When CSUB emailed the campus in September announcing the new ban on electric scooters, it was not the first time the university enacted a rule regarding wheels on campus. Despite there being specific rules and regulations in place for wheels on campus, campus police do not strictly enforce them.

On the CSUB website under the “Skateboard and Bicycle Regulations,” the rule clearly states, “Unless otherwise provided by regulations or traffic signs, skateboards, scooters, and rollerskates may only be ridden upon roadways, the bike path, or upon designated routes in the campus interior.”

The policy also states, “Skateboards, scooters, and roller-skates shall not be ridden or used upon any sidewalk not authorized by this policy.”

Those specific sidewalk areas include: from the Don Hart West turn-around and south along the Red Brick Road to the turn-around at the east end of Student Way, from the Student Way turn-around south along the sidewalk/emergency road between Science III and the Business Development Center to Rowdy Way, and from the Student Way turn-around east and south along the service road (Roadrunner Drive extension) to the turn-around in front of the Icardo Center.

Consequences and penalties are in place for those who do not abide by or respect these rules set in place.

“If they are just violating policy, we try to educate. One of the mottos we use is ‘compliance versus enforcement.’ The last thing I want to do is impact a campus community member by having to seize the skateboard or cite them,” University Police Chief Marty Williamson states. “However, if we’re forced to, anyone can be held in violation of the vehicle code. We can still write tickets because we are still state property, and we are still public roadways.”

Donald Springfield, an environmental resource management major, says he has been riding a skateboard for years.

“I have always put the pedestrians’ safety before mine, especially if there is a student with a disability. I will just go around them,” Springfield states. “I actually have never read the rules on skateboarding on campus, and skateboarding has always been frowned upon by cops, so I don’t care what they think. I love riding and they’re not going to stop me.”

Williamson said people can report skateboarding and scooter violators by calling CSUB University Police Department and leaving a description of the person at (661) 654-2677, or if callers feel uneasy about calling and leaving their information, they can leave a tip at the anonymous tip line, (661) 654- INFO (4636).