Each year, students bring their bikes to use on the University of Oklahoma campus. They use them for a number of things whether it be a mode of transportation to and from class or work, exercising, or simply for recreation. Many things can prohibit them from doing so like a hole in a tire or improperly working brakes, which can easily be repaired at one of many biking stores in Norman.
One thing they can't fix: a stolen bike.
The rise in theft, or larceny as it is often called, is becoming a more prevalent problem on campus.
Lt. Bruce Chan of the University of Oklahoma Police Department says that there have been more reported bike thefts on and around campus in 2009 as compared to 2008. He said the rise may be attributed to the increase of student who, in turn, are bringing more bikes.
The loss of a bike means a loss of transportation.
"Occasionally you come across somebody that that's their only means of transportation. Usually it's somebody owns a bicycle that that's their secondary means to get around. But you know, they're used to- if they're a commuter student- they're used to parking some place and being able to ride all over the place. It is a big inconvenience for them," Lt. Chan said.
Officer Greg Vollmer, also with OUPD, agrees with the trouble student may have regarding transportation.
"Basically, it puts them on foot and it takes them a lot longer to get from point A to point B for a while until they can afford to buy a new bicycle. And that kind of impedes their education."
Lt. Chan said they are trying to raise awareness by talking to both OU Daily and OU Nightly about bikes, bike safety and keeping student protected. One way to do that is to register the bike.
Officer Vollmer also had some input as to how registering your bike can help protect you from theft. He says that registering the bike is a deterrent to theft because the bad guys know the bike's serial number is on file with the police department.
"I would at least think that they're aware of that because they try to avoid stealing registered bikes because they [police] don't come across them very much. I don't take a lot of reports of bicycles that have been registered with the police department, so I htink that would give me some indication, in a way, that they are trying to avoid those bikes, " Vollmer said.
Another thing student also lose with the bike is the money they put into it.
Students can register their bike online and find the form here at
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bikeregform.htm.
