MOORHEAD – Despite the growing popularity of the campus bike program, bike racks have not been widely installed across campus due to perceived underuse, and consistent bike theft rates.
Bike Racks
“Hardly anyone bikes on campus now,” said Grounds Supervisor Bob King, when asked about the pile of bike racks near Brown Hall on campus. “I only put them out where they get used.”
Normally bike racks are pulled in for winter to make snow removal easier and are replaced in the spring. This year, not all of them have been returned to their designated spots around campus.
COBBikes
Despite these claims, Concordia College’s sustainability division, headed by Sustainability Coordinator Sarah Orr, is relaunching a free bike program called COBBikes, hosting a shiny new fleet of ten. The program has already seen major success, with around 50 checkouts within just the first few weeks of classes.
“Sometimes I don’t think the students are checking them out because they actually need them, but they want to just go ride a bike again,” said Orr. “This is one other way that they can get around that’s good for the environment, good for their pocketbook. But, it’s also just nice to have as a piece of joy.”
COBBikes are available at the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library, along with safety accessories like helmets and bike lights.
Bike Theft
For students who use biking as a primary form of transportation or are just looking to pick up an old hobby, one thing to be aware of on Concordia grounds and the surrounding Fargo–Moorhead area is bike theft.
According to Public Safety Director Bill MacDonald, at least two bikes have already been stolen on campus since classes began this year.
“September and April are the peak months for bike thefts,” said MacDonald. “The thieves know everybody’s routine. They know when colleges are back in session and where all the bikes are.”
MacDonald recommends registering personal bikes with Facilities Management for a permit while housing them on campus. Keeping documentation of it with photographs, sales receipts, and having its serial number written down are also important. These make identifying a bike much easier if it is stolen.
Proper Locks
While there are some bike racks set up around campus, King acknowledges that there are more places they are needed than originally thought. Students and faculty are free to request racks be placed at other locations around campus if they notice a need, and grounds will try to accommodate.
Without proper bike racks to secure a bike to when not in use, the likelihood of theft rises.
“Anything that you can lock it to that is affixed to the ground is my only recommendation,” said Orr when asked about possible alternatives. “Or something that is in either your eye view or in a public space. I definitely don’t recommend just leaving it outside unlocked.”
U-locks or Kryptonite locks are also much better at keeping a bike secure than cable locks, as the latter can be easily cut.
Reporting Theft
Many popular bike stations around campus have surveillance cameras, but they do not prevent a theft from occurring. If anyone sees a theft in progress, MacDonald recommends not confronting the thief, but calling it into Public Safety at 218-299-3123.
“We need people to call in suspicious activity,” Macdonald said, “if they’re seeing somebody that’s just doesn’t look like they belong on campus, or they’re just acting suspicious around the bike rack or kneeling down and goofing around with the bikes.”
Once bikes have been transported off campus, it is recommended to contact the Fargo or Moorhead Police Departments as well, as Public Safety only operates on campus.
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