CSUPD cracks down on bikers

The brown and white sign stands quietly to the side, informing

its viewers to dismount and walk their bicycles. The sign is

located where Center Street stops and the campus pedestrian pathway

continues.

It is at this intersection that students w ill have to dismount

from their bikes, or risk receiving a ticket, starting this fall as

CSUPD plans to begin stricter enforcement of dismount zones campus

wide.

Karl Swenson, an administrative Lieutenant for CSUPD, referred

to the area as a “high-traffic area.” Thus, CSUPD deems it

necessary to expand the dismount zones into the causeway underneath

the Yates Building. He mentioned that the area has always been

zoned for foot traffic, but the construction of the Yates Building

prevented the signage of the area.

During the summer the area will be re-signed and officers will

begin strict enforcement of dismount zone starting in the fall. The

area has not been previously enforced because the student body had

not been properly informed of the area being a dismount zone,

Swenson said.

CSUPD intends to replace all of the dismount zone signs

throughout campus during the next year as the budget allows. They

also plan to replace the existing white signs with red and black

lettering, some of which are more than 10 years old, with the new

brown signs with white and red lettering, Swenson said.

Chris Herron, a sophomore natural resources major, said the

current system is not duly enforced.

“I’ve been kicked off more [at night],” Herron said. “During the

day they don’t seem to do too much.”

When asked about the extension of dismount zones south of the

Yates Building he had a shocked expression.

“That’s quite a hike, it’s a long way to push your bike when

you’re going from north to south,” Herron said.

Swensen said an alternative route for bicycles that wraps

between the Visual Arts Building and the Chemistry building, then

to the west side of Eddy Hall can be followed north to the parking

on the west side of the library.

Some students believe ticketing should depend upon the

individual situation.

“Only reckless riders should be ticketed,” said Correnn Brennen,

a natural resources major.

The dismount zones have been created because of the liability

the school faces if a pedestrian were to be injured in an accident.

The school is liable for the injured party.

While walking her bike across the Plaza, Callie Moench said the

amount of time she has determines whether she abides by dismount

zones.

“I usually don’t take the [dismount signs] very seriously. I

guess it’s useful; there have been times when I’ve been walking and

gotten pissed off at bikers ’cause I almost get crashed into… I

guess if there’s a good number of people [it’s useful],” said

Moench, an open option sophomore.

Moench said that while she has never been ticketed she has been

pulled over by CSUPD officers and forced to dismount her bike.

Moench believes the tougher enforcement of dismount zones will

lead students to abide by the rules more often.

“I think a lot of people take those things more seriously now.”

Herron said.