Future Bike Lanes Disrupt University of Memphis Campus Parking

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A future bike path may give more than just bikers some exercise. The path will be replacing parking spots long used by University of Memphis students. While the bike path is a welcome addition for many, some students say its placement is causing a bigger issue with parking.

The stretch of Southern Avenue on the campus of the University of Memphis is a busy byway.

Students cross the street carefully as cars race by looking for parking. Zach Cathey lives nearby and says spaces fill up fast.

"The parking situation is kind of crazy. It's all hectic around this area," said Cathey. "It's hard for me to find a parking spot because people trying to go to class have to park where I'm supposed to park."

Some students don't even bother with the headache of searching, settling for sidewalk parking along the train tracks.

It's illegal for students to park on this stretch of street, but they still do it anyway saying when the main lot fills up, it's the next best thing

Parking here was prohibited only a week ago, when city engineers installed no parking signs to get students in the habit of not parking there as work gets underway to create a bike lane.

"Forget a bike lane, we need to keep our parking, that's what I'm thinking!" exclaimed Cathey.

Junior soccer player Chris Porter disagrees.

"I think it's a good idea. It may limit some parking in the parking lot, but i still think that's cool," said Porter.

This week, city crews will be finishing patchwork and installing curb ramps before overlaying the street. The University says roughly 60 drivers will be impacted by the new bike lane. But more parking is in the works right now, opening up plenty of spaces for drivers.

"I don't know many people that ride bikes," said Cathey. "It looks like there are way more cars than bikes anywhere."

Next week, city workers will be milling the existing surface. The following week the overlay goes down, weather-permitting. The bike lane will stretch on Southern from Cooper to Perkins. The entire project will result in 55 miles of bike lanes in the city.