Rice has bells for those who register bikes

Ringing in your ear? Be aware
Rice has bells for those who register bikes

BY MIKE WILLIAMS
Rice News staff

The sound of bells is bringing a new level of comfort to Rice through a program to encourage bicycle safety.

Long considered a serene oasis in the city for cyclists and pedestrians, the campus is nonetheless feeling the gradual encroachment of the surrounding bustle, prompting Rice to enhance pedestrian safety by offering free handlebar bells to those who register their bikes with campus police.

The bicycle safety pamphlet produced for the Rice community contains a wealth of information cyclists need to know before they wheel around campus. You can pick one up at the Rice Transportation Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 in Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall. Here’s a short list of suggestions to keep you and everybody around you safe: Register your bike. Use your bell or yell. Stop at all stop signs. Watch for pedestrians, especially at crosswalks. Ride with the flow of traffic. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride on the right, pass on the left. Slow down to pass pedestrians. Use lights and reflectors after dark. Wear a helmet. If your bike is stolen, call Rice  University Police Department as soon as possible.

A committee created to encourage bicycle safety distributed a pamphlet to incoming students during O-Week, following through on a process that began in one of President David Leebron’s town meetings earlier this year.
 
The initiative began when Carolie Allgood, school administrator at the George R. Brown School of Engineering and co-chair of the committee, raised the subject of bicycle safety. “I had several confrontations with bicycles that were either coming from behind me or coming forward without yielding and at very high speeds,” she said. “They were pedaling too fast, and though I didn’t get hurt, I could see the potential for trouble.

“I’ve been in Europe, where they use bells to warn pedestrians, and I think it’s a nice, friendly way to announce your presence,” she said.

Leebron agreed, and Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby charged a committee with the task of creating a culture of courtesy and civility on campus that will protect cyclists and pedestrians, said co-chair Janie Wright Bowes, Rice’s real estate officer.

While keeping to the roadways is preferred, Bowes said those traveling north and south on campus often find they have to traverse the sidewalks to get where they’re going quickly.

“There have been accidents on campus, and we want to make students aware that when they ride their bikes, pedestrians have the right of way, and that students can be liable if they injure someone. Sometimes pedestrians are using iPods and can’t hear riders behind them,” said Bowes.

And older pedestrians will certainly benefit from an early warning, said Allgood.

This is where the bells chime in. When members of the Rice community register a bicycle online (go to www.rupd.rice.edu and click on E-Services), the police department will send them a registration sticker and a Rice-branded bell that mounts with a permanent cable tie on the handlebars. When you register, be sure to have your bike’s serial number handy.

Even before the bells were available, some Rice students had already discovered registration has its rewards.

“We’ve got one stolen bike that was found in Michigan, and it’s coming back right now,” said Rice Police Capt. Phil Hassell. “We’re getting a couple more back from Montgomery County. We routinely get bikes returned to us from out of state.” He said there’s no way to track bikes that haven’t been registered.

Putting more bike racks on campus is another part of the initiative, said Facilities Project Manager Hannes Hofer. Many racks have been added over the past year (with a current capacity of 1,638 bikes) and more are planned, he said, noting that each of the U-shaped racks can secure up to 11 bikes.

It’s all part of the perpetual effort to make Rice a friendlier place, whether you’re cycling, driving or walking. “It’s good to be able to take leisurely walks on campus, just to get some fresh air and sort through ideas,” said Bill Wilson, a Rice research scientist and committee member. “But you want to feel safe when you’re out there.”

“We’re trying to change the climate so people ride friendly,” said Hassell. “We want you to be courteous to the people around you and be aware of your surroundings.”