Bike safety and security are priorities for the police departments in a town where many people cycle to get around.

“People walking need to pay more attention,” said Katie Krause, sophomore special education major. “Sometimes I have to ride in the grass because the entire sidewalk is taken up. Maybe a
bike lane in the street would be a good idea.”

DeKalb Police Officer Richard Zenzen said there are certain precautions that people can take when riding their bicycles.

The biggest rule that cyclists must realize is that they need to abide by the same rules that motor vehicles abide by. These rules include yielding to pedestrians, signaling when they are turning right or left and be more aware of when stoplights are changing, Zenzen said.

Zenzen said that when an accident occurs with a cyclist and either a motor vehicle or a pedestrian, the accident is treated in the same manner that motor vehicle accidents are treated.

University Police and the city of DeKalb Police have teamed up in order to try and help recover stolen bicycles, according to University Police.

Students and DeKalb residents can go through the registration in order to have their bicycles registered with the city.

Students who want to register their bicycles can go into the NIU Police Department, 375 Wirtz Drive.

Police give students an index card to fill out and return to in order to have their bicycle registered.

The registration card requires filling out name, date of birth, full address, telephone number, serial number (which is located on the very bottom of the frame), the make of the bike, whether it is boys or girls, the color, model, speed, frame size and any additional equipment that is on the bike. Once the University Police have this information, the department will forward it to the DeKalb Police Department where it will be kept on file if any problems with your bicycle occur.

After registration is completed, a sticker is available to show that your bicycle is registered.
Bike registration is also available at the DeKalb Police Department, 200 S. Fourth Street.

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