LexRides

willard · training wheels Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 42

I just wanted to make sure that everyone is clear on the details of the registration system at UK that is going to be enforced on the 1st of next month. I just talked to the people at Parking and Transportation Services and they justified my conspiracy theories.

The bike permit is only free for the first year. After that you will receive a bill (that according to the friendly lady at the desk will "probably be $15") per bike. All of their recent publications and attempts to register everyone have pushed the fact that the program is free, without any "*" or fine print stating otherwise.

The money will not be set aside for bike projects as the language describing the project suggests, but it will be placed in the general budget for PTS. In other words, the money they say will promote cycling and improve bike faculties will most likely be used to build parking garages.

On the first of October they are going to begin impounding every bike on campus without that aesthetically pleasing bar code sticker on it. The wording about the fees on their site is vague. It looks like the charge for not having a permit it $100 and the impound fee is $39 plus $2 a day for storage. Given that 90% of the bikes on campus are not even worth that kind of money, if a student has their bike impounded they are probably not going to get it back and stop riding to campus (because they don't have a bike).

Sorry about the long post, but I'm really pissed off at these misleading dickheads. I've been trying to think of ways to protest and/or stop the process, but I'm not having much luck. Please post any suggestions you may have.

alex · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject:

here's the earlier thread:

http://www.bikelexington.com/lexrides/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=937

all visitors to campus must register as well. any bike parked on campus without a permit is liable for citation and impoundment

here's the parking regs:
http://www.uky.edu/Parking/parking-regulations.html

iridetoobs · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject:

a friend of mine has already been issued a red citation warning stating that if she doesn't register her bike it can be impounded. fuck them.

sailorjames · cutter Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 329

Did they tell you about the fee when you signed up, or did you actually have to read the fine print and ask about it?

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

wow... so has PTS totally hijacked this program and stripped it of all its potential benefits after the fallout of the initial unveiling? If what Will says is true this is really disappointing. The original thoughts behind this program seemed honorable enough, but clearly that has changed.

I don't understand why the program has to be so complicated and mired with so much "enforcement" language. TONS of universities have these programs in place. Most of them are voluntary and require only a small ONE TIME fee that is usually $5 or $10. Hell, many of them are free. The main motivation behind many other schools' programs seems to be geared toward reducing bike theft... not impounding bikes that don't have stickers.

I'm all for cutting down on theft, encouraging responsible bike parking... and also if it could be mandated that any fees would go toward additional facilities and/or education (as Shane had originally proposed) that would be a HUGE plus. If you go to most universities websites that describe the bike registration, they only need so much space because there's not a lot to explain. Not many rules to enforce, and the language is simple and positive.

Sounds like another case of Lexingtonitis, where something has potential to be good, but gets fucked up by a bunch of a-holes somewhere along the way.
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willard · training wheels Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 42

I'm glad some of you agree with me.

James- They do not tell you about the fee when you register. In fact, the only time I saw it written anywhere was in an article from the KY Kernel pubished last semester. But if you ask anyone at the PTS offices they will admit that they are going to charge and tell you where the money is going.

All the PTS publications say that it is free you literally have to ask them face to face (I tried e-mails and phone calls- neither were returned) in order to get a straight answer.

I always knew PTS was evil, but they have taken things to a whole new level.

sailorjames · cutter Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 329

Damn.

selfpropelled · townie Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 183 Location: local

The potential benefits of this system have definitely been perverted and obscured by PTS's reactvive, incomplete communication and their tendency to focus on enforcement.

I have been a cautious supporter of the program for a variety of reasons outlined in a previous thread (http://www.bikelexington.com/lexrides/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=937).

However, I am currently very unconvinced that making UKs campus a safer and more inviting place to ride is anywhere near the heart of the enforcement plan.

I did seek clarification regarding some of the information that was given to Will. I think the most important thing to report is that there WILL NOT be a retroactive fee. That is, once you have registered your bike, that bike is registered for as long as you own it. This is from an associate director with PTS:

"Once someone registers their bike it is registered as long as they own the bike. They will never have to re-register or pay a fee for that bike in the future. The fee may come up again, but only with a lot of input and blessings from cyclists. If it did come back, only owners of new (to them) bikes would be charged. There is no dubious plan to charge a retroactive fee. "

I will continue to work inside the belly of the beast to make our campus a more bike friendly place. Any help with this effort, in the form of constructive criticism and creative brainstorming is definitely appreciated.

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

$100 is the charge for improper use of a permit.

Improper use meaning what? Counterfeit?

politicalhero · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:40 pm Post subject:

I have been an arms length supporter of this program mainly for the education components and the registered serial numbers.

However, I am really confused by the attempt to "regulate" bikes. If I visit campus and lock my bike to a bike rack why should it matter if I have it registered with the university or not? What types of programs to other universities use and how do they handle visitors?

This really is a perfect example of what we called the "UK Way" when I worked at UK. They had the opportunity to step up and create a great program that could benefit folks but then they botched it from the start and instead of looking at changing the program they are digging in like a stubborn 3 yearold at meal time.

Shane I think it would be great if Stuart would get on the board and read these threads so he can see what folks thoughts are. He does not have to defend anything but it would be a good opportunity for him to know what the people think about this.

Oh yeah, there is always u-locking junk bikes to PTS doors, etc Smile

centurionprotour · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Southland

I´m not against the registering of bikes but I am shocked by the harshness of the regulation rules. Is UK forgetting that many people who are not students, staff or faculty come to the campus on bikes? The bike racks outside of the library are a perfect example of why this program is so screwed up. The library is a public resource for people throughout the community but if a citizen wants to ride their non'registered bike to the library they run the risk of it being impounded...! This is rediculous.

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

I've heard it said by several of you who are more connected with UK, that the PTS staff is made up by and large of people who come from law enforcement backgrounds, and thus their way of thinking and looking at things is a bit skewed toward only one thing - making rules and enforcing them.

If that is the case, then you can start to see why this program has such a negative undertone
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politicalhero · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

I noticed that one of our newest members is Stuart Kearns who many of us know, have worked with and respect for his work at making UK more bike friendly. Additionally, he is also the Associate Director of Transportation at UK. I hope he has been viewing this discussion and takes some form of action since he is now getting honest and open feedback from the cycling community.

Stuart: I am sure many folks would be available to grab a cup of coffee and have a conversation with you and the Parking admin to hear our thoughts and concerns about the current program. We can meet at Coffea Island, Common Grounds, Sunrise Bakery, Third Street Stuff or any other nearby eatery.

Feel free to respond to any of the above posts.

Cheers
Tim

metro biking · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: UK Bike Registration

Registered my bike Friday at the PTS offices as I was passing by.
It was free and took about five minutes.
They need your name, address, phone, and registration number (engraved on the bottom of your bottom bracket).
I registered as a visitor.
I did not find it to be too much trouble.
Mike at Metro Biking
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laughterhouse5 · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: UK Bike Registration