Officers of the EC Police Department issued warnings to the bicycle community the first week of March, stating that bikes would be towed if it was locked in an area other than a bike rack.

Chief of Police Mike Trevis explains the concern that many students have when bicycles are not locked in the designated bike racks.

“For some students it is a challenge to walk into certain buildings because bikes are being locked onto the rails,” Trevis said. “This causes a lot of difficulty for students that need to hold onto the rails, for whatever reason.”

Trevis added, the rails of buildings aren’t the only spots where bikes should not be placed; they are being locked and left in different areas on the campus.

Students are locking their bikes on the lamp poles on campus or even on tree trunks without thinking of the consequences of what could happen to their property, or whether their bike is disturbing facility workers.

“What if the pole needs a bulb replaced? The bike could potentially be in the way of this replacement process,” Trevis said.

Bikes that are left on tree trunks are at risk of being damaged if the tree is being trimmed, Trevis said.

Dane Irvine, 26, business major was unaware of the new policy being enforced on the bicycle community.

He was not on campus the week that the warnings were issued, his bike being his only form of transportation, he felt that there should be more awareness of the rule so that students won’t go to their bikes only to find them gone.

“There should be signs notifying us that we can’t put our bikes in any other spot other than a bike rack,” Irvine said. “I’d be pissed if I came back to find my bike gone because it was towed.”

Other students such as Isaiah Nunez, 18, interactive arts major understand the concerns that many have if bikes are in the way but feels there should be more bike racks on campus.

“It can be that the bicycles are a hassle for students that are disabled. But many lock their bikes in other areas because it’s easier if you’re late to class,” Nunez said. “There should be more racks on campus then for better accessibility.”

Trevis said, he understands that many students lock their bikes in spots that are most convenient to them regarding distance or safety of their property.

There is a way that the EC Police Department helps students who own bicycles register their property in case the bike is stolen, according to the EC Police department website.

“We have an engraving tool in the department that the students can utilize to put a special mark anywhere on their so it can later be identified if it is missing,” Trevis said.

Travis added that there are also plans in the works of getting more bike racks on campus.

“I am pleased to say that we have had 99.5 percent compliance with the bicycle community because they do understand,” Trevis said.