A vestige of the Atlanta Olympic Games offering bicycles added protection from weather and theft has come to UC Davis.

Six "BikeLids" were recently installed on campus, three near the Silo Union and three near the Memorial Union. BikeLids debuted at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and are now installed around the country, said David Takemoto-Weerts, bicycle program coordinator.

Under an arrangement with the the BikeLids manufacturer, Starlite Media Inc., commercial messages will soon be installed on the BikeLids. In exchange for these advertisements, the lockers have been provided for campus use at no cost. In addition, the campus will receive a percentage of the advertising revenue, Takemoto Weerts said. .

The BikeLid program is a one-year pilot for the campus. A review at the end of the year will determine whether it will be continued.

To ensure that as many cyclists as possible have access to the new lockers, they are intended for short-term use only.

No bike may be stored in the locker for more than 48 hours. Bicycles parked in violation will be removed and their owners fined. Any lock secured to a vacant locker will also be removed.

For more information about the BikeLids, call 752-BIKE.