University says motor scooter, motorcycle parking changing to improve safety | Schools

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Southeast Missouri State University has announced that during the week of September 17 through 20 motor scooter and motorcycle parking areas on campus will change in an effort to improve safety for the scooter and motorcycle drivers and pedestrians.

The university says the change will also help improve traffic circulation in the campus parking lots. Doug Richards, director of the Department of Public Safety says it is hoped that moving the parking areas into a larger, centralized location will improve traffic flow and help reduce interference with pedestrian and vehicle traffic in congested and highly used campus lots and walkways.

When the parking changes are finished and ready to implement, DPS says they will have staff in the areas to help identify the new parking slots and to answer questions.

According to the university, it is possible that some cycle drivers may find these changes unsuitable to their habits. If that is the case, they say Parking Services will offer a full refund of the motorcycle permit through Friday, Oct. 12. To receive account credit for the permit, remove it and bring it to Parking Services, Department of Public Safety, 1401 North Sprigg.

The university says cycle/scooter parking will be eliminated in four areas:

• Seabaugh Polytechnic Building - The cycle parking in lot 4-14 between the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building and Johnson Hall will be removed. Eight cycle spaces will be installed in lot 4-18, across from the construction site for the new residence hall. Only eight spaces will be painted for cycle parking, and only eight cycles/scooters will be allowed to park in lot 4-14. Cycles parked outside of the marked spaces will be ticketed and/or towed.
• Dempster/Scully - The seven slots in the curb-cut along the sidewalk at the Scully Building will be removed. Cycles parked in the curb-cut and along the adjacent curbs will be ticketed and/or towed. The nine cycle slots in lot 4-12 near Dempster Hall will be removed.
• Kent Library - The cycle parking in lot 1-20 behind Kent Library will be removed.
• Vandiver Hall - The cycle parking in lot 1-21 is being moved to a different section of the parking lot.

They say cycle/scooter parking will be added in two areas:

• New cycle parking will be installed in lot 4-5, across Henderson Street from Parker Building. The existing motorcycle slots in 4-5 will remain. Spaces along the southwest curb of 4-5 will be painted for cycle parking and will accommodate 36 slots.
• New cycle parking will be installed in lot 1-20, across Henderson Street from Vandiver Hall. Spaces along the southwest curb of 1-21 will be painted for cycle parking and will accommodate 36 slots.

In addition to the cycle/scooter parking changes, the university says two policy changes will occur. Definitions of motorcycle and motor scooter/motorized bicycle have changed as well as the types of spaces in which they are allowed to park. Changes include:

• Motor scooters/motorized bicycles are defined as any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than 50 cubic centimeters, which produces less than three gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground;
• Motorcycles are defined as a motor vehicle operated on two wheels with a motor with a cylinder capacity of over 50 cubic centimeters, is required to display a state issued license plate, whose owner must possess a state issued motorcycle endorsed operator’s license, and, in the state of Missouri, whose owner must wear a helmet when operating.
• Motor scooters shall park in designated cycle parking slots and may not park in bicycle racks, on sidewalks, service roads, private drives, lawns, green spaces or adjacent to any building.
• Motorcycles may park in designated cycle parking slots and when necessary may park in vehicle parking slots.

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