In the busy morning commute, a cyclist rushes on Truckee Road and Village Drive, near Diablo Hall, runs a stop sign, almost hits three or four pedestrians and cuts off a car before running another stop sign.
If he had been ticketed it could have cost more than $500.
The University Police Department has started to crack down and enforce bicycle regulation on campus.
“It’s not that we are going to be handing out tickets to everyone, it’s a judgment thing, and it’s not always black and white,” Sgt. Robert Eckrote said. “We will be giving tickets and less warnings.”
Enforcement has been increased because there are hundreds more cyclists on campus this year than in previous years and too many complaints and accidents have been made, Officer Frank Herrera said.
Officers have been looking at bike traffic at busy intersections like California Boulevard and Campus Way, North Perimeter Road and Via Carta and Grand Avenue and Slack Street, to get an idea of how many people are violating the law.
Officer Chad Reiley found lots of violations during his survey.
“Between 15 to 20 minutes I saw 80 to 100 violations,” he said.
Checking traffic lets officers know which parts of campus are more dangerous than others. Eckrote said the UPD found several common violations.
“The most common violations are failing to stop at a stop sign and no headlights (used) half-hour before sunrise and half-hour after sunset,” he said.
UPD designed and put up A-frame signs reminding cyclists to stop at stop signs and officers have been handing out informational flyers about bicycle laws. Since Oct. 1, officers have been going to dorms to educate students about campus safety, including biking.
Sgt. Lori Hashim said that the UPD had officers actively involved and helping to educate campus.
“It’s all part of the campaign, get everyone educated,” she said. “Let’s give everyone a chance.”
The UPD will be on foot, bikes and in cars regulating bicycilists, Eckrote said.
“Officers will be standing at stop signs and if a biker doesn’t stop the officer will radio another bike officer who will continue to pull them over,” he said.
If a person is trying to run from an officer and gets caught officers will arrest them for evading of a police officer and take them to county jail.
Officers will decide what to do if a cyclist is trying to escape, Reiley said.
“With any violator trying to get away, we would have to look and see if it is dangerous to chase,” he said. “We can radio giving a description but there is not much an officer can do at that point. It’s a case by case scenario.”
With a first time offense, the violator depending on the citation, has two options; pay the ticket or attend Bicycle and Skateboard Diversion class that is two hours long, Hashim said.
“If you attend the class then the ticket is dismissed. With a second offense you don’t get the class option,” she said.
The class goes over all laws pertaining to bicycles in detail and students watch safety movies, Reiley said.
A fine has to be paid in four to six weeks or it will turn into a warrant for arrest, Eckrote said. Getting multiple bike tickets will also raise car insurance rates.
Tickets also can be issued when a bike is locked to anything other than a bike rack.
“We do a warning with a slip, after that the bike is impounded with a bike lock and the owner will have to pay a fine. If not picked up in 24 hours the bike is seized and prices go up,” he said.
All bikes on campus must be registered with the UPD, there is no penalty but registering a bike can help in getting it returned after it is lost or stolen. Registration can be done online or forms can be picked up at the UPD office.
All Unclaimed bikes go to the lost and found for six months and then are are placed into the semi-annual bike auction. The next auction is Nov. 4 and 5 at the UPD.