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Bicycles offer alternative to parking hassles
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Many students who find on-campus parking a difficult process have chosen to ride a bicycle instead. The number of students who are riding their bikes increases as the fall semester gets underway.
Traffic Control Supervisor Charles Wilson said, “It’s hard to tell how many students ride to class, but the racks are full.”
Senior Heidi Goffinet decided to ride this semester due to parking problems in the past. “I got a lot of tickets before, at the meters, in the garage, they don’t give any leeway,” said Goffinet.
Tate Valle, a freshman, cites his concern for the environment as his reason for riding to class. “Quit whining and ride a bike,” he said.
With the increased freedom of riding a bike come complications. According to Sgt. Gary Rouse of the Campus Police Department, bicycle thefts are an issue on campus. “It is a problem,” said Rouse, “the library, housing, and other areas all get hit.”
The rate of thefts decreases in the summertime and picks up in the fall, in response to the number of students on campus. “I just signed off on two reports this morning,” said Rouse.
Spending a few extra dollars on a quality lock appears to be the best defense against a stolen bike. Wilson, who rides a bike to campus every day himself said, “are the best. You even need to run a cable through quick release wheels.”
Rouse suggests registering bicycles through the Boise City Police Department. The process records the serial number of the bike, make, model, and distinguishing marks, and enters the information into a database maintained by the Boise Police.
The only way to have a stolen bike recovered is by registering it. When a known thief is stopped, the bicycle can be run through the system. “If we canOt identify the bike, we have to let them go,” said Rouse.
Students can register bicycles at the Campus Police substation, across from the Student Union. For a $2 fee, the information is taken down and forwarded to the Boise Police. The registration is good throughout the city.
As for deterring theft, Rouse encourages all students to be involved, “It’s easy to see our bright yellow shirts, and our cars are distinctive, so thieves can hide from us. If anybody sees something suspicious, they should call, and we’ll check it out.”
Matt Neznanski