UPDATE: Fri., Nov. 4 at 1:46 p.m. — The original version of this story falsely reported that all three campus bike compounds for general use will be closed at night and on weekends. In fact, only bike compound one by the Guy West Bridge will be closed at night and on weekends.
Sacramento State Police Department began locking bike compound one Monday night as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing thefts.
For the rest of the semester, compound one will be locked on weeknights from midnight until 6 a.m. It will also be closed all weekend, closing Friday at 5 p.m. and reopening Monday at 6 a.m.
There are three bike compounds available for general use on campus. Compound one is located next to the Guy West Bridge, while the other two compounds are located at Moraga Way and Sinclair Rd. and between Benicia Hall and the AIRC.
“After looking at our crime analysis, bike compound number one has had a significant number of thefts in the last year,” said Sacramento State Chief of Police Mark Iwasa.
Iwasa said that compound one may have had a rise in thefts because there is little student activity there at night.
The pilot project will last until the end of the semester when the Police Department will reassess the situation. The hours that the bike compounds are currently staffed will not change.
“It was a public safety decision,” said Tony Lucas, the senior director of University Transportation and Parking Services (UTAPS). “They will be locking (compound one) fairly late in the evening and I think very likely well after most students leave the campus anyway.”
Signs have been posted in front of compound one for the past three weeks and a school-wide email was sent out about the pilot project. However, regular bike users said that they were unaware of the changes.
“I had no idea this was happening. It concerns me because I’m here studying late,” said Carlos Pereyra, a physics and mechanical engineering student. “I bike everyday and I work as an R.A. so the only time I have to do homework is late at night.”
Students who need to retrieve their bike after midnight or during the weekend can contact the Sacramento State Police Department for assistance.
“From the perspective of the parking director, we’re all for bikes,” said Lucas. “We want to make biking a really good alternative for students.”
