Student who own bikes must now have U-locks or face being booted.

Campus Safety put the new mandatory requirement into effect last week.

To enforce the new policy bikes with unauthorized locks or those that are locked improperly may be booted with a Campus Safety U-lock or be impounded at the Campus Safety Center, now located at the corner of South High Street and East Evans Avenue on the ground floor of the new parking structure.

Students can retrieve their booted or impounded bikes from Campus Safety by paying a $5 recovery fee.

“I think students rather have us take their bikes than a thief,” said Manager of Parking Services Buddy Knox.

Senior Lindsey Greising said that while she supports the use of U-locks she feels the policy is unnecessary.

“I use a U-lock, but I feel like for people that are silly enough not to lock their bike up right it is their problem and Campus Safety shouldn’t waste their time,” said Greising. “People leave their cars unlocked and they aren’t ticketed for doing so.”

The U-locks take more time to cut off and are therefore less likely to attract thieves, according to Campus Safety. Students can also use a hardened steel chain and lock with a 5/16 inch link thickness as an alternative.

“The locked bikes that were stolen this year all had cable locks on them, and you can cut them off in no time at all,” said Knox. “We don’t want to make it easy for bike thieves.

The change in policy, which was established through the Department of Parking and Transportation Services, comes as a result of the high numbers of bike thefts at DU this fall. Bike thefts have doubled in one year. Since school began 19 bikes have been reported stolen, according to Campus Safety.

Campus Safety and Parking Services encourage students to register their bikes online through the Parking Services Web site. Registered bike owners can then be contacted if their bike has been booted and can possibly avoid having it impounded.

The departments are also trying to make it easier for students to park their bikes by installing new bike racks around campus. Three new bike racks will be positioned around the law school. Additional bike racks will also be located near the Physics Building and Margery Reed Hall.

To learn more about DU’s bike policy go to the Campus Safety Web site at www.du.edu/campus-saftey and click on bicycle and property security.