Bicycle FAQ and Guidelines
Bike Operation ||
Theft Prevention ||
Bike Safety ||
Biking Tips
 |
| |
Q: Where can I report a street sweeping request or other bike lane maintenance issues?
A: 949.824.0023 is Parking and Transportation Services’s maintenance line to request glass sweeping, brush trimming, and debris removal and to report potholes and pavement repair needs.
Q: Where do I report other types of bike hazards (i.e. dangerous intersections, traffic pinch points, drainage grates, chronic speeding areas, and other hazards requiring more substantial “fixes”?
A: You can request bike route improvements by clicking here.
Q: Do I have to have to pay extra or have a permit to put my bike on the OCTA bus or campus shuttle?
A: No, nothing is needed to put your bike on the bus. Go to the OCTA website to view the video explanation of putting your bike on the bus.
Q: How do I get from point A to point B?
A: Click here to view the most current UCI bikeways map.
Q: Where do I report a car or delivery vehicle parked in the bike lane?
A: Call the Universities Parking Field Services line at 949.824.2691.
Q: Where can I donate a used bike?
A: Call the Parking Field Services line at 949.824.2691.
Q: I can’t afford to buy a bike. Can I get a free bike?
A: The Parking and Transportation Services sells impounded bicycles at a very low cost to the campus community and provides bike rebates to qualifying individuals. For more information please contact a Sustainable Transportation Coordinator at 949.824.1460
Q: Can officers on bike patrol make traffic stops and arrests?
A: Yes, arrests made by officers while on bike patrol are just as valid as being stopped by an officer driving a squad car.
Q: Why should I bike to campus?
A: There are many benefits to biking:
• Minimal transportation costs
• Zero stress about where to park
• Zero parking fees
• Exercise in transit
• Dependable & predictable transportation
• Incentives from Alternative Transportation
Q: Why should I license my bike?
A: Besides being required on campus, bike registration has proven very effective in recovering stolen and missing bikes. A bike license can serve as a means of identifying bike owners in the event you lose your keys to your bike lock.
|
|
 |
Bike Operation
Bicycling on sidewalks is prohibited on the University campus except in those few areas where no parallel roadway or bike path exists. Bicycles at UCI may not be operated on any landscaped areas, pedestrian corridor, pedestrian ramp, or anywhere signs are posted prohibiting bike riding.
Bicyclists must obey all posted speed limits. Additionally, no cyclist may travel at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions. At the University, the speed limit in the campus core area and all other bike paths is 15mph and in the parking lots is 10mph.
Operating a bike while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is punishable by fines, jail time and/or loss of driving privileges.
It is also illegal for two persons to ride on a bike meant for one or to have earphones covering both ears while cycling.
Bicycle Theft/Prevention
Lock your bike in a bike rack. During peak times, an available parking space may be a minute or two away from primary bicycle racks. Take the time to find an appropriate space and you'll save yourself the stress and expense of having your bike impounded.
Always lock your bike, even if you're leaving it for "just a minute".
Whenever possible, always lock your bike to a fixed, but legal, device such as a bike rack or pod.
Lock your bike in a highly visible, well-lighted location.
U-shaped high security locks are among the most theft-resistant locks available. Be aware, however, that they are easily defeated by knowledgeable thieves. Accessories are available that reduce the effectiveness of leveraging devices used by thieves to defeat U-locks.
Quick-release wheels and seats can be secured with a cable, chain, or other security devices available at bike shops.
Use a less valuable or older bike for running errands and commuting in Irvine.
The best advice is saved for last: Thieves' favorite targets are expensive, high-quality mountain bikes. This is so obvious, yet too many Irvine cyclists persist in riding such "thief-magnets" for daily commuting in a town where distances are short, terrain is flat, and a high-dollar, 21-speed, all-terrain bike is really out of place. Even if theft weren't an issue, why put that daily wear and tear on such a bike? Get a "beater bike" for around-town use. Sure, it could also get stolen, but consider the comparative loss.
If, in spite of all these precautions, your bike is stolen, be sure to report it to the police. Call Campus Police at (949) 824-5223 to report thefts on campus, and call Special Events (949) 824-2691 to see if your bicycle is impounded.
Bike Safety
General Safety Procedures
Use your head and wear a helmet and you can reduce your risk of head injury by 85%.
Use hand signals before turning.
Pass with caution on the left and alert the people around you (say "On your left" as you are about to pass)
Ride single-file.
Honor yield and stop signs.
Use caution when approaching pedestrian crossings.
Walk bikes on sidewalks and in other pedestrian areas. (There is a violation if you don't)
Ride at a safe and reasonable speed. Consider the flow of bicycle traffic and other bike path conditions.
Avoid the congestion of peak travel times (during change of classes) whenever possible. You'll find the bike paths enjoyably empty during class time!
Biking Tips
• Use hand signals
Signal to other drivers; your movements affect them. Hand signals tell everyone what you intend to do. Signal as a matter of law, courtesy, and self-protection.
• Ride in a straight line
Ride to the right of faster traffic in a straight line about a car door's width away from the parked cars
• Don’t weave between cars
Don't ride to the curb between parked cars. Motorists may not see you when you try to move back into traffic
• Follow lane markings
Don't turn left from the right lane. Don't go straight in a lane marked "right turn only"; stay to the left of the right turn only lane if you are going straight
• Choose the best way to turn left
There are two ways to make a left turn:
1) Like a motorist: Signal move into the left lane, and turn left. In a left turn only lane, stay to the right of the lane to allow any motorists behind to make their turn on your left
2) Like a pedestrian: Ride straight across to the far-side crosswalk, dismount, and walk your bike across.
|
|
