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Nomen Nescio
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:20 pm
Post subject: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford Studen |
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The service manager of the Campus Bike Shop at Stanford University, Christian
Parker, may be headed for big trouble. He was given permission to include
marketing literature in the university's mailing packet to 1500 incoming
Stanford freshman.
He promised if students purchased his 'Security Package' they would receive
'wheel locks'. For the second consecutive year, all he gave them were the
Trans X skewers which can be opened by a few turns of a #5 hex wrench. At
least several hundred students and parents purchased the 'package'.
Bicycle theft is a big problem at Stanford.
An article appeared in the Stanford Daily on September 29th. It revealed
the distress of the school administration that was caught off-guard.
Unwritten in the article was an effort to protect the job of the Carolyn
Helmke, the university's high-paid bicycle coordinator who uncritically
endorsed Parker to the school administration. |
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Booker C. Bense
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:55 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article <1129309161.246864.257400@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
Larry Bud <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Unwritten in the article was an effort to protect the job of the Carolyn
Helmke, the university's high-paid bicycle coordinator who uncritically
endorsed Parker to the school administration.
Bicycle coordinator? Are they just making up jobs to fill?
|
_ Not really, due to local political considerations, the
university can't develop the land it owns until it gets
less people driving to campus. It's just one minor offshoot
of the long running battle between Stanford and the surrounding
communities.
_ The high-paid part is pretty amusing as well.
_ Booker C. Bense
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bryanska
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:53 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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| Quote: | Trans X skewers which can be opened by a few turns of a #5 hex wrench.
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Thanks for the tip! I'll tell my buddies there to be on the look out. |
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Larry Bud
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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| Quote: | Unwritten in the article was an effort to protect the job of the Carolyn
Helmke, the university's high-paid bicycle coordinator who uncritically
endorsed Parker to the school administration.
|
Bicycle coordinator? Are they just making up jobs to fill? |
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Ben Pfaff
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Nomen Nescio <nobody@dizum.com> writes:
| Quote: | Bicycle theft is a big problem at Stanford.
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But mostly among students who don't securely lock their bikes to
fixed objects. I've heard of a few saddles and seatposts stolen
off locked bikes, but I don't hear very often of securely locked
bikes being stolen. Every day here, I see hundreds of bikes
"locked" with a U-lock or cable lock between front wheel and
frame and otherwise propped up with the kickstand.
(More bike racks would help. In some places on campus there is a
severe shortage.)
--
Ben Pfaff
email: blp@cs.stanford.edu
web: http://benpfaff.org |
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Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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In rec.bicycles.misc Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:
| Quote: | (More bike racks would help. In some places on campus there is
a severe shortage.)
|
Hmm. Maybe Stanford should get a Bicycle Coordinator.
Bill (GD&R)
------------------------------------------------------
| Eighty percent of the people in the world are fools |
| and the rest of us are in danger of contamination. |
| -Walter Matthau (Hello Dolly) |
------------------------------------------------------ |
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Bob
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:49 pm
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Nomen Nescio wrote:
| Quote: | The service manager of the Campus Bike Shop at Stanford University, Christian
Parker, may be headed for big trouble. He was given permission to include
marketing literature in the university's mailing packet to 1500 incoming
Stanford freshman.
He promised if students purchased his 'Security Package' they would receive
'wheel locks'. For the second consecutive year, all he gave them were the
Trans X skewers which can be opened by a few turns of a #5 hex wrench. At
least several hundred students and parents purchased the 'package'.
Bicycle theft is a big problem at Stanford.
An article appeared in the Stanford Daily on September 29th. It revealed
the distress of the school administration that was caught off-guard.
Unwritten in the article was an effort to protect the job of the Carolyn
Helmke, the university's high-paid bicycle coordinator who uncritically
endorsed Parker to the school administration.
|
Not only is it a little difficult for me to summon up too much sympathy
for anyone that buys something sight unseen but also if this is the
full story I have to wonder just how smart one must be to be admitted
to Stanford and how easily distressed the Stanford administrators are.
Regards,
Bob Hunt |
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Leo Lichtman
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 12:57 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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"Bob" wrote: Not only is it a little difficult for me to summon up too much
sympathy for anyone that buys something sight unseen (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The offer was included with the University's admission packet. Doesn't that
tend to create confidence that the offer is legitimate? My question is,
"What business does the University have doing an endorsement and free
advertising/mailing to a local bike shop? And, I wonder how the other bike
shops in the area feel about it. Do you suppose there might have been a
little hanky-panky going on? |
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Ben Pfaff
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:54 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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"Leo Lichtman" <l.lichtman@worldnet.att.net> writes:
| Quote: | The offer was included with the University's admission packet. Doesn't that
tend to create confidence that the offer is legitimate? My question is,
"What business does the University have doing an endorsement and free
advertising/mailing to a local bike shop? And, I wonder how the other bike
shops in the area feel about it. Do you suppose there might have been a
little hanky-panky going on?
|
The Campus Bike Shop is the only bike shop actually on campus at
Stanford. It is mainly staffed by students, I believe. It is
undoubtedly leasing its space from the university. That's
something of an endorsement in itself. The next nearest bike
shops are a couple of miles away (although one can easily get to
them via the university's free bus service). I'm not surprised,
therefore, that the Campus Bike Shop would have a special status.
--
"A computer is a state machine.
Threads are for people who cant [sic] program state machines."
--Alan Cox |
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Peter Cole
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:12 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Larry Bud wrote:
| Quote: | Unwritten in the article was an effort to protect the job of the Carolyn
Helmke, the university's high-paid bicycle coordinator who uncritically
endorsed Parker to the school administration.
Bicycle coordinator? Are they just making up jobs to fill?
|
I would think that for an institution the size of Stanford, a bicycle
coordinator would be an important post. Supporting students in the use
of bikes around campus communities is a very good thing. It could be
very cost-effective for the university, too. |
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gds
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:17 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Peter Cole wrote:
| Quote: |
I would think that for an institution the size of Stanford, a bicycle
coordinator would be an important post.
|
You clearly have never worked in a major research university. Such a
position at a place like Stanford ranks along side the towel boy at the
pool.
Supporting students in the use
| Quote: | of bikes around campus communities is a very good thing.
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True!
It could be
| Quote: | very cost-effective for the university, too.
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Could be but probably not. Parking is usually a full cost+ recovery
center. Although that may not be the case at Stanford, it's been a
while since I looked at their budget. |
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Peter Cole
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:44 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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gds wrote:
| Quote: | Peter Cole wrote:
I would think that for an institution the size of Stanford, a bicycle
coordinator would be an important post.
You clearly have never worked in a major research university. Such a
position at a place like Stanford ranks along side the towel boy at the
pool.
Supporting students in the use
of bikes around campus communities is a very good thing.
True!
It could be
very cost-effective for the university, too.
Could be but probably not. Parking is usually a full cost+ recovery
center. Although that may not be the case at Stanford, it's been a
while since I looked at their budget.
|
I was thinking in the broader economics. My wife works for a large urban
university here in Boston and parking/traffic is a huge issue, it
heavily impacts community relations and often limits university
expansion. More cities, whether under the Clean Air Act or not, are
limiting autos. |
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gds
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:51 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Peter Cole wrote:
| Quote: | I was thinking in the broader economics. My wife works for a large urban
university here in Boston and parking/traffic is a huge issue, it
heavily impacts community relations and often limits university
expansion. More cities, whether under the Clean Air Act or not, are
limiting autos.
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And I am tired and just being obnoxious. Sorry! Certainly the thrust of
your argument is a good one. |
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Jasper Janssen
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 6:38 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:54:28 -0700, Ben Pfaff <blp@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:
| Quote: | "Leo Lichtman" <l.lichtman@worldnet.att.net> writes:
The offer was included with the University's admission packet. Doesn't that
tend to create confidence that the offer is legitimate? My question is,
"What business does the University have doing an endorsement and free
advertising/mailing to a local bike shop? And, I wonder how the other bike
shops in the area feel about it. Do you suppose there might have been a
little hanky-panky going on?
The Campus Bike Shop is the only bike shop actually on campus at
Stanford. It is mainly staffed by students, I believe. It is
undoubtedly leasing its space from the university. That's
something of an endorsement in itself. The next nearest bike
shops are a couple of miles away (although one can easily get to
them via the university's free bus service). I'm not surprised,
therefore, that the Campus Bike Shop would have a special status.
|
Besides, having local businesses put fliers in your admissions package for
critically important stuff like bike repair, pizza delivery, and the like,
is a service to the students. When you sit there in your dorm room after
your parents have driven off, knowing who to call for pizza surely is
critically important, anyway.
Jasper |
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Bob
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:08 am
Post subject: Re: Bogus Bicycle "Wheel-Locks" Sold To Incoming Stanford St |
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Leo Lichtman wrote:
| Quote: | "Bob" wrote: Not only is it a little difficult for me to summon up too much
sympathy for anyone that buys something sight unseen (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The offer was included with the University's admission packet. Doesn't that
tend to create confidence that the offer is legitimate? My question is,
"What business does the University have doing an endorsement and free
advertising/mailing to a local bike shop? And, I wonder how the other bike
shops in the area feel about it. Do you suppose there might have been a
little hanky-panky going on?
|
My answers to your questions depend on many factors such as your
definition of "hanky-panky" and on whether or not the advertising
included in the admissions packet was indeed free. Lofty sounding
commencement speeches and cap and gown ceremonies sometimes cause
people to forget that universities are *businesses*. I'd be very
surprised if the LBS hadn't paid Stanford for including the advertising
in the informational packet.
My utility bill often contains advertising for local HVAC companies.
Those companies paid the power company to include their ads with my
bill. If I were to pay one of those companies $99 for "a complete
furnace inspection and service" without *knowing* exactly what services
were included only to find that the "complete inspection and service"
consisted of making sure the thermostat worked and changing a $1.15 air
filter then shame on me.
Regards,
Bob Hunt |
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