Bicycle Coordinating Committee

About the Bicycle Coordinating Committee

 As Texas Tech University continues to grow, so does the demand for safe, efficient, and accessible bicycle transportation on campus. With a rapidly increasing student population and a rising interest in cycling, thoughtful planning has become essential.

The Transportation & Parking Services Bicycle Coordinating Committee was established to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive bicycle master plan for campus.

Our committee brings together a diverse group of voices—cyclists and non‑cyclists alike—including representatives from:

• Students
• Faculty and staff
• Student Government Association
• Transportation & Parking Services
• Texas Tech Police Department
• Grounds Maintenance
• University Student Housing
• Outdoor Pursuits Center

By collaborating with designers, planners, and subject‑matter experts, the Bicycle Coordinating Committee works to create a safer, more connected, and more sustainable cycling environment for the entire Texas Tech community.

Improvements to Cycling Infrastructure

During the planning process, it surfaced that ample bike parking would be a challenge as the campus continues to grow and interest in biking as a form of transportation increases.

Historically, the need for bicycle parking was addressed by placing racks outside each entrance of a building. In recent years, cyclists would frequently secure their bikes to handrails, trees and architectural features rather than seeking a space near another entrance when a particular set of racks was full, despite increased enforcement. On a number of occasions, this actually created a barrier for visually impaired students trying to access academic facilities.

Additionally, in many locations, we had reached the maximum number of racks that could be placed there. As a result, one of the recommendations that came out of the planning process was to construct a number of bicycle parking areas around the academic core of campus.

These parking areas would be within a short walk of the destinations they serve and would be constructed to provide ample bicycle parking with the possibility for future expansion. Due to the high volume of traffic in the areas, the first projects chosen were the bicycle parking area located at the intersection of the east/west and north/south pedestrian malls on the Engineering Key (just north of the Materials Research Center) and at the Library.

The new facilities include the following:

• A roomier design for moving between racks
• Easier accessibility from nearby streets and bike paths
• A new rack design developed by the committee that helps prevent bike damage
• A solid surface to prevent grass maintenance issues, and keep cyclists out of the mud and standing water
• Possibility for future expansion
• Compressed air stations

In addition to improving bike parking areas, the committee worked to improve biking on campus itself. With the help of industry consultants, designated bike lanes were placed throughout most of the Texas Tech campus. In May 2013, thanks to the Bicycle Coordinating Committee's planning and research, Texas Tech became a free-range campus, meaning cyclists could now ride on nearly every surface on campus except for a  few areas for safety reasons.

The Bicycle Coordinating Committee is always interested in suggestions from the campus community. Please feel free to email your ideas with the committee.