An 11-year campus wide policy does not allow any recreational equipment other than bikes on campus as a mode of transportation.

Washington Administrative Code Section 172-118-040 states, “No recreational equipment may be operated on sidewalks, walkways, lawns or other property on the Eastern Washington University campus.”

The exception is for bicycles, which may be operated on university walkways in the mall area and the area surrounding Showalter Hall and between the Science Hall and Lot No. 3. The bicycle must be operated in a safe manner, according the WAC.

Users of recreational equipment are subject to the rules of the road when operating on roads. Recreational equipment users must stop at signs and yield to pedestrians and vehicles who have the right of way, according to Deputy Chief Gary Gasseling.

All bicycles operated or parked on the campus of EWU must be registered with the city of Cheney, according to WAC section 172-118-080.

This policy has been effective since Nov. 26, 1992, and has not been updated since.

Enforcement of these rules is the responsibility of the president, or the executive vice-president, or their designees, according to WAC section 172-118-090.

Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities Stacey Reece has no comment as to why or why not other recreational equipment other than bicycles are not listed as campus policy.

The WAC defines skateboards, roller skates and scooters, but does not include them in the use of recreational equipment on campus.

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities would review any student reported for allegedly violating this policy for a possible violation of the student conduct code, according to Reece.

“Contacts on the roadways come about as complaints or observation by an officer,” said Gasseling.

Metal clips were installed in 2003 to keep students from skateboarding on benches, according to Associate Vice President of Business and Auxiliary Services LeeAnn Case.

Students are not allowed to skate down stairs because this damages staircases, according to Case.

An EWU police officer, staff or faculty member would report citations to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

However, Reece said that since she became the director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities in 2004 there have been no referrals for a violation of policy.

“Enforcement of state law for riding on roadways can result in citations being issued, though I do not believe we have written any tickets for violations [this year],” said Gasseling.

The policy is enforced and students are reported to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, according to Gasseling.

The police department’s focus is to ensure that recreational equipment is operated or used in accordance with the policy and law. Safety is the number one priority in the operation of any recreational equipment on campus, according to Gasseling.