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Stanford University Department of Public Safety Bicycle Policy
All bicycles operated on the Stanford University campus shall be registered with the Stanford University Department of Public Safety through the University's Parking and Transportation Office bicycle registration program. For a fee of $3.50 per license, your bicycle is registered with Santa Clara County (Section B5-19) and if your bicycle is lost or stolen, you can easily be identified as the owner when it is recovered by law enforcement. The registration requirement applies regardless of whether the owner is a student, faculty or staff member. Parking & Transportation Services is located at 340 Bonair Siding. Bicycle operators may contact the Parking and Transportation Bicycle Program Coordinator at 725-BIKE (2453) for information about how to register. For more information about bicycles at Stanford see http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/BikingAtStanford.shtml.
Bicycles shall be parked only in designated racks placed on campus. When parking your bike, don't obstruct walkways, railings, doorways or ramps intended for use by pedestrians or people with disabilities. Improperly parked bikes will be removed and impounded by the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety shall not be responsible or liable in any way for lost, stolen, or damaged bicycles. Bicycles shall also be kept in good working order and shall not be allowed to deteriorate or become otherwise derelict.
If left unattended, a bicycle may be tagged as abandoned with a warning notice by the Department of Public Safety. If the bicycle is not removed within fourteen days, the department will impound it without further notice. This abatement process is performed in student living areas and other areas of campus on an ongoing basis. The Department of Public Safety has the sole authority to determine whether a bicycle is abandoned. A bicycle is determined to be abandoned when it is found in the same location over an extended period of time (generally two weeks or more) with any combination of missing parts, dust/cobweb covered, flat tires, and rusted chain. If an impounded abandoned bicycle is registered under this policy, the Department of Public Safety shall make a good faith effort to contact the registered owner so that they may reclaim their bicycle. If an abandoned bicycle is not registered under this policy, the Department of Public Safety will dispose of the bicycle after holding it for ninety (90) days. The Department of Public Safety is not responsible for the cost of locks, chains, other security devices, or any other item that may be damaged or destroyed as a result of removing any bicycle. The Department of Public Safety has no responsibility or liability to replace or make compensation for such items.
The University has the authority to sell, surplus, destroy, or otherwise dispose of any removed bicycle. If you think your bicycle was impounded for being abandoned within the past ninety days, please contact the Department of Public Safety at PublicSafety@lists.stanford.edu to arrange an appointment to view the impounded bicycles. Be prepared to show proof of ownership and ID in order to have the bicycle released to you. The Department of Public Safety has sole authority to determine the sufficiency of such evidence, and the determination shall not be subject to protest, appeal, or review. Prior to the Department of Public Safety releasing the bicycle to its owner, if the bicycle is not already licensed, the owner will be required to license the bicycle in accordance with California law.
Bicycle Abatement Program
The Department of Public Safety removes abandoned bicycles from racks in order to maintain an adequate number of secure parking spaces and thereby discourage bicycle theft. Bicycles may also be removed from bike racks which are being relocated due to construction. Bicycles identified for removal are posted with a notice informing the owner that they must remove the bicycle from its current location within fourteen days or the bicycle will be impounded. Simply removing the notice will not stop your bicycle from being impounded, only the removal of the bicycle from that rack will let us know that the owner has not abandoned the bicycle.
All impounded bicycles are then brought to a Public Safety facility for processing. The bicycles are held for a minimum of 90 days before they are donated to local charities. During this time, an attempt is made to contact the owners of the bicycles through California bicycle registration records to ascertain whether they wish to exercise their ownership rights.
If you believe your bicycle may have been removed and you wish to claim it, please contact the Bicycle Abatement Unit at PublicSafety@lists.stanford.edu. If possible, have your bicycle license number handy. If you do not have a license and the Department of Public Safety has your bicycle, you will be required to show proof of purchase of a bike license before your bicycle will be released to you.
** Please do not leave your bike locked at a bicycle rack when you leave campus for an extended period of time. **
Summer Abandoned Bicycle Abatement
It is strongly recommended that you arrange for storage of your bicycle over the summer. Both Stanford Housing and the Campus Bike Shop will store your bicycle in an indoor facility during the summer for a nominal fee. If your bicycle is collected as abandoned by the Department of Public Safety during the summer break, it will be stored outdoors at a Public Safety impound yard until October 11. Those bicycles not claimed by their owners will be donated to a local charity after October 11.
PLEASE NOTE: If you leave your bicycle locked to a rack or other outdoor object during summer, your bicycle will be declared abandoned, your lock will be cut and your bicycle impounded. The Department of Public Safety will charge a $32 storage fee, require you to have a bike license prior to release, and will not reimburse you if it was necessary to cut your lock in order to impound your bicycle. Please make the proper arrangements to store your bicycle with Student Housing by utilizing their on-line reservation system at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/shs/summerstorage/ or by contacting the Campus Bike Shop at 723-9300.
Bike Safety Programs
SUDPS offers bike safety programs for student groups, work groups, and elementary schools. Please contact our community outreach coordinator for more information or to schedule a bike safety seminar for your group.Please also check our Bike Events Calendar listed below for bicycle program offerings given through several different departments on campus throughout the year.
Bike Diversion Program - Bike Safety Presentations
The next Bike Safety Presentation offered by SUDPS as part of the Bike Diversion Program will be on:Monday, October 20, 2008 at 4:00pm --> *FULL!*
Next class: Monday, November 17, 2008 at 4:00pm
Parking and Transportation Programs, 340 Bonair Siding
If you have any questions, please contact SUDPS during office hours at (650)723-9633.
Upcoming Bicycle Events
As we welcome new and returning people to the Farm, the Stanford University Department of Public Safety, Parking & Transportation Services, and the Campus Bike Shop offer a number of programs throughout the year that will keep you, your bike, and others free to enjoy having bicycles on campus in a safe and courteous manner.
Please check below and come back often for our latest event offerings.Bicycle registration
All bicycles used on campus must be licensed with Santa Clara County under county ordinance Section B5-19. Register your bike at the Parking & Transportation Services office; it's your only chance of recovering it if stolen. The registration fee is $3.50 and lasts for three years.
To register your bicycle, you can bring it by our table in White Plaza every Friday from 11am-2pm, weather permitting starting October 3rd.
Alternatively, bring your bicycle to the P&TS office at 340 Bonair Siding (leave bikes outside the lobby, please), and fill out a bicycle registration form. Please note that you must have your bike with you for us to verify the serial number.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where do I send E-Mail Questions?
Where do I register my bike?
Why should I register my bike?
What if I lose my bike lock key?
I left my bike locked to a rack over the summer...and now I can't find it.
My bike was stolen-where can I report it?
My bike is missing and unlicensed / unregistered... what can I do?
And Their Answers...
E-Mail
Please send all E-Mail Questions to PublicSafety@lists.stanford.edu
Where do I register my bike?
Bicycles may be registered at Parking and Transportation Services, 340 Bonair Siding and every Friday from 11am-2pm in White Plaza (weather permitting). The fee is $3.50.
Why should I register my bike?
A bike registration is essentially the only means the Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies have to identify bikes that come into their possession. If your bike is ever stolen and recovered, a registration will allow the police to return the bike to you. Likewise, if your bike is ever impounded because you left it locked to a rack for an extended period of time, a registration will allow us to return your bike to you. And, of course, registering your bicycle is required by California law.
What if I lose my bike lock key?
The Department of Public Safety no longer removes bicycle locks. This duty has been handed over to the Campus Bike Shop, (650) 723-9300. They will charge a nominal fee.
I left my bike locked to a rack for an extended amount of time...and now I can't find it.
Your bicycle may have been impounded by the Department of Public Safety. Please contact the Bicycle Abatement Unit by e-mail at PublicSafety@lists.stanford.edu. If we do not have your bike, then we would advise you to file a stolen bicycle report.
My bike was stolen - where can I report it?
If you see a bicycle theft in progress, call 9-911 from campus phones, 9-1-1 from pay phones (a free call), or use the blue emergency towers. Otherwise, contact Stanford Police at (650) 723-9633 during regular business hours and at (650) 470-1258 during non-business hours.
My bike is missing and unlicensed/unregistered... what can I do?
Without a sales receipt or license registration, you cannot make a claim that a missing bike is "yours." To make a claim to abandoned property is a legal issue. The bicycle abatement officer must be convinced beyond a doubt that the bike belongs to the claimant. No one may "show up" at the bike impound lot to "look" for their missing bike.
First step:
- Email the Bicycle Abatement Unit a complete description of the missing, unlicensed bike
- Where and when it was last seen
- Make
- Model
- Color
- Wheel type
- Accessories (basket, bell, light, fender)
- Features to distinguish it from other bikes of its type (stickers, seat, condition, handlebars)
Based on the above information, I can often determine if we have impounded the bike.
- Schedule an appointment during designated times to search for the bike
Then, if found in impound, - License the bike at Parking and Transportation
- If impounded during Summer Break, pay the $32 Summer Storage fee with exact cash or check