Author Archives: Toni Nixey

Securing Your Bicycle

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For many students and staff at the University of Saskatchewan, their bicycle is their primary source of transportation throughout the year. We at Protective Services recognize the value of every bicycle on campus and have many innovative programs to help ensure that your bike remains safe. However, we do need your help as well. To keep your bike as safe as possible while you are on campus the USSU and Protective Services recommend the following:

  • An investment in a high quality lock system is an investment in the future of your bike. Use a good quality U-lock to lock your bike frame to the bike rack with a cable lock through the tires and frame for additional security. Cable locks by themselves are not secure. Most bike thefts reported this year have been cable or chain locked.
  • Write down your bike make, model and serial number and keep this information at home. In the event that your bike is stolen, we will require this information to try to recover it. Bike serial numbers are usually imprinted on the underside of the bike frame.
  • An unattended bike is easy prey for thieves. Never leave your bike overnight or over the weekend. Thieves will note which bikes have not been moved and will be happy to try to move them for you.
  • ALWAYS lock your bike. Even if you only have to run in for a minute.
  • Phone Protective Services immediately if you notice anyone suspicious around the bike racks. It takes only a minute for a bike thief to sever a cable lock. Remember that all payphones have a direct dial button to Protective Services.

If your bicycle is stolen while on campus, please contact Protective Services as soon as possible at 306-966-5555. We will ask for information about your bike, such as make, model, serial number, color etc. We will initiate a report, and register your bike as stolen on a police computer system. If your bike is recovered at any time we will be able to contact you and return your bike.

RAD – Self Defence for Women

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Although R.A.D. stands for Rape Aggression Defence, this system can also benefit women in any situation where physical self defence skills and knowledge could help keep you safe.

Our next RAD offering begins October 29th for 3 hours per week for 4 weeks. Cost is only $20!

If you have a group of 10 or 12 women we can arrange a private course for you in either 3 hour x 4 format or 6 hour x 2.

Please contact rad_course@usask.ca or visit us at www.usask.ca/protectiveservices/education/rad.php for more information!

All Valuables Removed

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2014-01-27 11.00.22

U of S Protective Services together with the Saskatoon Police Service are reminding vehicle owners to protect themselves by removing valuables from their cars while they are parked on campus, or elsewhere.

Based on a similar, successful program in Edmonton, the SPS has developed signs which can be displayed in the windows of vehicles declaring “All Valuables Removed”. The signs are designed to remind motorists to remove valuables from their vehicles when parking them, and to deter thieves from entering the vehicle and stealing items.

Vehicle owners on campus may find these signs on their windshields where officers may have marked whether their vehicle appeared to be safe, or if valuables were obviously visible or insecure.

Drivers can re-use the signs afterward for their dashboard to alert would-be thieves that there is nothing of value inside their car or as a reminder to themselves to ensure valuables are not left behind.

Please stop by our office at 72 Campus Drive if you would like a one of these cards for your vehicle and did not receive one while it was parked.

Bicycle Safety

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With the increase in bicycle traffic on campus, it is important for both cyclists and motorists to be careful driving on our campus.

Cyclists must remember to follow the same rules as motorists while on the road and use proper hand signals when applicable. Ensure your bicycle is equipped with a bell, headlight and rear reflector for proper visibility.

Bicycles are allowed on campus pathways, but a reminder that crosswalks are for pedestrians only: Cyclists are expected to dismount and walk with their bicycle when crossing the street.

Both motorists and cyclists must be aware of their surroundings and drive and ride as safely as possible to prevent injury. Collisions between bicycles and vehicles can be deadly for cyclists; please always wear a helmet when you ride.

Traffic Circle – Roundabout – Tips

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There are now two traffic circles on our campus, as well as several more which have appeared throughout Saskatoon. Traffic circles, or roundabouts, are not only more efficient than intersections at moving vehicles, but they are also safer (they calm traffic) and better for the environment (they reduce vehicle idling time).
Some drivers new to Saskatoon and our campus may not be familiar with how traffic circles operate. Campus Safety has provided the following tips to help motorists, pedestrians and cyclists safely traverse our campus roundabouts.
Motorists:
• Reduce your speed as you approach the roundabout.
• Watch for pedestrians.
• Yield to traffic already inside the circle coming from your left.
• Engage your right turn signal and enter the roundabout to your right when it is safe to do so.
• Continue around the circle until you reach your exit.
• Weather permitting, do not slow down or stop to make your exit.
• Exit to your right.
• If you miss your exit, continue around the circle until it comes up again.
Pedestrians:
• Cross at marked crosswalks only.
• If unmarked, cross the roadways as they approach the circle.
• Pedestrians should never enter the circle and should follow the sidewalk.
• Never cross through the centre island.
Cyclists:
• If you are riding with traffic, you must follow the rules for motorists.
• If you have dismounted, you must follow the rules for pedestrians.

Please Help Identify This Individual – Bike Theft from Canadian Light Source

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On July 18th at approximately 3:00pm the following individual was caught on camera in the process of stealing a bicycle from the bike racks outside of the Canadian Light Source.

CLS Bike Racks July 18 2014_3

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CLS Bike Racks July 18 2014_1

If you have any information which can help identify this individual, or if you have any other information about incidents on campus, please contact us at 306-966-5555.

Speeding the focus for July

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During the summer months, it’s very common to see pedestrians and cyclists throughout the campus, so drivers are reminded to keep wary of their speed (The speed limit on campus is 40km/h).

Throughout the province, police will be watching for drivers exceeding the speed limit.

Distracted driving, impaired driving and occupant restraints will also be a focus in July.

“Speed is a factor in more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities in Saskatchewan,” said Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO of SGI.

“During the summer months, with increased traffic on our roads and highways, speeding is simply not worth the risk.

Plan ahead. Build in more travel time. Slow down and obey posted speed limits to keep yourself and other road users safe.”

Each year, there are more than 2,500 speed-related collisions on Saskatchewan roads that claim 46 lives and injure more than 1,000 others.

Collisions due to unsafe speed are generally severe – about 29 per cent of excessive speeding-related collisions result in injury or death compared with only 16 per cent for non-speed related collisions.

For every 100 collisions due to unsafe speed, an average of 42 people are injured or killed.1

On June 27, a number of changes addressing speed took effect in the province, including:

· The speed threshold in the Safe Driver Recognition (SDR) program was lowered from 50 km/h over the posted speed limit down to 35 km/h over the posted speed limit. This offence results in four demerit points under the SDR program and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Improvement and Driver Improvement programs.
· A new offence for driving double or more the speed limit was introduced, resulting in four demerit points under the SDR program and GDL Improvement and Driver Improvement programs.
· Exceeding the speed limit by more than double the speed results in a seven-day vehicle seizure on the second or subsequent offence within one year.
· Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h results in a seven-day vehicle seizure on each offence.
· A contest of speed or race with other vehicles results in a 30-day vehicle seizure on each offence.

Footnotes

These statistics are based on the three-year average from 2010-2012.
Speed-related collisions include those involving both exceeding the posted speed limit and driving too fast for road conditions.