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.
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