Sacramento State junior Andrea Jost didn’t expect it to be so difficult to park her bicycle on campus.

Jost, who rides a bicycle to school everyday, said she chooses an alternative to a car just so she does not have to fight with traffic congestion or pay parking fees. Jost said bicycles are facing some problems associated with overcrowding and the budget crisis.

“More people are riding their bicycles to school this semester,” Jost said. “There should be more bike parking, especially this semester with the (vehicle) parking fees going up.”

According to University Transportation and Parking Services there are two bicycle parking compounds on campus. The biking compounds are free of charge and Bicycle Compound #1, located by the Guy West Bridge on the east side of campus, is staffed five days a week from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. to help deter theft.

A guard at Compound #1, Eddie Diaz has been working the lot twice a week for the last year. He said he has noticed the increase in both bicycle riders and the need to accommodate for their bikes.

“I see the parking lot fill up all the time,” Diaz said. “This is the only lot with a guard and it is full at some point everyday since I started working, usually by 8 a.m.”

At Peak Adventures, the Sac State source for renting bike lockers and bikes, they sell out of bike rental lockers by the second week.

“We are almost sold out of lockers right now,” said Peak Adventures employee and Sac State junior Melanie Keir.

Keir rides her bike to school five days a week and sometimes even two or three times a day.

“It’s great,” Keir said. “Bikes get you places way faster than with a car and the roads and bike trails around here are good.”

Keir said bicyclist often ask what the bike rules are at Sac State.

“They want to know if they can get in trouble for riding bikes on campus, and where they can park,” Keir said.

According to a UTAPS brochure, bicycles are permitted on all campus roadways; however, they are not permitted on walking paths or sidewalks.

John Hamrick, investigator with University Police, said there are problems that come with inadequate bicycle parking and uncertainty of official campus rules.

“We occasionally get complaints about bike riding on the inner campus,” Hamrick said. “Cyclists need to be more careful.”

Hamrick said the more complaints stem from bike thefts.

Since January, there have been 20 reports of stolen bikes, and one reported theft from Bicycle Compound No. 1 during guarded hours.

Hamrick said the total number of bikes stolen is much higher than that.

“If I had to guess, I would probably say one bike a week (is stolen),” Hamrick said.

Peak Adventures staff has also seen their share of problem with bike theft.

“People will steal anything from a bike,” Keir said. “People even carry around their bike seats now.”

Keir said she doesn’t worry about her bike, because she rented a bicycle locker this semester.

“One improvement that could be made is things could be made friendlier for the consumer,” Hamrick said. “Lock your bikes, take all precautions, and especially license your bike.”

Hamrick said that bicycles can be licensed for free using the Sac State website.

“If a bike is licensed and tagged it is a major deterrent,” Hamrick said. “License your bike and carve your name in it.”

Hamrick said that bikes with the owners name engraved into the frame are rarely stolen.

“We would also like to see the public be more vigilant,” Hamrick said. “If someone sees something suspicious, like someone walking into the bike lots with bolt cutters, I really hope they would find University Police and report it to us immediately.”

Hamrick said there needs to be an expansion of guarded lots for Sac State bicyclist.

UTAPS Manager Nancy Fox said that bicycle parking is the responsibility of UTAPS.

Fox said she is aware of the impacts on bicycle parking this semester and the popularity of the guarded compound.

“We are in the process of adding more racks,” Fox said. “I do believe there is room for more bicycle racks within Compound #1.”

Fox said despite budget scares, UTAPS has the funding for bicycle parking improvements and plans are being developed.

UTAPS is unsure when these improvements will be implemented.