By Jacqueline Arroyo / The Jambar
Youngstown State University students are facing new restrictions on the use of personal electric vehicles, including scooters and e-bikes.
Under the updated policy, PEVs are no longer permitted inside any university-owned buildings, including residence halls and university apartments.
The restrictions also prohibit riding or walking alongside a PEV inside university buildings, as well as charging or storing PEVs inside.
Shawn Varso, YSU chief of police, has spent more than two decades serving with the YSU police department. He has collaborated with faculty, staff and administrators to determine what policies best serve the university community and its students.
Regarding the restrictions on PEVs, Varso said there were several reasons for the changes.
“Basically, there were some concerns raised about individuals riding scooters through buildings, riding through the inner core at high speeds,” Varso said. “The other issue that came up was the lithium ion batteries that are in the scooters.”
One key concern involved the batteries in PEVs. Instances of individuals bringing PEVs into buildings and overcharging them increased the risk of fires or explosions.
To address the issue and ensure PEVs are kept outside safely, the university encourages students to use bike racks located on campus.
“We want them to use the racks that are for that purpose,” Varso said. “Actually, [YSU] facilities are looking at putting more racks out on campus to accommodate that.”
Varso said in the past, some individuals left their PEVs chained to light poles and benches. He added that those who fail to comply with the new restrictions may face repercussions.
“It’s not a criminal act — there’s no tickets or arrests — but it is a university policy,” Varso said. “If we see the same people breaking the policy, we’re going to step it up and refer that individual to student conduct.”
Once a policy is instated, students are informed through university communications, such as email or the university website. It is the responsibility of the student to stay informed about the university’s policies and procedures.
If a student is referred to the Office of Student Conduct, it would indicate a violation of university policies and could result in disciplinary sanctions.
Additionally, the enforcement of PEV restrictions does not rest solely with YSU police. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to report any violations they observe.
