The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 10, 1981-Page 17 Bikers beware! ' Cops on prowl By JENNIFER MILLER Bicycling will get you to classes faster, especially when you're late for that math quiz. But there are a few prerequisites to bicycling in Ann Arbor. Bike registration is mandatory by city ordinance, and costs a one-time fee of $2.50. Cyclists can register at any of the dorm offices, the Housing Office, or at the City Clerk's office in City Hall. THE NEXT prerequisite is that riders obey all traffic laws, Last June, the Ann Arbor police began issuing $20 tickets to bicycle traffic violators. However, so far police have been war- ning most bikers rather than automatically giving them tickets. Traffic laws for bicyclists are essen- tially the same as for motorists. "The basic rule of thumb," said City Bicycle Coordinator Tom Pendleton, "is would you do that while driving a car?" These are the main violations that police may ticket a bicyclist for: srriding the wrong way on a one-way street. " running a stop sign or red light. " not having registration - a bike with no registration may also be im- pounded. " not yielding to pedestrians, especially on sidewalks. " not having lights or reflectors at night. "GOING THE wrong way on a one- way street is the worst violation, and the most dangerous," said Patrolman Walter Willard, who is the only officer riding a bike on campus patrol. Motorists pulling out onto a one-way street usually don't check the opposite way for traffic, he explained. The majority of tickets issued are for one- way street violations. As a result of citizen letters and com- plaints, the police especially target the State-Liberty-Thompson area for bike violations. "Most bicycle problems emanate from there," Willard said. Some city residents do not like the ticketing and the fines involved. Candy Ellison, 27, was given a $20 ticket last June for riding the wrong way on Liber- ty toward State Street. "I'm used to just casually and carelessly riding my bike. I never realized they were giving out tickets," Ellison said. "When the officer told her of the fine, "I was just floored," she said. See BIKES, Page 19 SYOUR VISIONS FULL SERVICE PHOTO LAB CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Plant hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Precision Photographics, 830 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI Phone (313) 971-9100 inc. 48104 0 Daily Photo by PAUL ENGSTRUM Ann Arbor police officer Walter Willard patrols campus area by bicycle for violators. I, Living costs high here, national survey shows By MARK GINDIN The cost of living in Ann Arbor is almost 10 percent higher than the national average, with hospital costs here the highest of the 232 cities sur- veyed, according to the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association, which recently released its quarterly report. More than 232 cities participated in me survey, with the Ann Arbor Chamber f Commerce contributing local price listings, according to Jean Jackman, assistant director of the Apn Arbor Chamber of Commerce. COMPARISON OF the cities using the All-Items Index shows Ann Arbor to b% almost 10 percent highter than the national average of 100. The Index measures nationwide variations in the costs. of 44 consumer goods and ser- *vices, including food, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous items. Ann Arbor was higher than the national average in all the catagories, bpt was roughly the same as other comparably-sized cities. Ann Arbor health care costs are among the highest in the entire survey, which cited expensive hospital room charges as the major factor. . A HOSPITAL ROOM- in Ann Arbor is among the most expensive of all the 232 cities surveyed. The average of $208 per day for a semi-privateroom in this area is much greater than the national daily average of $120. The catagory of health care costs in- clude the cost of an average visit to the doctor and dentist along with the charge for a hospital room. At $17, Ann Arbor averaged lower for a visit to the doctor than the national average of $21.90. HOUSING COSTS in Ann Arbor, as expected, are also above the national average. The housing catagory in- cludes both apartment rent andM payments on a home for an average family. The average Ann Arbor rent (ex- cluding all utilities but water) reported by the local chamber of commerce was $322. Compared to the national average of $287, the city is a more expensive place for renter. Lansing did report an average rent of $325, which is close to Ann Arbor's rate. THE SURVEY was made during the first week of April, and is the fifth quar- terly survey the city has participated in, Jackman said. The other cities are also supposed to collect data during the same week, so that "theoretically everybody is collec- ting data at the same time," she said. Thus the procedure eliminates the price jumps inherent in an inflationary economy, she added. Most areas of the country are in- cluded, Jackman said, but there is un- der-representation in the Northeast." New York and a few other cities par- ticipated, but not many others from that area, she said. THERE IS SOME good news for the city. Movie prices for an evening show of a first-run-film nationwide averaged $3.41. The price reported by the Ann Arbor chamber of commerce was $2.83. Ann Arbor utility price figures, while appearing about $20 above the national average, "should be taken with a grain of salt," Jackman said. do all the. work. Just fill out the RUSH SLIP below s Q(or pick one up in the store), and hand it to one of our clerks. b Voila! Your books will appear. No searching shelves and pawing through stacks Looking for the right book. We maintain an up-to-date list of required texts. And, of course, any changes will bring a cheerful exchange r or refund (even for dropped courses). Just return the 1- book with a receipt and in the same condition as purchased. And how much does this service cost? Nothing. We guarantee it. If our prices aren't competitive, we'll refund the difference at any time within two weeks. 0 What more could you ask? Please specify if you want new books. Our clerks are instructed to provide the best quality used books available (and we've got a lot of 'em). I RUSH SLIP Al, LIST COURSE NUMBER DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTOR COURSE NO. 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