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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2002)
1 he bat tacks tinned frc mi •gnificamly aJi w tviieve that the Wednesday, September 18, 2002 datively quickly; ’ *' ^ v voukl be nts. ETdwanls *es there x* in thee course it cussion, but nrporate whau ( i the cla Aggielife The Battalion Pai2;e 3A )Need for speed xssrooni t,w ards ^ Associated K ‘u to this nrpon. In search of better gas mileage and better parking spots, many students turn to motorcycles k Force inued from pe cr. 1 know tie ictivity that nigh: the Unnes ma-l-afavetic ‘go, CSPDaftjH ^sued a total «| 4 of which »«;:■ itHi citatiooi. \L' man) [X*opk ci ►alrol or pam 'ell, they need I: .• and he aware of 4 wd them," U first year, thei r f 1 ,-f4 i ClttoOB' talKKis weresss, t cites mote ig the street' - or the increas: said offken.. >thing or unr. s in to a parr. handing m C2 are sneaks lib leenre in nv * in the Anr y. Planning! : e I or a joh . Corps cor.'., .accepted tk 1968 , and t bur to fivf saving ck new oppor ■. and alv Kti>rate ir ? M •ling <nir has no detmiu By Amber Johnson THE BATTALION I Years ago, the only bike that could be found on campus was a Schwinn. Decades later, a num- be of things have changed on campus including students’ modes of transportation. Students rarely walk to classes without encountering increasingly popular vehicles - motorcycles. I Not all motorcycles are created equal, how ever. Two types of motorcycles exist: speed bikes and cruisers. Speed bikes are sleek, fast bikes with high seats. Cruisers, on the other fu nd, are slower and heavier, with higher han dlebars and more leather. / think [cruiser riders and speed bike riders] are cultured differently. Sports bikers wave at each other, but I don't wave at cruisers. — Tyson Bell junior management major I Natasha Mooty, a sophomore biomedical sci ences major, owns a Suzuki JickserbOO and said she and her boyfriend en joy the benefits of own ing and riding motorcycles. I The best advantage to riding a motorcycle is back-door parking to her classes, Mooty said. I “People probably get kind of aggravated when I go right by them, especially if there is a Ipng line of cars,’’ she said. Tyson Bell, a junior management major who owns a Yamaha R6, views convenient parking as the number one advantage to riding a motorcy cle. Bell said his speed bike probably irritates ff mr- ss, sin others on occasion. “For the most part, other riders think it’s all right when I go past them, but people who don’t know anything about them kind of think they’re a nuisance,” Bell said. In addition to annoying other motorists. Bell said other disadvantages come with riding a motorcycle. He said inclimate weather, is not only an inconvenience to riders, but can ^ cause be a disadvantage to rid ing a motorcycle. Both Tyson and Mooty said they own other modes of transporta tion for dismal and A rainy days. “When it rains, you have to either drive a truck or be more careful,” Bell said. A rainy day does not break the bonds of motorcyclists on cam pus, however. A defi nite connection exists between College Station speed bikers, Mooty said. For better insight. Moody suggests visiting Sonic on a Thursday night. “A bunch of us go there and hang out,” Mooty said. “It’s a lot of fun.” Bell said this type of bond is not found between cruiser owners and speed bike owners. He said people who drive the cruisers and people who drive speed bikes have very different tastes. “I think [cruiser riders and speed bike riders] are cultured differently. Sports bikers wave at each other, but I don’t wave at cruisers ” Bell said. Mooty said she feels people who ride her type of bike are more into taking corners fast 1 ' M/Is/ f / rj :1mm/ 1 and living life on the edge, while people who own cruisers are more laid back about things. Despite such benefits as better parking and gas mileage, some students remain unconvinced. Amanda Schafer, a junior educational psy chology major said she believes she is much safer in a car. “I would possibly lose my balance and even tually hurt myself,” Schafer said. Schafer said she acknowledges there are sev eral benefits to owning a compact, energy-effi cient motorcycle, but that many bikers campus drive too fast and seem to possess a reckless aura. “More power to the people who want to ride JEFF SMITH • THE BATTALION motorcycles,” she said. “They take up less space, don’t create a lot of pollution, and they get good gas mileage, but I would just never ride one.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle fatalities increased seven percent and motorcycle occu pants injuries increased two percent in 2001. While helmets are no longer required by law, they have been proven to significantly reduce the number of fatalities in motorcycle accidents. Despite the potential danger involved, Mooty said there are rewards to being a female biker. When guys see her on her motorcycle, “a lot of flirting goes on.” f 76e y&Cctce Ca Hawaiian Style ELVIS Domesee The Mom Of Bock tt’ Terry Price FOR FREE Win Prizes act like Elvis at 9pm in the flagroom In the basement ALL NIGHT LONG Free Bowling Free Billiards Free Dance Dance Revolution Free Popcorn <&Soda Arts & Crafts See Elvis live in concert at 10:30pm in Rudder Theater FREE Hawaii on Style Pizza served up at 9pm MSC Film Society's Aggie Cinema Presents Blue Hawaii in Rudder Theater at 8:30pm For more information contact 845-1515 Must Show A&M ID at Check-in locations around the MSC )Q IIHQ TA31 waqo Visit us online at www.washbangers.com Harvey Washbangers Aggieland 1802 Texas College Statii Friday, September 20 8pm - Midnight In the MSC
