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New Haven, Conn. — Southern Connecticut State University started out with three teachers and 84 students in 1893. Over the past century, it has grown to encompass 168 acres, and enroll over 12,000 students!
What’s their secret formula for continued growth, you might ask? They recognized a long time ago that their students represent a broad spectrum of experience, values, goals, and ideas. They also know that innovative students, like those that they want to appeal to, are selective — they want to live in a stimulating, diverse, and authentic place. They are doing all that they can to attract and retain those students, by continuing to modernize, diversify, and expand their campus to fit student’s lifestyles.
Recently, they started a $230 million dollar construction program to expand their library,
update their science center, add a new student center, a new residence hall, a new facilities operation building, and three new parking garages. And as part of their continued expansion they’ve also implemented an amenity that students and staff at universities around the country have come to value: bicycle lockers.
For many university administrators, like those at Southern Connecticut State University, parking is one of those quiet dilemma’s keeping them awake at night, praying, that all of their students don’t all arrive at the school at the same time! Currently, about 2,200 students live on Southern Connecticut University’s campus, which means that there are another, roughly, 10,000 students coming in and out of campus regularly – a large percentage of which probably arrive in single occupancy vehicles. Bike lockers are one way to ease traffic and parking problems on campus, and ultimately administrator’s minds!
The 30 bike lockers that Southern Connecticut University elected to install will help to ease the traffic and congestion in and around their campus. The lockers provide bike commuters with the peace of mind they need, in order to use their bike to get around campus rather than their car. They know that their bike will be totally protected from the elements and theft in an American Bicycle Security bike locker.
“Because of the lockers we can provide the necessary customer service that resident students and faculty expect,” said Sal Rizza, Assistant Director of Housing/Director of Schwartz Hall/Residence Hall Area Coordinator/Purchasing Representative.
“Although Southern Connecticut State University is a very safe and secure institution, there is still the possibility of theft. Having secure bicycle lockers {reduces} the possibility of those thefts. When you make the comparison between a “bicycle locker” versus a typical “bicycle rack,” it would be so much more involved to break into the locker and risk getting nabbed by the campus police or an eye witness,” he added. Not one of the lockers has been broken into, since they were installed this year.
The freshmen that live on campus may be especially thankful for the lockers, since they are not permitted to drive a motor vehicle to campus, and the lockers are the only totally enclosed protection that the University offers for bikes. Residents at the University are prohibited from storing their bicycles within the residence halls and the surrounding buildings, so the only place for bicycle storage is outside in the elements.
So far, the students are, “enjoying the convenience, piece of mind, and safety that the
bike lockers provide. And there have been no reported break-ins to the lockers,” said
Rizza. Students can rent the lockers for $40 per semester.
While American Bicycle Security Company offers many different types of lockers, Southern Connecticut State University elected to install model number 302 with Medeco high security T – Handle locks. Each of the lockers can hold 2 bikes, and they can stand alone, or be grouped together, since they do not share any common walls.
What’s more, they are also the first one piece lockers available that are not molded out of soft and flammable HDPE plastic material. Since the lockers are constructed out of fiberglass reinforced plastic they are highly resistant to impact, stains, and will not corrode.
“They were the most practical for a campus environment. They are very safe, durable, and able to withstand the constant shift in New England weather. Also, if a section of the locker broke in some way, we could replace the part and not the whole unit,” said Rizza. “And American Bicycle Security has provided excellent service,” he added.
Plans are already tentatively underway to add even more lockers to the campus. As the University continues to expand, so may its bike parking program. Within the next couple of years the new residence hall, and student center will be completed, so an increase in students may also mean an increased need for bicycle lockers.
If you would like to learn more about Southern Connecticut University you may visit their website at: www.southernct.edu
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