UPD urges cyclists to be knowledgeable of safety practices.
Between the return of cooler temperatures and the appearance of fall colors, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay indoors. A popular activity to enjoy the outdoors and the scenery on campus and around town is bicycling.
While cycling is a great and healthy way to travel around town, it is important to keep some tips in mind to stay as safe as possible while riding.
Perhaps the most important tip is to follow the rules of the road.
University Police Department officers work to enforce all traffic laws and regulations on campus, including for bicycles, UPD Chief Tim Potts said.
“Bicycles are considered a vehicle, and they must obey all traffic laws as cars and trucks do,” Potts said.
The general philosophy for cyclists in Oxford and on the Ole Miss campus is, “Same road, same rules,” said Jeffrey Kellum, UPD crime prevention coordinator. However, those rules are often violated, he said.
“I cycle for exercise several times a week, both on and off campus and it has been my observation that the rules of the road are violated by cyclists and motorists alike,” Kellum said. “In Oxford, I often see cyclists failing to stop at traffic-control devices and not using safety equipment. On campus, I also see cyclists weaving through pedestrians and traveling the wrong way on one-way streets.”
These are dangerous practices, and Kellum encourages cyclists to inform themselves on staying safe.
“Over the past few years, the educational efforts of the city of Oxford’s Pathways Commission, the Oxford Bike Club and the Bike Ole Miss initiative have greatly decreased the frequency of these safety violations,” he said. “With a new group of motorists and cyclists arriving every year, it is important that we continue to support the educational efforts of these groups.”
Bike Ole Miss offers five safety tips for cycling around campus:
- Follow the rules of the road
- Be visible
- Be predictable
- Anticipate conflict
- Wear a helmet
The Oxford Pathways Commission also offers biking information, including a map of bike lanes throughout the city, on its website.