Emily Mathews
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Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) hopes to reevaluate the bike and skateboarding policies on campus, promoting bike safety and possibly working to legalize skateboards on campus.
Problems with the current policies weren’t brought into perspective until ASI surveyed students on major campus issues this past October. Based on survey results, the executive cabinet shifted its focus to campus bike and skateboard policies.
ASI President and agricultural business senior Jason Colombini said bike safety and designated bike lanes received strong support and little opposition on the survey.
“We understand that some of these things won’t get done in 30 days or two quarters or maybe a couple of years,” Colombini said. “But we can start the ball moving for some of these so that next year and the year after, it eventually gets to whatever the goal was for it.”
Part of the bike policy is related to when sections of it were designed. As a result, ASI has constructed a map to start looking at areas that should encourage increased bike lanes or bike safety.
“If you walk by certain parts of campus, like by the (Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics), the Rec Center and Poly Canyon Village, they are much more bike friendly.” Colombini said, “It just depends on where you are on campus.”
In addition to the strong support for bike safety, there were also about 68.8 percent in full or strong support of allowing skateboards on campus. Because skateboarding is still illegal on campus, ASI plans on to start amending the bike policy before addressing skateboarding.
University Police Department (UPD) Chief George Hughes said one of the negative consequences of skateboarding is the hilly topography on campus, which allows skateboarders to pick up fast and dangerous speeds without being able to stop.
“It is the administration’s responsibility to create a safe environment for the campus community wherever possible,” Hughes said. “Because of these safety concerns, skateboarding is prohibited and enforced on campus.”
The consequences for skateboarding on campus are either a citation or warning for the violation. The fine, set up by the court, is currently $158 for the first offense, $205 for the second and $410 for the third. The final fine is determined by the judge.
For a first time offense, the violator also has the option of completing a diversion class, which reduces the penalty a great deal, Hughes said.
Skateboarding should be allowed on campus while still addressing opposition, Colombini said, referring to the 11 percent of survey respondents who strongly opposed skateboarding.
Regardless of ASI’s actions, the survey results still hold importance, Colombini said.
“These results don’t go away,” Colombini said. “Hopefully in the future, if we can’t get this done this year, people will know that (a policy change) is wanted.”