Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech's new policy on bicycles and personal transportation allows bicycles and skateboards to be used on sidewalks.

The new Bicycle and Personal Transportation Devices policy was written especially for resident students on campus. It was approved in May, but the campus notice was posted in June.

The purpose of the new policy is not necessarily to reduce the number of cyclist accidents. Rather, it is to help facilitate movement from landlocked buildings to other landlocked buildings and help give cyclists the most direct route possible.

Bicycles are allowed on sidewalks, but pedestrians have the right of way, and cyclists must be careful of and courteous to pedestrians.

Skateboards are now allowed on sidewalks and other paved surfaces, however, not on roadways.

Mopeds and motor scooters must purchase and display a parking permit as well as park in the designated moped/motor scooter or motorcycle parking spaces - not at a bike rack.

Debbie Freed, the university's alternative transportation manager, helped write the new policy.

"The new policy was written to promote responsible cycling," Freed said. "We want people to be able to held to pedestrians, to keep control of their bike, and to understand that pedestrians always have the right of way."

Freed said the change was intended to promote smart cycling.

"I hope the policy increases the number of cyclists on campus and increases of the number of folks cycling responsibly," Freed said.

From 2005 to 2008, there were 26 bike accidents and 22 pedestrians hit.

There have been three bicycle accidents at Tech so far this year, including a fatal one on July 2.

In response to prior accidents, Tech added safety signs, traffic lights and a roundabout. Several years ago, the university also widened selected crosswalks.

Hilary West, communications coordinator for Transportation and Campus Services, said the policy was not a result of the recent cycling accidents.

"Recently, there has been a misconception that the policy is in response to the cycling accidents," West said.

Instead, she said the policy has been in the works for the last 18 months and the policy is not a direct reaction to the cycling accidents.

"The new policy was created in response to the growing cycling community on campus," West said. "In the last couple of years, the increase in fuel cost and increase in sustainability initiatives, more people are moving toward bicycles as their mode of transportation to get to campus, get to their class, to get to their offices."

Now students can get on their bikes and ride using the sidewalk network to get from their dormitory to a dining facility.

Tory Smith, rising senior at Virginia Tech, said he used his bike every day it was not raining this year.

He had not been informed about the new Bicycle and Personal Transportation Devices policy.

"If you try to ride in the street on the Drillfield, you could pulled over by the policemen, which has actually happened to me before," Smith said.

Freed said the policy will give guidelines to cyclists so they can safely continue current practices.

"We hope that the policy will assist cyclists in getting to their end location easier," West said. "Therefore, encouraging more use of bicycles on campus."