The Central Health and Safety Committee has been discussing ideas for revising the current University bicycle and skateboard policies and is requesting input.

Current Regulations. The current bicycle and skateboard regulations are in the Western Washington University portion of the Washington Administrative Code, Parts 516-13 and 516-16 and at the University Policy website.

Background. In anticipation of a visit from Dan Burden, an international expert in creating areas that are friendly to pedestrians and bicycles, the CHSC held an open, campus-wide meeting on December 1, 2005 to solicit questions from the campus community regarding pedestrian, bicycle and skateboard safety.
 
The responses and information gathered at the meeting were compiled and summarized in time for Mr. Burden’s visit on December 5 and 9, 2005.   Background information on bicycles and skateboards is at this link.

Mr. Burden walked the campus with various unit representatives at WWU, providing specific recommendations for various areas of campus, especially in areas where multi modes of transportation are being used and sometimes in conflict. 
He also met with CHSC representatives and provided answers to questions posed by the campus community at large. The Central Health & Safety Committee summarized Dan Burden's responses and also provided them for inclusion in the 2006 Transportation Planning Initiatives Report.

Policy Revision Process.

2006-2007.  Beginning Fall Quarter 2006, the Central Health and Safety Committee reviewed the current bicycle and skateboard policies in relation to the recommendations and answers provided by Dan Burden.  The CHSC concluded that revisions were needed to promote sustainable and alternative forms of transportation to and from campus, but at the same time recognize and support the predominantly pedestrian mode of transportation on campus.
The CHSC devoted several of its meeting times throughout Fall and Winter quarters formulating and revising ideas that would change the current bicycle and skateboard policies.  In November 2006, some of these preliminary ideas were circulated to the various constituent groups to gain their feedback and other ideas.  The comments and ideas received were incorporated into the final draft version.                 

At their February 20, 2007 meeting, the Committee approved its proposed ideas for revising the bicycle and skateboard policies.  Committee members shared these proposed policy revision with their affiliates during Spring 2007.  Two open forums to seek campus input on possible changes to the bicycle and skateboard policies for safety and sustainability were held on April 10, 2007 between 3-5 p.m. and April 12, 2007 between 2 to 4 p.m. in the Viking Union 462 A & B.  The Committee re-approved the policy ideas with minor revisions at the April 30, 2007 meeting. 

2007-2008.  Beginning Fall Quarter 2007, the Central Health and Safety Committee re-evaluated the current policy ideas.  Many of the Committee members were new to the process. Policy impact statements were drafted.  At their November 9, 2007, meeting, the bicycle impact statement and skateboard impact statement were approved for transmittal to Vice President Pierce and the WWU Executive Policy Group.

The impact statements were approved by the Executive Policy Group on November 29, 2007.  Policies were drafted in December 2007 and early January 2008.  Policies are more general and the Washington Administrative Code is anticipated to contain the details of the speeds and dismount zones.

Draft Policies. The draft bicycle policy and draft skateboard policy were approved to go forward for institutional review at the Committee’s February 26, 2008 meeting. 

Bicycle and Skateboard WAC Revision Ideas. Ideas for revising the existing rules for bicycles and skateboards on campus are based on safety information provided by Dan Burden. The ideas are listed below and are also in a Word document for ease in printing. These ideas were approved to go forward for community comment at the Committee’s February 26, 2008 meeting.

The University’s Central Health and Safety Committee strongly believes that any regulatory changes to transportation modes that enhance and encourage sustainable, as well as alternative transportation, be grounded in a vigorous exchange of ideas.  Pedestrian access and safety are supported as our community’s highest priority. Users of each transportation mode should treat those using other modes with consideration and respect.
 
If you have additional ideas or would like to comment on or propose changes please email ehs@wwu.edu.

Text of Bicycle and Skateboard Ideas approved for Campus Comment at the 5-30-07 meeting are shown below:

Draft Bicycle WAC Revision Ideas

Approved for Campus Discussion and Comment on 02-20-07

Re-approved following open forums and FAST request for comment on 05-30-07

Bicycles

Bicycles are a preferred form of transportation and are encouraged.  However, bicyclists must comply with the following elements:

Bicyclists must remember that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way.

Bicyclists MUST NOT:

• Ride recklessly.  Reckless riding is always prohibited everywhere on campus.
• Ride in University buildings or on stairs, railings, benches, rocks or other outdoor elements.
• Perform trick-riding, jumping, or other types of acrobatic riding.  Requests for exceptions to this policy for programmed events must be made in writing to the Director of Viking Union Facilities for review and approval.

Bicyclists MUST:

• Follow the City and State traffic laws and the WWU Bicycle Responsibility Code.
• Dismount and walk in Red Square, the core pedestrian area on campus, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on regular class days. 
• Ride under the following conditions all times in all other locations of campus: 
  • Share pedestrian spaces and walkways only at pedestrian walking speeds (3 miles per hour) within 10 feet of any pedestrian or areas congested with pedestrians.  Otherwise, speeds are limited to pedestrian jogging speeds (5-7 miles per hour) maximum.
  • Travel at or under the speed limit on parking lots and campus-owned roads which include the Service Road and East College Way.
  • Share bicycle lanes on campus-owned roads with skateboards and longboards going the same speed.  This includes bicycle lanes on the Service Road and East College Way.
• Be financially responsible for damage to persons or property resulting from their bicycling on campus.

The above elements do not apply to electric or manual wheelchairs.

Draft Skateboard WAC Revision Ideas

Approved for Campus Discussion and Comment on 02-20-07

Re-approved following open forums and FAST request for comment on 05-30-07

Skates, Skateboards, Longboards, Scooters, and other Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices

Persons are encouraged to use the above devices for transportation on campus.  However, use of such devices is a privilege, not a right, so users must comply with the following elements:
 
Users must remember that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way.

Users MUST NOT:

• Ride recklessly.  Reckless riding is always prohibited.
• Ride on stairs, railings, benches, rocks or other outdoor elements.
• Do trick-riding, jumping, or performing other types of acrobatic riding.  Requests for exceptions to this policy for programmed events must be made in writing to the Director of Viking Union Facilities for review and approval.

Users MUST:

• Use devices on campus for transportation use only – to, from and around campus.
• Dismount and walk in Red Square, the core pedestrian area on campus, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on regular class days. 
• Share pedestrian spaces and walkways only at pedestrian walking speeds (3 miles per hour) within 10 feet of any pedestrian or areas congested with pedestrians.  Otherwise, speeds are limited to pedestrian jogging speeds (5-7 miles per hour) maximum.  No slalom riding is allowed.
• May share bicycle lanes on campus-owned roads with bicycles but only if a speed can be sustained that is approximately the same speed as the bicycles with no slalom riding.  These roads are the Service Road and East College Way.  This does NOT apply to High Street or other City streets, which are governed by City code prohibiting skateboard and longboards.
• Always travel at or under the speed limit in parking lots and bicycle lanes on private campus roads including the Service Road and East College Way.
• Use soft wheels to minimize damage to bricks and concrete surfaces and to reduce noise.
• Be financially responsible for damage to persons or property caused by the use of these devices on campus.

The above elements do not apply to electric or manual wheelchairs.

2. Evaluate accident investigations conducted since the previous meeting to determine if the causes of unsafe acts or unsafe conditions involved were properly identified and corrected.

3. Evaluate the accident and illness prevention program with a discussion of recommendations for improvement where indicated.

Concerns have been brought before the Central Health and Safety Committee about the use of sandwich boards on campus:

1. Signs frequently block pedestrian walkways.

2. Signs blow over if not properly constructed and weighted.

3. Lack of visibility increases tripping hazard potential.

4. Sight-impaired people have difficulty walking around signs.

If you use sandwich boards, the committee suggests:

1. Place signs away from pedestrian walkways.

2. Keep signs in good repair.

3. Weight signs (with sand bags) in windy weather.

4. Minimize use in major traffic areas.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these suggestions for a safer campus, please call Environmental Health and Safety at x3064. Questions will be directed to the Central Health and Safety Committee.

2. Stay in control.

3. Avoid congested areas and use back roads when possible.

4. Obey the dismount policy and obey all traffic laws.

5. Dismount and walk your bike when in crowded areas

6. Minimize impact - stay off the lawns and planted areas

7. Park and lock bikes only at bike racks

8. KNOW THE CODE.

View the full law.

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