Students studying in their first year at the University of Haifa are angry that they were not warned in advance about the closure of the only bridge that safely transports them from the parking lot of the Nature and Parks Authority to the Haifa University campus.
The parking lot and the hierarchy at Haifa University
At the University of Haifa, first-year students cannot park their vehicles inside the university complex, like older students and lecturers, so their only option is to park in the parking lot of the Nature and Parks Authority, located above the Carmel Park and from there walk towards the university and climb the stairs to the bridge that connects the reserve to the University of Haifa .
In recent days, those students who used this bridge every day, were surprised to find out one morning that the bridge was closed, without notice for a period of several weeks. The bridge was established in 2016 in collaboration with the Nature and Parks Authority and the University of Haifa, in order to ensure the path of those students, on their way from the parking lot to the university.
Transportation to Haifa University
Many students are forced to come to Haifa University by car, because public transportation does not serve them in a fast way from the number of bus lines that entered the university during the corona virus, so if the students come with their cars, they save a lot of time on the road.
Two bridges are blocked
Another bridge leads into the university. This is a bridge that connects the university and the cable car station.
Since the cable car was established until today, the bridge is also blocked and cannot be crossed. Because of an argument that has not yet been resolved between the University of Haifa and the company that operates the Cable Express cable car, regarding responsibility on that bridge. So actually as of today there are 2 bridges whose role is to lead pedestrian students safely that are blocked.
So what do the first year students do?
Sergey Chermisinov, a first-year media student, told "Hai Pa" that he went to university security and first of all asked why block a bridge that helps and even protects so many students, and according to them the bridge does not meet the standard of bridges and may collapse, so they are doing some renovations on it and some more Shavuot will be able to go through it.
Despite the promise that the bridge will return to operation, Sergey is still worried, "The first-year students are all still parking in the parking lot of the Nature and Parks Authority because we have no other option and cross a road without a crosswalk, a main road on which vehicles travel at least 90 km/h in order to pass over a water pipe big and go through tangles and get to university. In the end, a car could hit one of the students and a disaster would happen."
Haifa University's response: "The bridge was closed by the municipality"
The "Hai Fe" team contacted the University of Haifa in order to understand why the bridge was closed, when it will be reopened and whether there is a safe exchange for students. The University of Haifa claims that the bridge was closed by the Haifa municipality and we have already sent them emails on the subject.
The Haifa Municipality informed Haifa News Corporation:
The bridge in question was closed in order to prevent danger to its users, after structural defects were discovered. The issue is being handled by the professionals of the Haifa Municipality and is expected to take several weeks. At the same time, the municipality is promoting the opening of a new bridge, connecting the parking lot of the reserve next to the university and the cable car station.
Haifa University's response- "Several weeks ago, the university turned to the Haifa municipality in order to arrange the opening of the bridge as quickly as possible. Since the closing of the bridge creates a danger to the safety of the students, we will continue to operate non-stop until it is operational again. Until then, we ask the student body, despite the inconvenience, to only cross At the crossing which is not far from the bridge."
Haifa Municipality's response - "The bridge in question was closed in order to prevent danger to its users, after structural defects were discovered. The issue is being handled by the professionals of the municipality of Haifa and is expected to take several weeks. At the same time, the municipality is promoting the opening of a new bridge, which connects the parking lot of the reserve next to the university and the cable car station. "
We have been complaining about public transportation for years and the situation is getting worse every day. There is no electronic signage reserved for the arrival of buses. Since the corona virus, they have cut the number of lines in half and canceled fast lines to Bat Galim. The university refuses to find solutions and the corrupt student union also does not concern itself with anything but beer.
- Why is the university allowed to turn a nature reserve in Nahal Nadar into a parking lot for the trash cans of spoiled students?
- If there is a lack of public transportation to the campus, more should be added and not send people to purchase vehicles and park in natural areas.
- University employees should also close the campus and arrive by public transport enough for this harmful indulgence!!!
The campuses and schools should be an area free of vehicles and parking lots.
Also government offices, municipalities, academic campuses, hospitals, public transport and employment parks.
This is the only way we will encourage improvement in sidewalks and walking and improvement of public transportation in Israel!!
This bridge has existed for less than a decade, just a joke!
And the possibility to park inside the university for those who are not in their first year is only if they win the lottery that gives them the possibility to pay for parking!
There are students who come from far away and the car is the only option. And they often endanger themselves, not only when crossing the road (remind me where the crossing is because I've never seen it), but also when parking on the narrow curbs because of the gravity!
It seems to me that until God forbid a disaster happens they will not fix anything, the bridge is blocked and they are not repairing it at all!
And now that there is a strike at the university because of all the mess, the day we will see change is still far away!
What do you mean first year students can't park at the university???
who will pay for a parking ticket for the duration and park at their leisure...
A strange claim.
This section that is not taught in universities today, is simply ridiculous! Why should politics be brought into the academic space?? What happened to you?? You just lost it! It also really borders on impudence! It's just despicable on every level.