is
supposed to yield."
In locations where car traffic
crosses a bike lane, the lane goes
from being solid to dashed. Ac
cording to PTTS, this is to alert bi
cyclists that something could cross
in front of them.
Sgt. Tom Armstrong of the
UPD said that in such instances
the bike does have the right-of-
way, but he has no record of how
many times this law has
been enforced.
"Any time any kind of vehicle
crosses another lane of traffic to
merge, the lane that goes straight
has the right-of-way," he said.
"However, we don't have a record
of how many tickets have been
given to cars that fail to yield this
right-of-way to bicyclists. Usually
all the citations are lumped to
gether and sent to the courts."
Ebel said he could think of nu
merous times he has almost been
involved in an accident on the
A&M campus because cars failed
to obey laws regarding bicyclists.
"As a bike rider I can attest to
how negligent cars are to bicy
clists," Ebel said. "I'm not saying
that all bicyclists are perfect, but it
seems we're required to obey the
laws while cars don't have to obey
laws regarding our safety."
Roger HsieWTheJ
Cars parked in the bike lanes in front of Law and Puryeard
have caused major obstructions for bicyclists.
Health 1 ips
Abstinence a safe, possible alternative
By Sharon Drumheller
A.P. Beutel Health Center
Abstinence. Now here's a word you hear
a lot about these days.
But, what does abstinence mean? It gets
a little tricky here, because it means differ
ent things to different people.
For some, it means no sexual intercourse.
For others, it means nothing more than
hugging and holding hands.
Abstinence is personal and this is why
abstinence has such varied meanings.
Morally, you can abstain for personal or
religious beliefs. You can also abstain in or
der to remain faithful to a relationship.
Moreover, you can be abstinent to pre
vent pregnancy.
Or, you can be abstinent to prevent the
spread of disease.
Let's look closer at abstinence for
health reasons.
In many of today's educational programs,
abstinence is touted as the only 100 percent
effective way to prevent sexually transmit
ted diseases and unplanned pregnancies.
This is true, to a point, but only if you un
derstand exactly what is meant by absti
nence as it relates to health.
Put simply, the best way to avoid preg
nancy and sexually-transmitted diseases, in
cluding HIV, is to avoid oral, vaginal and
sexual intercourse.
All of these activities can promote the
transmission of diseases.
So in the best interest of your health, it is
recommended by experts to postpone sexual
intercourse until such time you can be sure
you are in a mutually monogamous relation
ship with an uninfected person.
Easier said than done, you say? You
bet it is'
You are a sexual being, it's perfectly nat
ural to show affection for another person in
the form of sexual intercourse.
Abstinence is a choice made, not in the
heat of the moment when your hormones
are raging off the Richter scale, but at a time
when you are thinking clearly about your
self and what is best for you.
Abstinence may not be a realistic choice
for everyone and that's OK.
There are ways to be sexually active
and healthy too.
Abstinence is often brushed over because
it is assumed that everyone knows how to
"not have sex."
So as an alternative to "safer sex," here
are some tips on how to postpone
sexual intercourse.
How can you be abstinent?
First off, you need to go forward from
here and not think about what may have
happened in the past.
Maybe you have already had sexual in
tercourse. This does not mean you cannot
make a decision to be abstinent ever again.
You can choose to postpone sexual inter
course at any time in your life, no matter
how many times you have had sexual inter
course in the past.
You can make this decision anytime.
If you decided today that you would
rather wait to ride your bicycle a few more
years you would not feel obligated to keep
on riding simply because you knew how
and had ridden before. You would
probably just stop.
Well, the same is true for sex. It does not
matter if you have done it before, what mat
ters is what you want for yourself right now.
Making decisions to postpone sexual in
tercourse is the easy part.
Often the difficult part is trying to stick
with it. If you are dating someone and
would like to remain abstinent, it is vital to
first communicate your wants, needs and
desires to your partner.
Once you both know what to expect, it
will eliminate questions and allow you the
freedom to develop other aspects of your
relationship first.
You may also need to set some ground
rules, depending on your situation.
Examples of ground rules may be to
agree to go out in groups or not to be alone
in private places where things could get
heated. It's perfectly acceptable to set
boundaries for yourself and to expect oth
ers to respect them.
Although it may be difficult to imagine
for some, there are plenty of ways to feel in
timate with a person without having
sexual intercourse.
The fine art of kissing will never go out of
style and the same is true for hugging, mas
saging and talking. What exactly you are
willing to do, of course, is up to you.
Be creative in your dating ideas.
Fly a kite in Research Park, have a picnic,
go canoeing, read a book aloud to your part
ner, go rollerblading.
Whatever you do, have fun.
And finally, believe it or not, should you
choose to be abstinent, you would not be
alone. It may seem like everyone is having
sex by the looks of things on television, in
the movies or next door, but it's not true.
Plenty of people are out there, just like you.
So don't feel like you need to be in a
sexual relationship.
If you are making the best decisions you can
for yourself and for your future, then that is all
you will ever need in order to fit in.
Quayle’s campaign
for presidency begi
Former V.P. critical of current Presidentl
failure in foreign relations, healthcare
HOUSTON (AP) — Former
Vice FYesident Dan Quayle criti
cized President Clinton and
boasted better credentials than
any other GOP presidential hope
ful Monday while courting sup
port in what he called “George
Bush Country.”
“I have experience that no
one else in the Republican
presidential primary will
have," Quayle told reporters af
ter addressing a chapter of the
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
“I’ve been vice president for
four years. I’ve worked in the
Oval Office. I’ve been through
crises on an international ba
sis. I have worked with a
president who had to try
to get his legislation through
the Congress.
“Experience is certainly
something that will separate
me from the field.’’
Quayle plans to file candidacy
papers Feb. 21 and formally be
gin his campaign with a late-
April announcement in Indiana,
but he already was tackling a
busy campaign-like schedule on a
swing through Texas.
The Republican met with
Houston political supporters in
the morning, addressed the dia
betes group in the afternoon, and
headed for appearances in Beau
mont Monday night.
In a wide-ranging speech to
several hundred foundation con
tributors, Quayle supported I
gressional term limits, toitj
form and welfare reform.
He criticized Clinton’s I
dling of a S40 billion dei]
help Mexico weather al
cial crisis. The presidet;
struggling to garner sup]
for his loan plan in Cong
Quayle said he supportsj
rescue provided there arei
cient collateral and assu
from the Mexican gover
but he accused Clintotl
botching the deal by faif
to confer with ot|
nations and Congress.
“Look at the way theji
handled it,” Quayle said.’
in fact it doesn’t pass, it dj
because of the incompetem
this administration.”
Recent straw polls
shown Quayle running well
hind other likely GOPprf
dential candidates. Seni
Gramm, R-Texas, won an!
zona poll last weekend'
460 of 850 votes cast. Qui]
was sixth, with 40 votes.
Quayle said he wasn’t i
pointed with the results sin
hasn’t actively participate
any of the polls.
“They’re irrelevant as fc|
I’m concerned. I have noti
any calls, I have not made a
fort,” Quayle said, add
he plans to take part in ati
da straw poll in November.
Do You Worry Too Much?
Dr. Steven Strawn is seeking volunteers for a
2 - month research study of an
investigational medication for anxiety.
For more information call:
846 - 2050
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
P fir- m*
mpus
era! Meeting
> 1
110 Koldus
: ' ■ ::
r Vour:
“Shades of Night”
sun shades, lamp shades
etc.
or more information, contact the OCA office at 845-0688
Episcopal Student Center
Texas A&M University
invites you to Holy Eucharist
Sundays & Wednesdays
6:15 pm
Guest Preacher
Dr. Keith McCaffety
Topic: Episcopal Medical Missions
February 1
902 George Bush Drive
693-4245
BUSINESS IS BACK!
Italy Spring Semester 1996
Interested? Attend any one of these informational
meetings in 251 Bizzell Hall West:
Wed., Feb. 1 12-12:45
Wed., Feb. 1 1-1:45
Students will select 15 hours:
ECON 489/: Economies of the
BUAD 489 Eur. Comm.
Prof. Pier Luigi Sacco
ANTH 205: Peoples and Cultures
of the World
Dr. Sylvia Grider
LBAR 332/: Culture of MgmL in
MGMT 489 the Eur. Comm.
Prof. Pier Luigi Sacco
ARTS 350: Arts and Civilization*
Prof. Paolo Bamochieri
ANTH 201: Introduction to
Anthropology
Dr. Sylvia Grider
PSYC 405: Psychology of Religion
Dr. David Rosen
PSYC 306: Abnormal Psychology
Dr. David Rosen
*Mandatory for all students
Study Abroad Programs • 161 Bizzell Hall West • 845-0544
WANT YOUR WORDS IN THE
’95 AGGIELAND?
Just answer one or more of the following questions.
•What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you
while attending Texas A&M? • What is the strangest or weirdest
thing that has ever happened to you while at A&M? • Who is the
best professor you have had? Why? • If there was one thing y»
could change about Texas A&M, what would it be? • What is the
worst thing to ever happen to you at A&M? • What is the nicest
thing that has happened you at A&M?
Responses may be turned into Reed McDonald 012. R e$ui y csm
to include your name, class, major, and hometown.
civil
Jen E
The Battalion
MARK SMITH, Editor in chief
JAY ROBBINS, Senior managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Managing editor
JODY HOLLEY, Night News editor
TIFFANY MOORE, Night News editor
AMANDA FOWLE, City editor
STERLING HAYMAN, Opinion editor
ROB CLARK, Aggie life editor
NICK GEORGANDIS, Sports editor
DAVE WINDER, Sports editor
STEWART MILNE, Photo editor
Staff Members
City desk— Stephanie Dube, Kasie Byers, Lynn Cook, Brad Dressier, Lisa Messer,
Cretchen Perrenot, Tracy Smith, Wes Swift, and Brian Underwood
News desk— Kristi Baldwin, Michele Chancellor, Kristin De Luca, Kristen De Rocha, LibeCoad,
Robin Greathouse, Zachary Toups and James Vineyard
Photographers— Tim Moog, Amy Browning, Robyn Calloway, Blake Griggs,
Nick Rodnicki, Eddie Wylie, Bart Mitchell, Roger Hsieh and Rogge Heflin
Aggielife— Michael Landauer, Amber Clark, Margaret Claughton, Amy Collier and Jay Knioum
Sports writers— James Anderson, Kristina Buffin, Tom Day, Shelly Hall, Robert Hanson
and Robert Rodriguez,
Opinion — Erin Hill, Drew Diener, Laura Frnka, Zachary Hall, David Hill, Kyle Littlefield,
Jenny Magee, Jim Pawlikowski, Elizabeth Preston, Gerardo Quezada, David Taylor
and Amy Uptmor
Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley
Office Assistants— Wendy Crockett, Heather Fitch, Adam Hill and Julie Thomas
Writing Coach— Mark Evans
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semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holidays jr '
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