Turning a blind eye to the bikes

Campus law enforcement fails to enforce bikes and boards policy

Matt

It is illegal to ride a bike on most parts of the campus, including the Mall, or to even bring a skateboard to school, according to a document signed in 2007 by Pierce College’s former president.

Not all students know that it is illegal to ride a bike on most parts of the campus, or to ride a skateboard anywhere on campus.

A document signed in 2007 by Pierce College’s former President Robert Garber and former Vice President of Administrative Services Kenneth B. Takeda states that, “No bicycle riding is permitted on pedestrian sidewalks and mall walkways,” and that, “skateboards are not permitted at any time on the campus.”

The law addresses safety issues, according to Larry Kraus, Pierce’s Associate Vice President of Administrative Services. Bicyclists and skateboarders were “just not paying heed to our pedestrians,” he said.

Students were “parking their bicycles in the alcoves next to the classrooms, chaining bikes to poles, and bikes were sticking out into the walk patters and tripping students,” he said.

Skateboarders, he said, make a loud “clicketyclack sound” as they skate throughout campus, and that campus property like the waxed-up planter in front of the Business Education Building has been ruined by skateboarders.

“We really do not want to have skateboarders on the campus,” said Kraus, who had a recent run-in with an out-of-control skateboarder.

Signs are posted at all of the campus’ main entrances, but students are still largely unaware of the law.

“I knew you couldn’t do it, but I didn’t know it was illegal,” said Matt Weidman, 18, a physics major. “I don’t think it should be a ticketable offense.”

Some students believe there should be more done to advertise the rule.

“They should make it much more evident and clear, so if you get a ticket it would be fair. I have not seen a sign.” said cyclist and student Siddhartha Tague, 21, undecided major. “I’ve ridden by the cops many times. They’ve never done anything, so I just assumed it was legal, or that they just don’t care.”

Not all students have been so fortunate with campus law enforcement.

“They stopped me last time I was biking down [the Mall],” said Christian Garcia, 17, a double major in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

He’s been stopped by campus law enforcement personnel twice, once while bicycling and once while skateboarding, according to Garcia.

“They just told me to stop,” he said, pointing out he has never been cited.

Though students are frequently told to get off their bicycle or skateboard, there have been no citations reported this semester, Kraus said in an interview earlier this month.

Officer Ramos, who frequently tours the campus, is familiar with the sight of students cycling and skateboarding.

“I stop ‘em all the time,” said Ramos. Whether a rider receives a citation or just a warning depends on his or her compliance with the officers, according to Officer Pineda.

“We try to be reasonable with the students,” Pineda said.

“A verbal warning, that’s it.”

Pineda mentioned, though, that if a student doesn’t comply, he’s willing to “take it to the next level.”

Some students say they rely on their bicycle or skateboard to get to class on time.

“They better take the law off. I don’t wanna be late for class. It’s the only way I can get there in time,” said Gabriel Malapitan, 19, a nursing major.

Some, like Faviola Rivas, 20, a pre-veterinary student, are aware of and adhere to the law.

“I never ride my bike [on the Mall]. You could run somebody over,” Rivas said.

The times are not yet set.

Aside from professors taking part in the event and the sponsorship of the Political Science Department, many other Pierce groups will be lending their help to the event. Students Organizing for Success will be there volunteering and registering voters for the upcoming elections in November.

Alpha Gamma Sigma [AGS], an honor society, also played a role in the set up of the event, according to Alex Allam, one of the AGS leaders and a former student of Robb’s.

“[AGS] was pretty much in charge of publicizing the event,” Allam said. “We made the flyers.”

The honor society will also be helping out during the event, according to Allam.

“We’re going to have volunteers at the kitchen preparing food, on the floor helping speakers,” Allam said.

“We’re going to have members in charge of checking in and checking out guests.”

Despite all the political story lines and agendas, the real purpose of the event is to educate students.

“I thought it was important for the students because they’re gonna be voting on 11 propositions and I’m pretty sure most people don’t know anything about them,” Robb said.

This was true with aspiring Pierce student from Moorpark Jared Williamson, who was planning on attending the event.

“I really have no clue what the propositions all are,” said Williamson. “It’s my first time voting, I don’t want to go in and just guess.”

The Day of Politics will take place at the Great Hall and starts at 9:35 a.m. and runs until 6:30 p.m. with breaks between topics.

It will also be a live internet feed on the Roundup website, covering the different panels.

For more information, contact professor Denise Robb at robbdm@ pierccollege.edu. or visit her in Faculty Office 2303.