What has a helmet, two legs and no bike? At least 16 Georgetown students.

Dozens of bikes line the bike racks across campus. The recent rash of bike thefts on campus, therefore, has affected and alarmed a significant portion of our student body.

DPS has responded to this matter, most noticeably, by putting up a few flyers that encourage students to secure their bikes with a $25 “Kryptonite U-Lock.” Though this move has helped stem some potential bicycle thefts, we believe that there are more effective methods, both immediate quick fixes and permanent solutions, that could better solve this ongoing problem.

The best way to stop this current increase in bicycle thefts would be to substantially increase students’ knowledge of how to better protect their bikes. Large, permanent signs are needed so students will always be aware of how susceptible their bikes are, even when locked up with cable locks.

The increase in attention paid to bike thefts doesn’t mean that this is a new issue. It was never unheard of for locked bikes to be stolen from racks on campus, and this increased interest in Georgetown students’ bikes should convince DPS and the administration to take aggresive measures in order to prevent these thefts once and for all.

Tangible security precautions need to taken. The Editorial Board recommends that the university install visible security cameras focused on the bike racks near academic buildings, dorms and apartments. The presence of a security camera would deter thieves from attempting to steal bikes at all and could help DPS determine the criminal or criminals behind the thefts.

It should not fall upon The Hoya’s recent news article (“Bikes Disappearing From Campus Racks,” The Hoya, Sept. 26, 2008, A7) to educate the student body as to how to protect their belongings, nor should it need to reiterate that if students use cable locks, their bikes are at a risk of being stolen. Even The Hoya’s staff realizes that our readership does not include the entire student body, and thus in such situations DPS needs to send mass e-mails informing and educating students.

As we are reminded with every Public Safety Alert e-mail, our personal belongings are unfortunately at stake unless we take fail-proof steps to ensure their security. Hopefully, with a combination of heightened student awareness and university safety cooperation, students will no longer need to fear for their Schwinns’ safety.