The Student Assembly unanimously voted to pass Resolution 11: Addressing Obstructed Ramps and Handicap Aisles on Campus during Thursday’s meeting. The resolution reaffirms the illegality of obstructing handicap aisles and ramps on campus and recommends that Facilities and Campus Services place signs which expressly prohibits obstructing these areas with bikes or e-scooters, per the resolution’s abstract.
Hayden Spector ’26, students with disabilities representative, and Dylan Carson ’28, College of Arts & Sciences representative, co-authored the resolution.
It is illegal in New York State to block accessibility ramps and aisles, and community members can contact the Cornell University Police Department to remove any obstructions. However, “students are hesitant to do so because it requires additional time and resources,” according to Resolution 11.
“A lot of students don’t think [accessibility obstruction] is a problem,” Spector said, adding that Resolution 11 aims to prevent accessibility issues rather than retroactively solve them.
“It is actually illegal to block walkways, and students can in fact call the police to be able to cut the bikes off,” said Spector, adding “it took 30 minutes for a police officer to come and help out” when she reported an obstruction in the past.
“[Calling the police is] not really even an immediate solution for people with disabilities. So, this [resolution] is trying to prevent it from happening in the first place,” said Spector.
Christian Tarala ’27, School of Hotel Administration representative, said Resolution 11 does not suggest “disincentives” to discourage people from blocking accessibility measures on campus.
“The disincentive is that you can be fined and have your bike lock cut off,” said Spector. There are "recommendations” to reiterate the illegality of obstructing pathways, which the resolution states is not “universally known by students.”
Resolution 11 passed without dissent or abstention by assembly members and is now subject to approval by University Administration.
Correction, Oct. 20, 12:20 p.m.: The article has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Hayden Spector's name.
