Mississippi State University’s Student Association senate recently passed a bill that will restrict bicycle traffic at all crosswalks and in the interior body of campus, mainly on the Drill Field. 
Plans to implement the enforcement of this policy include warning signs, stenciled crosswalks and increased awareness of the problem.
Mike Harris, director of Parking Services, has been active in the legislation regarding bicycle zones.
“Obviously anytime a large number of people are put into a condensed area there will be issues,” Harris said. “The combination of vehicles, bicycles and foot traffic creates a volatile situation,” he said.
Harris said he believes a number of student cyclists are simply not aware of the rules or regulations pertaining to bicycle traffic.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate an estimated 13 percent of all highway fatalities involved pedestrians and bicyclists. 
The campus has recorded more than twice the average number of bicycle related incidents in the last year, excluding the number of unreported accidents.
Matthew Ivey, a freshman wildlife and fisheries science major and pre-veterinary student, said he believes something needs to be done.
“People don’t understand that when you ride on the street, you have to follow the same rules as cars,” he said. “I’ve seen multiple bikes fly through stop signs and nearly cause accidents where cars were obeying the law.”
Halston Hales, former SA vice president, was in office and presided over the student senate during the time the legislation passed. 
Hales said he believes while this policy will implement some major changes, it will impact the safety of students.
“Riding a bike across the Drill Field won’t really create a life threatening situation. If I’m walking and a bike hits me, the worst outcome would be a couple of bruises,” he said. “However, crosswalks create an opportunity for serious accidents. The two issues were just kind of bundled together.”
The policy will be held in accordance to the MSU Honor Code and will restrict the riding of bicycles through crosswalks and on the Drill Field from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Signage will be posted at entrances to the Drill Field and in other high traffic areas designated as dismount zones.
Matt Newton, a senior kinesiology major, said he is glad MSU is looking out for the students.
“I’m happy that student safety has always been important at Mississippi State,” he said. “Hopefully, implementing these new rules will reduce the occurrence of accidents on campus.”
Harris also said MSU would begin projects, which include several new bicycle lanes, in the near future.
By doing so, MSU officials want to alleviate the presence of bicycles in traffic and on sidewalks before the next school year.
“Our goal is to complete these changes in the summer and have this policy implemented when school begins next fall,” Harris said.
For more information the official documents passed in the senate may do so online by visiting www.sa.msstate.edu/press/document.