Keep Davis Bike Church on Campus

Dear UC Davis Administrators,

The Davis Bike Church has served us, the Davis and UC Davis community, for
four years as a unique repository for tools, recycled parts, and knowledge
about bicycles. During that time, thousands of us have been empowered
through education received at the Bike Church. It is for this reason that we
are troubled by the sudden eviction of the Bike Church from the University
campus. Though we understand the concerns expressed about the Bike Church,
we are thoroughly disappointed by Student Housing Administrationвs unwillingness to work constructively
toward viable resolutions. UC Davis has a proud history of fostering the
roots of unique community service organizations; consider the Experimental
College, Craft Center, KDVS, the Bike Barn, Outdoor Adventures, and Unitrans
as examples. It saddens us to see the current UC Davis Housing Administration snuff
the efforts of an emerging group of volunteers proving a valuable community
service. We respectfully request that Student Housing, and other appropriate
departments of the University, spend the time and effort necessary to allow
Bike Church volunteers to comply with University regulations and thus
continue to serve the community for years to come.

In the eviction notice sent to the Bike Church, Student Housing expressed
several concerns which we believe are easy to resolve if the University
staff would only communicate and collaborate with the Bike Church
volunteers. Concerns about liability have already been solved by such
organizations as the Craft Center, and it would be simple to implement a
similar waiver system. Environmental Health and Safety concerns have been
addressed since Student Housing first began to press the issue, and the
efforts of Bike Church volunteers need only the review, additional guidance
and approval from University Environmental Health and Safety experts. Fire
Department concerns can be solved through communication and cooperation in
implementing modern fire prevention. Monetary transactions of other campus
organizations have been structured and regulated, and certainly clear
guidance from University officials would allow the Bike Church to operate
according to necessary accounting policy. Student Housing's concern about
the Bike Church serving non-student community members in a location near
student housing seems unfounded since the EC gardens, with an equally
immediate proximity to the Domes, has a long standing history of serving
people from throughout the community. Lastly, the Domes community approved
and supported the Bike Church from its inception and
continues to express clear
and strong support for the Bike Church activities.

We implore the UC Davis administration to stay true to their public service,
educational, and environmental promises by taking the time to
work collaboratively with this grass-roots community service project, rather
than pretentiously brushing it aside. The Bike Church volunteers
provide education and a welcoming community for bicyclists, filling a niche
that is neglected by other campus programs. Losing this organization
may seem small compared to more pressing administrative concerns, but it
would be a sad blow to the base of the UC Davis community and would reflect
a lack of University support for community building, public service, and sustainability.