University policy regarding bicycle use and safety was updated last week to address concerns stemming from a growing population of bike riders on campus, a university official said.

"The goal is to have comprehensive bicycle circulation and safety, to have understandable regulations and also to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation," said Annemarie Mountz, assistant director of public information.

The increase in bicycle use has made university officials realize the lack of knowledge among cyclists for appropriate and inappropriate behavior when using a bicycle and prompted the policy update, Mountz said.

The new policy, which Mountz said focuses mainly on safety issues, includes rules such as no bikes permitted on any sidewalks along any campus roads, no bikes allowed on any pedestrian roads in the main part of campus, bikes can only be ridden on approved bike routes and automobile thoroughfares, and bikes must be secured to racks and not parked inside buildings.

The laws are meant to be preventative measures against pedestrian, motor and bicycle collisions, said Tyrone Parham, deputy chief for Penn State Police.

"If a bicycle goes blasting through a stop sign, because they are not following policy, they are in danger if a car comes, or they put a pedestrian in danger if they cross," Mountz said.

Steve Maruszewski, deputy associate vice president for the Office of Physical Plant, said he has seen a "dramatic increase" of bikers on campus, adding he even noticed faculty and staff using bikes as their primary form of transportation.

"This new policy will make it more convenient for bike use on campus," Maruszewski said.

Maruszewski, who conducted a study to find the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment because of campus behavior, said he found transportation played a major role.

"Our estimated annual total is that 54 million miles are driven by Penn State commuters at University Park. ... That means three million gallons of gasoline per year," Maruszewski said. "We are encouraging use of bicycles to reduce the overall emissions associated with vehicular use to reduce our impact on global warming."

The increase in bike riders has also prompted a need to add bike racks around campus to fit the new policy. There have been about 100 new bike racks added in the past years, but more are needed, Maruszewski said, adding bikes are many times seen tied to trees and fences.