VIII. Use of Non-Pedestrian Devices

B. Bicycles

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

2. Personal bicycles may only be parked in designated racks. Bicycles provided as part of a contracted fee-for-use mobility service may be parked at designated bike racks or in designated mobility service parking areas. Use of shrubs, trees, or any architectural structures to secure bicycles is prohibited. Bicycles are not permitted in Texas Tech academic, administrative, or residence hall 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.

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 website or their office at the Student Union Building Suite 005.

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 established university procedures. 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 following the end of the spring semester and throughout the year at all other bike parking areas on campus.

12. A bicycle parked on Texas Tech property will be subject to impoundment if it is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than 14 (fourteen) consecutive days. A bicycle will be deemed inoperable if any of the following apply:

a. Flat or missing tire.

b. Missing or disengaged chain.

c. Missing pedals.

d. Bent or damaged wheel rims.

e. Broken brake devices.

f. Broken or disengaged cables.