Lack of racks and thefts plague bike owners
By Ashley ColeAsst. News Editor
February 23, 2012
 |
| Photo by Dustin Porter |
| Bicycles fill the rack and overflow to the stairs outside Old Main Building. |
One was stolen from Courtyard, two from Cypress, one from North, basically just all over campus, Sgt. Ed Locklear said.
Three of the six bicycles that were stolen were locked to bicycle racks.
Locklear encourages students to lock them up because bicycle theft is a "convenience thing."
Locklear also encourages students to register their bicycles with campus police.
This way if a bike gets stolen we'll have the serial number, and it'll be easier for us to find, Locklear said.
Campus police have started a new initiative called "Be Brave! Say Something," an anonymous report.
Locklear encourages students who see suspicious activity to call the anonymous tip line at 910-521-6869.
Another problem on campus is people attaching their bicycles to stairs and ramps because of the lack of space on bicycle racks.
Bicycles attached to stairs obviously creates a walking hazard because people could trip over them, Locklear said.
 |
| Photo by Dustin Porter |
| Bicycles fill the rack and overflow to the stairs outside Old Main Building. |
"We do and have charged students for obstructing the walkway," Locklear said.
Locklear said they've only done this a few times because it's hard to find out who owns the bikes.
"We have removed bikes and people came to the police department to report them and we have charged them [$15]," Locklear said.
Campus police have been in contact with the Office of Student Affairs about having more bicycle racks installed throughout campus.
"I was over at Cypress where they installed three new racks and they are already full," Locklear said. So there is a need for more racks around campus.
 |
The print edition of The Pine Needle is published 14 times a year during the fall and spring semesters. Updated: Saturday, March 24, 2012 © The University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
The Pine Needle PO Box 1510 Pembroke, NC 28372-1510 Phone: 910.521.6204 Fax: 910.522-5795 Email: pineneedle@uncp.edu |