Duck Rides, bike theft prevention and other safety precautions.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
FALL SAFETY RESOURCES
As students get used to being back on campus and in classrooms with our multi-layered COVID-19 prevention strategies, the UO wants to emphasize the importance of staying safe in other ways too. With the darker winter months approaching, here are some of the university’s top safety resources and tips.
BIKE SAFETY
Bicycles or their riders must be equipped with lighting equipment during hours of darkness and in limited visibility conditions under state law.
Required lighting includes a white front light with a minimum visibility of 500 feet and a red rear light or reflector with a minimum visibility of 600 feet.
BIKE THEFT PREVENTION
Bike theft is the number one crime on campus, according to the UO Police Department, but students can take steps to lower their own risk:
Avoid simple cable or chain locks. U-locks are more durable, and while they can still be cut, bike thieves will often focus on the easiest targets. Put a U-lock around both your bike’s back wheel and its center post for the most protection.
Lock up your bike in high-traffic, high-visibility areas on campus and in the community as much as possible.
Register your bike for free through Project 529. That network can help law enforcement return your bike if it is stolen, even if it’s recovered in another city or state.
DUCK RIDES
Duck Rides is the primary nighttime transportation services for students, staff and faculty at the UO. The service is free and peer-to-peer, with students driving students. It runs seven days a week, 6 p.m. to midnight.
Call 541-346-7433 or email duckrides@uoregon.edu to make a reservation. First-come, first-serve rides are also available if students call during operating hours.
UOPD is available to provide free on-campus escorts if you are unable to find another shuttle, ride, or taxi: 541-346-2919.
NIGHT WALK
Always be alert when walking at night and try to stay in well-lit areas.
The UO provides an online map to help students navigate by the best-lit route around campus.
The map also shows the approximately 60 emergency phones (e-phone or call boxes) that are located across campus. Those e-phones provide an immediate connection to the UOPD dispatch center, which is staffed 24 hours a day.
Students can flag potential concerns or issues on the Safety at Night online map by dropping pins in problem areas.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
If you are (or someone you are with is) in immediate danger or feel unsafe, call 9‑1‑1.
Students who are not sure who to contact, or need help in making a law enforcement report, can call the UO’s SAFE hotline at 541‑346‑7233 (SAFE).
Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you or someone near you needs medical attention due to alcohol consumption. The Oregon Medical Amnesty law prevents underage drinkers from receiving a Minor in Possession (MIP) when aiding someone with alcohol poisoning or seeking aid for themselves.
UOPD serves as the central lost and found for campus. To reach out about lost items, you can complete an online form or call 541-346-3232.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
The UO operates its own emergency notification system for incidents on campus using text messages, emails, a public alerts blog, digital displays and social media messaging.
Students automatically receive UO Alerts to their university email account and can sign up to receive alerts via text message on their personal mobile devices.
Register or update your phone numbers for UO Alerts via DuckWeb.
VACATION WATCH
UOPD aims to make near-campus neighborhoods safer and more secure during vacations and extended absences with its Vacation Watch program.
UOPD will check registered vacant residences as often as possible, providing a deterrent for crime and quick notification to residents of any suspicious activity.
The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
