2008 Woodie Awards
Bikes not always safe
Jordan Chittley
Issue date: 5/18/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
On a warm, sunny morning, a DU student walks out of his dorm on his way to unlock his bike from the bike rack and ride to class. First problem-the bike isn't there.
"I was pissed and thought someone stole [my bike]" said Ketan Shah. Then he found out that the bike wasn't stolen and "found out that Campus Safety took it."
When Shah went to the Campus Safety office to retrieve his bike the first time, he was told the person with the key to the storage couldn't be found.
Shah returned the following week and even though the person with the key to the storage was there, he was startled when he discovered that in order to retrieve his bike, he had to show Campus Safety an approved kryptonite U-lock. Campus Safety took down Shah's license, dorm phone number and cell phone number.
Shah went back for a third time only to find out that his brand new $700 Trek ZX6000 mountain bike had recently been auctioned off. A Campus Safety officer, realizing his mistake, offered to buy Shah lunch. Unfortunately, lunch was not what Shah was hoping for when he walked into that office last June.
Shah is not alone. During fall quarter of 2002, 28 bikes were stolen, mostly from the bike racks near the dormitories. Beginning winter quarter 2003, Campus Safety initiated a program to force students to lock their bikes with a Campus Safety approved kryptonite U-lock, which can conveniently be purchased at the DU bookstore or from the Campus Safety office for $22.
Every Friday, Campus Safety officers walk around campus to look for bikes not locked up with the recommended lock.
Even $100 custom-made Thule bike locks are not approved, as Solomon Freeman discovered.
"I had a cheap bike with a custom lock," said Freeman. "I got a notice to buy a better lock so I lodged a complaint explaining that they don't need to protect my lock, but they cut it anyway and took my bike."
Bikes found in violation receive a notice to purchase a U-lock. The following Friday, if the owner has not purchased a U-lock, the bike receives a notice of bike removal. Therefore, 14 days after the original notice the bike is taken to the pound where the owner can retrieve it if he or she can show proof of ownership through a bill of sale or by unlocking the recently cut cable lock.
"I was pissed and thought someone stole [my bike]" said Ketan Shah. Then he found out that the bike wasn't stolen and "found out that Campus Safety took it."
When Shah went to the Campus Safety office to retrieve his bike the first time, he was told the person with the key to the storage couldn't be found.
Shah returned the following week and even though the person with the key to the storage was there, he was startled when he discovered that in order to retrieve his bike, he had to show Campus Safety an approved kryptonite U-lock. Campus Safety took down Shah's license, dorm phone number and cell phone number.
Shah went back for a third time only to find out that his brand new $700 Trek ZX6000 mountain bike had recently been auctioned off. A Campus Safety officer, realizing his mistake, offered to buy Shah lunch. Unfortunately, lunch was not what Shah was hoping for when he walked into that office last June.
Shah is not alone. During fall quarter of 2002, 28 bikes were stolen, mostly from the bike racks near the dormitories. Beginning winter quarter 2003, Campus Safety initiated a program to force students to lock their bikes with a Campus Safety approved kryptonite U-lock, which can conveniently be purchased at the DU bookstore or from the Campus Safety office for $22.
Every Friday, Campus Safety officers walk around campus to look for bikes not locked up with the recommended lock.
Even $100 custom-made Thule bike locks are not approved, as Solomon Freeman discovered.
"I had a cheap bike with a custom lock," said Freeman. "I got a notice to buy a better lock so I lodged a complaint explaining that they don't need to protect my lock, but they cut it anyway and took my bike."
Bikes found in violation receive a notice to purchase a U-lock. The following Friday, if the owner has not purchased a U-lock, the bike receives a notice of bike removal. Therefore, 14 days after the original notice the bike is taken to the pound where the owner can retrieve it if he or she can show proof of ownership through a bill of sale or by unlocking the recently cut cable lock.