Skateboards might stop clipping heels thanks to a new set of rules … or not.

On May 6, FAU announced that its new Breezeway skateboarding and bicycling policy had been in effect for more than a month, having started on April 1. The policy outlaws skateboard, bicycle, scooter and golf cart use in the Breezeway and other covered areas on FAU campuses. It also outlaws property damage that can be caused by stunts or tricks.

Enforcement of this policy will be largely based on student cooperation, according to University Police Chief Charles Lowe.

“You would hope that you can have a conversation with someone first,” said Lowe. “I think we can [achieve] voluntary compliance when people understand the rule and why it exists.”

Some students seem to disagree with Lowe.

Bicyclist Ken Price, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he does not plan to stop using the Breezeway.

“They tried to do stuff like that last year, and there were people in the Breezeway being, like, ‘Hey, you can’t do that,’ and I just ignored them and rode right by them,” he said. “It’s not a walkway. It’s a Breezeway. And it sure is a hell of a lot faster on a skateboard or on a bike.”

Junior engineering major Cody Asher agreed.

“If no one enforces it, like no one has, I won’t stop. It really helps me a lot in getting to class,” he said.

Tom Donaudy, vice president of facilities, is one of the three responsible authorities listed on the new policy. This loosely means that he is one of the three people who wrote and released the policy, though many others were involved. According to him, the main concern here is the well-being of pedestrians on campus.

“The idea is just to create a safer environment for everybody: the students, faculty, staff, everybody walking on campus,” Donaudy said.

To achieve this, some rules had to be imposed alongside the Breezeway ban. For example, students are expected to ride at a “reasonable, safe and prudent” speed, according to the policy.
Charles Lowe explained that the meaning of these terms changes according to pedestrian traffic.

“If there’s nobody out on the sidewalk, then what’s safe and reasonable and prudent is different than when you’re with other people. If you’re weaving in and out, it’s unsafe. If you’re alone, it doesn’t make sense to say, ‘Drive as slow as if you were walking,’ because what’s the danger?” Lowe said.

“I don’t think it’s all going to be based on speed. This is not like we’re imposing a speed limit on people. It’s more trying to be aware of other people.”

Donaudy added a few other criteria by which the rule on speed may change.

“That’s a subjective decision that would depend on how many folks are on the sidewalk you’re navigating through, or where you are riding, the weather conditions, the condition of the operator of the bicycle [or] if you have a heavy load,” he said. “So it’s all very subjective.”

Mack Mars, a junior exercise science major, said that the safety of others depends on the responsibility of the riders.

“Sometimes people are in a rush, and pedestrians might get hurt,” he said.

According to Lowe, the policy is arriving now because the Boca campus is becoming a more pedestrian-oriented campus.

“If you look at the interior of the campus, there aren’t many roadways; most people moving around are pedestrians. When that happens, people use other transportation methods. We want to encourage bicycles,” he said. “The more bicycles, the less cars.”

According to the policy, police may confiscate bicycles that aren’t parked in a rack or designated area. According to Lowe, however, this will only happen as a last resort.

“Realistically, the issue about confiscation of bikes is for those people who choose to park them and make a hazard,” Lowe said. “If it’s obstructing traffic or in a disabled access area, it can cause problems.”

Gene Young, university risk manager, said that the policy should protect people while allowing them to get around campus safely.

“I think the objective is trying to make the campus safer for everyone. It’s not about prohibiting anyone from getting around campus quickly and efficiently, but people are getting run down.”

Although the policy states that it had been in effect since April 1,
Lowe said that enforcement will probably begin around the fall. For now, FAU police and others concerned will simply observe student use of wheels on campus.

When the fall arrives, a student refusing to agree to leave the Breezeway or otherwise adhere to the policy may be faced with a hefty punishment as a final attempt: The student might be sent to the dean of students for a talk.

“Realistically, there are sanctions listed. But sanctions should be reserved for when you can’t get somebody to comply any other way,” Lowe said. “Frankly, I can’t even say what would happen based on a referral. It’d be up to the dean of students. There are guidelines for that.”

The guidelines are put forth in the Student Code of Conduct, and breaking policy is considered breaking the code.

Students like Cody Asher will only stop using the Breezeway if they have to do so.

“It depends whether it gets me in trouble or somehow affects my enrollment. Any kind of punishment like that would make me stop,” he said.

Gene Young, as well as Lowe and Tom Donaudy, said that the policy is the first step in a series to complete the safety measures involving transportation on campus.

“Everybody is reasonable. It’s a start,” Young said. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll work through it and come up with something that eventually will.”

Know the deal about your wheels

According to a new FAU policy, using devices with wheels — like skateboards or bicycles — recreationally is prohibited. The policy defines recreational use as “use of described devices [skateboards, bicycles and scooters] for entertainment.”

Here are some other important points in the policy:

Do not:

• Ride inside a building.
• Ride on ramps, curbs, benches, steps or stairs.
• Ride in the Breezeway.
• Use headphones or ear buds while riding.
• Cross a roadway unless you’re doing so in a designated crossway.

Do:

• Give right of way to pedestrians at all times.
• Ride at a “reasonable, safe and prudent speed” (although there is no clear definition to the quoted phrase).

Here is what may happen to you if you break the rules, according to the policy:

• If you break anything or damage any property, you will be responsible to pay for it.
• Employees or students may be disciplined.
• If you are not affiliated with FAU, you may be banned from the university.
• Your skateboard, bicycle, etc., may be confiscated by university police.

[Source: www.fau.edu]