Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Brian Sorrell
04-10-07, 02:19 PM
Below is a draft of a letter that I'm thinking of sending to the local community college, to our councilman and to the mayor's office. The issue is that the campus police of RCC (Riverside Community College) have been running us off campus when we're on our bicycles -- or at least insisting that bicycling is not allowed on the campus. I figure I could post in the A&S forum, but that would inevitably start an epic battle over bike lanes or something ridiculous. Rather, I'm interested in knowing what other SoCal folks think about this issue and if I'm sufficiently justified in sending this letter -- or a reasonalby revised version. I have also thought about sending a letter on behalf of more than just me and the wife. Anyone think this is a worthy enough cause to jump in and make a statement? I mused that it would be funny to do a critical mass bike walk through campus :)
Here's the letter:
On Saturday, March 31, 2007, my wife and I were stopped by the Campus Police at Riverside Community College and we were informed that the riding of bicycles is not allowed on the campus, including roads designed for vehicular traffic. We were instructed to walk our bikes until we were no longer on campus grounds. We were rather surprised for at least three reasons. First, to our knowledge there is no posting at the campus entrance suggesting that bicycles are not allowed on roadways; there is signage that states that skateboards are not allowed. Second, RCC is a publicly funded institution, which suggests to us that, unless clearly stated otherwise, the same laws that apply to the public at large should apply on campus as well; bicycles are required to follow the California Vehicle Code on roads shared with automobile traffic. Finally, the RCC Handbook clearly states that “the riding/use of bicycles, motorcycles, or motorized vehicles is limited to paved streets or thoroughfares normally used for vehicular traffic.” (See reference below).
The officer stated that she had been told that bicycles should be walked through campus. Our feeling is that she has been misinformed. Furthermore, it is our feeling that an institution of higher learning, especially an institution funded by the public, should espouse values that are beneficial to the community. The use of clean transportation, such as the bicycle, should rank among those values. For example, in his 30th “State Of The City” address, Mayor Ron Loveridge stated:
“Solutions for a Clean & Green City are many. The Task Force identified eight areas, summarized as follows: Save Water; Keep It Clean; Make It Solar; Make It Shady; Clean the Air; Save Fuel; Make It Smart; and Build Green.”
Saving fuel is specifically addressed in his “Clean Green Call To Action” as follows (see also section 2.3 of the Clean And Green Task Force Report):
“Save Fuel: Public Transport, Clean Vehicles, Less Congestion: The City must explore feasible ways to encourage public transit and to promote the use of such alternatives as bicycling and walking.” (http://www.riversideca.gov/mayor/pdf/Clean-Green-Call-to-Action.pdf)
RCC, as a responsible community institution, should encourage, rather than discourage, clean and efficient transportation alternatives such as bicycling. Perhaps RCC should even extend the commitment to their Campus Police and replace their pickup truck patrol with a fuel-saving bicycle patrol. RCC should at least aim to be on par with other public institutions such as UCR, whose “Multi-Modal Transportation Management Strategy” establishes a policy to enhance bicycling facilities on their campus. Additionally, RCC should be pleased to know that local residents feel sufficient affinity for the campus that they wish to share in its safety and scenery and care about its role in the community.
We will continue to respectfully comply with the instructions of the RCC Campus Police. But we wish to express our concern that there is a discrepancy between those instructions and stated campus policies. Furthermore, we wish to register our concern that RCC should continue to advance toward the stated goals of the City of Riverside, including encouraging responsible transportation alternatives rather than expelling them from campus.
Sincerely,
Reference:
www.rccdfaculty.net/handbook/bp6080.htm
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Regulations for Policy 6080, Student Discipline and Due Process
II. Standards of Student Conduct
B. Campus Regulations
10. Except for authorized police bicycle patrols, the riding/use of bicycles, motorcycles, or motorized vehicles is limited to paved streets or thoroughfares normally used for vehicular traffic. In addition, the riding/use of all types of skates, skateboards, scooters, or other such conveyances is prohibited on campus, except for approved activities.
Here's the letter:
On Saturday, March 31, 2007, my wife and I were stopped by the Campus Police at Riverside Community College and we were informed that the riding of bicycles is not allowed on the campus, including roads designed for vehicular traffic. We were instructed to walk our bikes until we were no longer on campus grounds. We were rather surprised for at least three reasons. First, to our knowledge there is no posting at the campus entrance suggesting that bicycles are not allowed on roadways; there is signage that states that skateboards are not allowed. Second, RCC is a publicly funded institution, which suggests to us that, unless clearly stated otherwise, the same laws that apply to the public at large should apply on campus as well; bicycles are required to follow the California Vehicle Code on roads shared with automobile traffic. Finally, the RCC Handbook clearly states that “the riding/use of bicycles, motorcycles, or motorized vehicles is limited to paved streets or thoroughfares normally used for vehicular traffic.” (See reference below).
The officer stated that she had been told that bicycles should be walked through campus. Our feeling is that she has been misinformed. Furthermore, it is our feeling that an institution of higher learning, especially an institution funded by the public, should espouse values that are beneficial to the community. The use of clean transportation, such as the bicycle, should rank among those values. For example, in his 30th “State Of The City” address, Mayor Ron Loveridge stated:
“Solutions for a Clean & Green City are many. The Task Force identified eight areas, summarized as follows: Save Water; Keep It Clean; Make It Solar; Make It Shady; Clean the Air; Save Fuel; Make It Smart; and Build Green.”
Saving fuel is specifically addressed in his “Clean Green Call To Action” as follows (see also section 2.3 of the Clean And Green Task Force Report):
“Save Fuel: Public Transport, Clean Vehicles, Less Congestion: The City must explore feasible ways to encourage public transit and to promote the use of such alternatives as bicycling and walking.” (http://www.riversideca.gov/mayor/pdf/Clean-Green-Call-to-Action.pdf)
RCC, as a responsible community institution, should encourage, rather than discourage, clean and efficient transportation alternatives such as bicycling. Perhaps RCC should even extend the commitment to their Campus Police and replace their pickup truck patrol with a fuel-saving bicycle patrol. RCC should at least aim to be on par with other public institutions such as UCR, whose “Multi-Modal Transportation Management Strategy” establishes a policy to enhance bicycling facilities on their campus. Additionally, RCC should be pleased to know that local residents feel sufficient affinity for the campus that they wish to share in its safety and scenery and care about its role in the community.
We will continue to respectfully comply with the instructions of the RCC Campus Police. But we wish to express our concern that there is a discrepancy between those instructions and stated campus policies. Furthermore, we wish to register our concern that RCC should continue to advance toward the stated goals of the City of Riverside, including encouraging responsible transportation alternatives rather than expelling them from campus.
Sincerely,
Reference:
www.rccdfaculty.net/handbook/bp6080.htm
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Regulations for Policy 6080, Student Discipline and Due Process
II. Standards of Student Conduct
B. Campus Regulations
10. Except for authorized police bicycle patrols, the riding/use of bicycles, motorcycles, or motorized vehicles is limited to paved streets or thoroughfares normally used for vehicular traffic. In addition, the riding/use of all types of skates, skateboards, scooters, or other such conveyances is prohibited on campus, except for approved activities.