TOUCHDOWN TIMES: Unbeaten Illini travel to Chicago as they take on Washington at Soldier Field. Our preview in Section C
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THINGS TO DO
Editorial Board: Expansion of service is unjustified. Page 4A
Quaff some cider at Curtis Orchard, chill with some reindeer and much more this weekend in the C-U. See Page 6A
LIFE AND CULTURE, 6A
THE DAILY ILLINI
THURSDAY September 12, 2013
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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‘Bike booting’ to take effect in spring with revised code BY CLAIRE EVERETT STAFF WRITER
Bicycles left chained up to lamp posts, stairs and other improper areas could wind up booted with a lock if a revised University bicycle code is approved. Students have the opportunity to give feedback on the code on the iCAP portal website until the end of September. “Bike booting” is the same as when a boot gets put on a car for parking in the wrong place. However, in this case, a University boot will be placed on repeat bike parking offenders, and students will have to pay a fee to get it unlocked. Morgan Johnston, sustainability coordinator for Facilities and Services, recalled stopping a student to ask why he was parking his bicycle on a chain fence instead of in the bike racks. His reply was that it saved him six seconds, she said. “This parking in the wrong place reminds me of speeding in your car,” Johnston said. “You’re at risk, and you’re going to be delayed more by getting an enforcement officer to stop you.” The bike code has not been updated
since 1989, and the new bike code will go into effect after spring break this year. University police Deputy Chief Skip Frost said the increase of bike traffic due to sustainability initiatives and the “bicycle-friendly” designation on campus has led to injuries and conflict with pedestrians. He said he was made aware of a woman getting hit by a bicycle and breaking her arm, as well as other injuries. “We recognized that we had an issue,” Frost said. “The first step we wanted to get involved in was updating the University bicycle ordinances, and then also to start increasing our education and enforcement campaigns as well.” Frost said people riding bicycles needed to realize they had to obey the laws just like a vehicle — meaning stopping at stop signs, signaling when turning and not going the wrong way down a one-way street. The cities of Champaign and Urbana have rules separate from the University, but Amelia Neptune, Campus Bicycle Coordinator, said the University’s plan was for specific campus-related issues
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NOV. 2013 The new bike code will be finalized for adoption into the campus administration manual.
like bicycle registration and parking in non-street areas. “Really, what we’re trying to do is make it a safer environment for the benefit of all modes of transportation,” Neptune said. According to the current code, bicycles will be impounded if they aren’t registered. But Neptune said because it’s an unrealistic policy, it isn’t strictly implemented and will not be a part of the revised code. She said the new way of enforcement for bike registration will result in an additional fine if the bike is being ticketed for something else. “One of the first things we hear when we do bicycle enforcement is ‘don’t you have anything better to do?’” Frost said. “Yes, we absolutely have better things to do, which is why we want people to voluntarily comply. It’s a public safety issue, and obviously we take this very seriously, and we will do what’s necessary to keep everybody safe.”
Claire can be reached at everett5@dailyillini.com.
86˚ | 52˚
MARCH 2014 Enforcement of the new bike code will begin on the first day of spring break
OCT. 2013
SEPT. 2013 New bike code is now available for public comment and feedback
AMELIA NEPTUNE, CAMPUS BICYCLE COORDINATOR
SCOTT DURAND THE DAILY ILLINI
Bike theft on the rise in Champaign-Urbana BY AMIRAH ZAVERI STAFF WRITER
When Alex Ding was a freshman, he left his bike lock unscrambled while he was in a hurry to get to class. Once he got out of class, the junior in Engineering realized his bike had been stolen. It was never recovered. Bike theft has been an increasing problem on campus in recent years. In 2010, a total of 320 bikes were reported stolen to the University of Illinois Police Department, the Champaign Police Department and the Urbana Police Department.
In 2011, the number of stolen bikes rose to 340. Last year, it increased to 459. So far in 2013, Urbana and University police have reported 192 bikes have been stolen. The Champaign police has not yet compiled the number of reported bike thefts in 2013. “There’s really no pattern that we’ve found year by year, but when the weather is nice, it’s warm outside, there are going to be more bike thefts,” University Police Deputy Chief Skip Frost said. Ding said he believes bike theft
is only a big problem when students forget to lock up their bikes, as he did. But Jennifer Li, sophomore in Business, said even when students do remember to lock their bikes, she has noticed that they can still be stolen. “I think that people cutting locks and stealing bikes is a huge problem on campus,” Li said. “Many students cannot afford a new bike, and I feel that too often I hear of another bike getting stolen.”
SEE BIKE THEFTS | 3A
Number of stolen bikes reported to the Champaign Police Department The 2013 numbers have not been released yet, and the department does not have data available for the number of bikes recovered. 2012: 200 bikes stolen 2011: 122 bikes stolen 2010: 146 bikes stolen
Number of stolen bikes reported to the University Police Department 2013: 60 bikes stolen and 13 recovered 2012: 82 bikes stolen and 16 recovered 2011: 68 bikes stolen and 14 recovered 2010: 57 bikes stolen and 7 recovered
Number of stolen bikes reported to the Urbana Police Department 2013: 132 bikes stolen and 22 recovered 2012: 177 bikes stolen and 23 recovered 2011: 150 bikes stolen and 27 recovered 2010: 117 bikes stolen and 9 recovered
Jakobsson rules out re-election for seventh term
Working toward common good — one meal at a time
BY ELEANOR BLACK STAFF WRITER
State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-103, announced that she would not be seeking reelection for a seventh term in office. “It has been an honor to serve this community but it is also time for someone else to prepare for the next term beginning in 2015,” Jakobsson said in an email sent to supporters, adding that this “was not an easy decision.” “There is still much to be done in the next year while finishing the term I am in and will continue to represent you until January 2015,” Jakobsson said. Michael Richards, a Champaign County Board member who served as Jakobsson’s political director on her previous campaigns, said she asked him to run for the seat she will be vacating. “The quality of leadership from Champaign-Urbana is important in Springfield
STEVE SHENG THE DAILY ILLINI
Ian Szetho (left) and Max Colon (center) kick off the 9/11 food packaging memorial event with a demonstration at Wesley United Methodist Church on Wednesday, the 12th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Hosted by Interfaith in Action, the event helped fight local hunger.
because we depend on our legislators to make sure the general assembly knows how important the work the University of Illinois and projects in Champaign-Urbana are,” Richards said, referring to areas of economic and high-tech development in the state of Illinois. Richards noted the work Jakobsson has done for the community, such as supporting Health Alliance and securing the funding for the Lincoln Hall renovation at the University. He also mentioned her position as vice chairperson for the House Committee on Higher Education and her recent appointment as Illinois delegate to the Education Commission of the States. “Champaign is going to have big shoes to fill,” Richards said. “She’s going to be missed.”
Eleanor can be reached at eablack2@dailyillini.com.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Board of Trustees to vote on 2014 budget at meeting BY JOHNATHAN HETTINGER STAFF WRITER
The University Board of Trustees will meet Thursday in the Illini Union to approve the operating budget for the year, approve administrative appointments and conduct other business for the University. The board will vote on the
operating budget for fiscal year 2014. The budget totals $4.45 million, a 1.2 percent increase from the budget for fiscal year 13. The increase is 2.5 percent lower than last year’s increase of 3.7 percent. In addition to voting on the budget, the board will listen to a report from the Audit,
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Budget, Facilities and Finance Committee about the current financial state of the University. At last week’s committee meeting, Vice President for Academic Affairs Christophe Pierre said the board and the University administration has a lot of work to do. “There are some significant
concerns,” Pierre said. “These are not new, but we are going to face them in the years to come.” Pierre noted in his report to the committee that the University is shifting its revenue source and may have limited revenue in the future. “We rely more and more on tuition,” Pierre said. “We have
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Head online to DailyIllini. com to read live updates from the Board of Trustees meeting. You can also follow Johnathan at @jhett93 for live tweet updates as well.
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increased tuition significantly, and I think we are running out of room to do so, so we are (going) to be facing some tuition constraints.” Trustee Timothy Koritz noted the extreme nature of the problems.
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