In an effort to deter bicycle thefts, the University plans to open a new card-access bicycle storage facility near Payne Hall on the Tempe Campus on Nov. 4. (Photo by Dominic Valente)In an effort to deter bicycle thefts, the University plans to open a new card-access bicycle storage facility near Payne Hall on the Tempe Campus on Nov. 4.
To use the service, students must register their bicycles with ASU Police. Registration makes recovering stolen bicycles easier, according to police.
Computer engineering senior Sara Almalih said the new service gives her another option to keep her bike safe.In an effort to deter bicycle thefts, the University plans to open a new card-access bicycle storage facility near Payne Hall on the Tempe Campus on Nov. 4.
“I ride my bike to class every day, and I think the new site offers another option to keep my bike safe,” she said.
Almalih said she will take advantage of the new free service.
“I will definitely be using the new storage site,” she said. “I think it’s great that ASU is offering another option to keep bikes safe, because bike theft is an issue on every college campus.”
Miguel Valenzuela, a criminal justice undergraduate and avid biker, said he believes ASU is taking the right steps to reduce bike theft.
“I think ASU is doing a great job of making bikers feel safe about keeping their bicycles on campus for a prolonged period of time,” he said.
Valenzuela said he believes the new service will save time for students.
"It saves time for people who ride bicycles, because they don’t have to worry about where to park their bikes anymore; they know they have a safe and secure option,” he said.
Valenzuela said he thinks many students will be impacted by the service.
“You always hear about universities spending money on new football facilities and other renovations that not many students can take advantage of, but this is a service that I believe will positively impact many students,” he said.
The new card-access site is part of an ongoing effort by ASU to reduce bike theft. Last month, ASU opened a free bike valet service that gives students a chance to keep their bikes in a safe and guarded area.
In an email interview, ASU Assistant Chief of Police Jim Hardina said the new card-access service and the bike valet will strengthen bicycle security on campus.
“It’s too soon to tell, but they’ll most like have a positive impact on bike theft," he said.
Hardina said bike theft has decreased since last year.
"So far, we have made several arrests for bike theft this semester, but bike theft went down by 15 percent in August over August 2012,” he said.
Hardina urged students to lock their bicycles correctly in order to avoid bike theft.
Hardina said 98 percent of bike thefts occurred as a result of bicycles being locked incorrectly.
"The best advice is to use two locks: A cable lock and a U-lock that secures both wheels and the frame to the bike rack,” he said.
Students who wish to access the new facility must have a valid Sun Card. According to the ASU Walk-Only Zones team website, the spaces are ideal for long-term use of two or more hours. There will be 64 spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Bicyclists are required to lock bicycles within the storage facility for extra security. The Walk-Only Zones team urges students to register their bikes to make it easier to track stolen bicycles. All questions and inquiries should be sent to the Walk-Only Zones team.
Reach the reporter at mmkallo@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @its_ame_a_mario
