Riding though a Colorado State University dismount zone could save you a few minutes on the way to your destination – or could seriously injure you or a fellow Ram in a crash. 

To make campus a safer place for pedestrians, short sections of campus are designated as dismount zones, where bicycles, e-scooters, longboards, and other wheeled devices are prohibited from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

“Dismount” means walking beside the bicycle with both feet off the pedals, walking beside and pushing a scooter, or carrying a skateboard or longboard. 

Riding through a dismount zone could result in a citation from CSU police. Causing serious injury to someone else through careless or reckless behavior could bring a more serious charge. 

There has been an increase in crashes and injuries in campus pedestrian zones this fall, and CSU police are giving enforcement of dismount zones more focus.  

“Someone trying to save a few minutes or even a few seconds by trying to navigate through a crowd of hundreds of people is taking a huge risk and it’s often the pedestrian that pays the biggest price when a crash happens,” said CSU Police Chief Jay Callaghan.

Ride friendly

The League of American Bicyclists recently CSU a platinum bicycle friendly university. The University was noted as a trailblazer in developing and promoting safer, more accessible transportation infrastructure.

Rams Ride Right has been working to educate community members about safer behavior in dismount zones. 

“The Center Avenue mall is truly at the heart of our campus and thousands of people pass through it each day,” said Jamie Gaskill, associate director for active transpiration at CSU. 

“It’s meant to be pedestrian-only, so people feel safe and comfortable traveling to their destinations. It’s the responsibility of each Ram to take care of their fellow Rams by walking their bike, scooter, or board in the dismount zone.  

If people prefer to keep rolling, Gaskill said, they can take advantage of the trails that circumnavigate the dismount zone. 

Other safety tips to make a safer campus to travel: 

• Plan for your trip so you have enough time to get where you’re going using safe speeds. 
• Use infrastructure that is designed for your mode of transportation (e.g., walk on sidewalks and where there are dismount zones. Ride on designated trails or on the roadway). 
• Look up and pay attention! Avoid looking down at your phone while you are traveling. 
• Make sure you can hear what is happening. Wearing earbuds can create a significant safety issue because you are less likely to hear what is going on around you.