Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Gillian Ekern Many students ride bikes on campus. The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is attempting to decrease the number of accidents involving bikes.

Bike and leisure-vehicle accidents on campus more than doubled last year from previous years, causing the UW-Eau Claire Police Department to take action this fall, Sgt. Chris Kirchman said.

There were three total accidents - one on bike, one on skateboard and one on in-line skates - during the 2007-08 school year. Last year, that number increased to eight, according to statistics provided by Kirchman.

"The key thing with all these accidents is not a single one of these people were wearing a helmet," Kirchman said. "And the vast majority of them involved some type of head injury."

The university police department has started initiatives and education to prevent more from occurring.

Kirchman said new signs are being placed around the Garfield Avenue hill. Some of the signs warn cyclists of the dangerous intersection at the bottom of the hill. Others warn cars of cyclists, and another sign will be placed on Hilltop Center that informs cyclists they must obey all traffic laws. The signs will also be more visible and made of reflective material, he said.

As recently as Tuesday morning, Kirchman said, a cyclist was injured on the bike path near Haas Fine Arts Center. One reason bike accidents have increased is that there are more bikes around campus, he said.

Terry Hintz, owner of Eau Claire Bike and Sport, 403 Water St., said one way to increase safety is for everyone to wear a helmet. He said helmets today fit better and are more comfortable than earlier models. Hintz also said bikers should be aware of traffic laws.

Eau Claire Bike and Sport offers a $30 helmet that has a safety rating as high as professional models, which can cost upwards of $100.

Another related safety tip Hintz offered was keeping bike tires well inflated, a measure that increases stability for the rider.

"I bet you could walk up a row of bikes at the university, and only about 10 percent would be up to pressure," he said.

Senior David Smuhl said he thinks it's a good thing the university is promoting bike safety, but worries enforcement may create animosity between police and cyclists. Smuhl said biking defensively is a good way to keep safe.

"Just ride your bike more because you're only going to get better," he said. "You're only going to learn more and become a safer cyclist the more you ride your bike."

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