At 5,200 acres, MSU has one of the largest campuses in the country, with more than 40,000 students commuting to class daily.
To prevent collisions, MSU police use many systems, such as signalized intersections, to analyze accident patterns and determine where problems may exist.
MSU Bikes Service Center Manager Tim Potter said although the university efforts are helpful, the key to preventing accidents is for all bikers to know and display basic bike safety. The most common mistake bikers make is riding their bike on the sidewalk.
“Most people are taught to ride their bikes on the sidewalk. We are trying to teach everyone who comes to campus about the bike lanes,” Potter said in a statement. “In most cases, it is against city laws or ordinances to ride bikes on the sidewalk. The safest place for bikers is on the roadway.”
Recently, MSU has updated bike lanes along the River Trail. The previously 18-inch trails have been widened and clearly marked. These updated trails allow bikers to have more room and avoid pedestrians.
“We would like to see 100 percent of MSU’s roads have bike lanes. That is a goal we are working toward,” Potter said in a statement. “Since the year 2000, it has been MSU’s policy to add a bike lane with every new construction project. So piece by piece it is getting done.”
