After two weeks of issuing warnings to bicyclists who violate Oregon's bike rules, Department of Public Safety officer Lt. Herb Horner said during a Public Safety Advisory Group meeting Thursday that his department will give offenders one more week to comply before it begins issuing citations.
Bicyclists who don't dismount on sidewalks or yield to pedestrians during school hours may receive citations of up to $25. DPS has posted sandwich signs near campus and positioned officers to hand out information on proper bike procedures in recent attempts to stem the problem, Horner said.
A PSAG committee on bicycle- and skateboard-rule enforcement convened last year, but didn't report its findings to the full board before the end of the year, DPS Interim Director Tom Hicks said. He added that DPS decided to go ahead with enforcing citations without a committee report, causing discussion among board members at the meeting about the best way to handle bike problems.
ASUO President Adam Petkun said the bike situation should be reviewed.
"It's hard to understand why we went forward without hearing from the subcommittee," he said.
Director of Legal Services Ilona Koleszar agreed, saying additional warning signs are needed to spread the word to new students, international students and visitors to campus.
"If we expect that these policies will be successful in preventing collisions with bicycles, we have to follow through all the way," she said.
She added that the citation process shouldn't occur until a committee has reviewed the procedures.
Horner said DPS has exhausted its options and needs citations to increase public safety after receiving several complaints this year because riders consciously disregard posted signs. "We've done everything we think is reasonable to get the word out," he said.
Horner added that once citations are issued, word will quickly spread about the laws. "People do not adhere to warnings -- a citation they don't forget," he said. "It's unfortunate, but sometimes that's what it takes to change the behavior."
EMU Director Dusty Miller said bicycle traffic is a serious problem, especially around the EMU breezeway and the intersection of East 13th Avenue and University Street. Miller said some people travel through the breezeway going 15 to 20 mph and will eventually injure someone.
"It's not a question of if it happens, it's a question of when it happens," Miller said.
The board decided to form a new group to address recommendations about the bike issue to the planning committee.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed forming its 2004-05 working agenda and electing officers, which it will address during its next meeting Nov. 18.
parkerhowell@dailyemerald.com
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