When Cameron Bunce was a freshman at Winthrop University four years ago, his yellow mountain bike was one of four chained to the single rack in front of the Rutledge Building.
Now, his red Schwinn racer has nicks and dings from being parked among more than a dozen at the same spot.
Students eventually will have more places to chain their bikes, as the university has set aside money to buy 30 new racks over the next few years to fit what Winthrop president Anthony DiGiorgio calls a welcome circumstance — more bicycle riders on campus than ever.
The extra racks are good news to photography major Bunce and his cycling classmates, who compete for spaces every day beside the art building.
Graphic design student Brandon Oxendine has twice chained his black-and-white road bike to a tree.
For now, he said, students lug their bicycles into buildings or chain them to light posts, traffic signs and handrails to get to class on time.
Campus police officers report that bike use has tripled on campus this school year, creating other problems such as inappropriate parking and driving against traffic.
Police Chief Frank Zebedis said tough economic times and a go-green push are likely reasons for the increase in cyclists on campus.
And students are figuring out that a bike ride, especially in nice fall weather, can be aesthetically pleasing, Bunce said.
Oxendine said students enjoy the customization of a bicycle. The colorful, vintage bikes on the rack near the art building are unique to their owners' styles, he said.
And while the police department encourages bike use for any of those reasons, Zebedis said, “We need students to park the bikes properly.”
Officers give students notifications when their bikes are chained to lamp posts and street signs, Zebedis said.
But once new bike racks are in place, he said, tickets and fees could replace those warnings for inappropriate parking.
“Students think, ‘I can attach my bike here, and I can run to class,'” Zebedis said. “But when it's obstructing a sign or blocking a disabled ramp, that's a hazard.”
Racks will be bought over time, in bundles of five or six, likely over the next couple of years, said Rebecca Masters, Winthrop's assistant to the president for public affairs.
“We need to use racks that are heavy-duty, blend in with the look of the campus and would not be easily moved,” she explained. A local ironsmith will supply them at $200 each.
Money to pay for the racks will come from regular facilities upkeep budgets, Masters said — “part of having a safe and secure campus that is pedestrian — and bike-friendly.”
The first batch of racks should be in place before the end of the year.
Christy Mullins — 803-329-4062
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