Basics

Protecting Your Bicycle

Registering your bicycle with Transportation and Parking Services is a free way to establish legal ownership of your bicycle, which is typically what makes bicycle theft difficult to prove. Learn more on the Registration page.

Take photos of your bicycle and its serial number (usually found on the underside of the pedal crank) as a secondary precaution. You can show the photos to police to aid in identifying and recovering the bicycle if stolen. 

Always lock your bicycle when parking it, even for a short time period. TPS strongly recommends using a U-lock because of the increased difficulty in cutting the lock. Chains and cables can be cut easily by bicycle thieves. 

Parking Bicycles

Always lock your bicycle to a bike rack and never to railings, trees, or other architectural or landscape features. Bike racks are found at all residence halls and nearly all academic buildings. Locking to landscaping and architectural features can damage campus and even result in difficulty in entering buildings for students with disabilities.

Riding Safely on Campus

Bicyclists may ride in bike lanes and streets. Bicyclists may also ride on any sidewalk on campus except for the following due to safety concerns, especially avoiding collisions with pedestrians:

• Sidewalks that run parallel to a street with a designated bike lane (cyclists must use the bike lane)
• Breezeways and sidewalks that cross breezeways
• Sidewalks that run down the face of a building
• Areas designated by signs as dismount zones, such as the area between the SUB and the Library

Bicyclists are encouraged to always wear a helmet when riding. 

When riding in bike lanes and streets, always ride with traffic, follow traffic signs and signals just as a vehicle would, and use hand signals when turning.

When riding at night, the State of Texas requires bicycles to have a white light on the front and a red light or red reflector on the rear of the bicycle. The lights provide a way for motorists to see and avoid bicyclists at night. 

 

Laws and Regulations Regarding Bicycles

Bicyclists are responsible for abiding by all laws of the State of Texas, ordinances of the City of Lubbock when riding on city streets, and regulations of Texas Tech while riding on campus. Violators are subject to penalties and fines. For an overview of Texas bicycle laws, see BikeTexas.

Those not in compliance with Texas Tech bicycle regulations may be issued a violation notice and their bike may be impounded. Owners can reclaim their bike once the fine is paid and the bike is registered.

Relevant Texas Tech Regulations

From Section VIII.B. of the Texas Tech University Traffic and Parking Regulations:

(1) Bicycles may be operated on campus only if such operation is safe and complies with established University policies and state laws.

(2) Bicycles may only be parked in designated racks. Use of shrubs, trees, or any architectural structures to secure bicycles is prohibited. Bicycles are not permitted in Texas Tech academic or administrative buildings. Any bicycle found in violation of this subsection may be impounded. The normal impoundment fee is $40.00. THE IMPOUNDMENT FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF THE CITATION OR ANY APPLICABLE STORAGE FEES. (See Section IX)

(3) Routes:

(a) A walkway may only be used by pedestrians. Examples include a breezeway or any walkway that runs in front of the external door to any building.

(b) A traveled way may be used by pedestrians and bicycle operators. A traveled way is any way, area, or region, other than a campus street, where bicycles are

permitted to be operated or parked. Examples include a campus sidewalk, parking lot, service drive and loading bay, unless designated otherwise. Note: While a

parking garage is a traveled way, operation of a bicycle is prohibited in a parking garage, excluding officers of the Texas Tech Police Department and Transportation & Parking Services.

(c) A campus street may be used in a manner consistent with State law.

(d) Any sidewalk that runs parallel to a street with a designated bike lane may not be used by a bicycle operator. Operators must use the provided on-street bike lane or dismount their bicycle.

(4) A person may operate a bicycle on a traveled way of campus if and only if all rules controlling such operation are observed. Traffic control devices, including designated areas, zones, signage and signals are part of the rules controlling operation of bicycles and must be observed. Certain areas of campus with high levels of pedestrian traffic are signed as dismount zones during specified time periods. Operation of a bicycle on these marked traveled ways is prohibited during the times posted.

(5) Bicycle operators may use a traveled way or campus street only for the purpose of simple transit. Simple transit is defined as the minimum actions necessary to safely convey a person or goods from one place to another via a transit route of the campus in a manner consistent with the regulations. Stunts, tricks, feats of skill, acrobatics and "extreme" sports activities are not simple transit and therefore are violations of the regulations.

(6) A bicycle operator must immediately comply with any instruction relevant to the operation of a bicycle given by a police officer.

(7) Right of Way:

(a) Each operator shall yield the right of way to all emergency personnel.

(b) Each operator shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian.

(c) Each operator shall yield the right of way to any other operator of a bicycle as necessary to ensure safe, courteous transit.

(8) A bicycle operator will bear to the right side of any traveled way as necessary to ensure safe, courteous transit unless preparing to turn left at an intersection.

(9) The maximum speed at which a bicycle may be operated on a traveled way or campus street shall not exceed that which is reasonable and prudent for the conditions at the time or that which creates a hazard to any person or property. In no case shall that speed exceed 10 miles per hour on any traveled way or 20 miles per hour on any campus street. Note: 2.5 mph is approximately the speed of an average pedestrian walking under fair conditions.

(10) Bicycle registration is encouraged and conducted free of charge at the Transportation & Parking Services website or office.

(11) Any bicycle or locking device deemed abandoned at residence hall bike racks at the end of the spring semester or at any point during the year at other campus buildings may be considered abandoned and may be properly disposed of through Property Inventory. A bicycle is considered abandoned when it has not been operated for 30 days. Abandonment impounds in residence hall bike parking areas are conducted once a year 30-45 days after the end of the spring semester and throughout the year at all other bike parking areas on campus.

 

State Regulations

From Section IX, Subsection E of the Texas Tech University Traffic and Parking Regulations:

In the state of Texas, motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles are subject to the same rules and regulations as automobiles. Operators are subject to a moving violation, to be adjudicated in a court of competent jurisdiction as provided in the Texas Education Code, Article 51.208, for failing to comply with Texas Motor Vehicle Laws and these Regulations. Examples of the most common bicycle violations are:

1. Failing to stop at stop signs and red lights

2. Failing to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks

3. Operating bicycle without proper lights and reflectors when required

4. Failing to drive on the right side of the roadway

The maximum fine for violation of these STATE LAWS is $200.00.