Ithaca College recognizes there are competing interests within the college community regarding the safe use of bicycles on the campus. Because of the campus layout, it is the current practice that bicycles and pedestrians share many campus sidewalks (meaning all outdoor walkways on campus regardless of how they are surfaced). Pedestrians’ interests lie in avoiding physical encounters with cyclists, particularly in heavy traffic areas. Cyclists’ interests include bicycle regulations that do not unfairly impair the use of bicycles for transportation on the campus. To balance these and other competing interests, the college has adopted the following bicycle safety rules, which seeks to address the needs of all parties. These rules rely on the thoughtfulness, cooperation and consideration of the entire college community.
Ithaca College Bicycle Policy
Register Your Bike
All bicycles on campus must be registered. Individual bicycles only need to be registered once. Registration helps the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management to identify owners of lost, stolen or impounded bicycles and to disseminate safety information. Bicycle registration is free.
For information on how to register your bicycle, please go here, stop by the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, or call 607-274-3756.
Obey the Rules of the Road
Cyclists riding in the street are required to comply with motor vehicle traffic regulations. Cyclists should obey traffic signs and always ride with the traffic. At all stop signs, cyclists must stop and yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians already at the intersection. All violations are subject to ticketing according to New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Click here to view links to New York State traffic laws relevant to cyclists. https://www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle
Yield to Pedestrians
Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks, in crosswalks, and around any stopped bus. Pedestrians are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, but it is the cyclist’s responsibility to yield to a pedestrian. Cyclists may not pass any bus that has stopped to pick up or discharge passengers. Ithaca College strongly encourages cyclists to announce their approach when encountering pedestrians.
Riding Bicycles on Sidewalks
Cyclists are encouraged to use the streets rather than the sidewalks whenever possible and to walk their bicycles on congested sidewalks. Every person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk must (i) ride in a careful and prudent manner, (ii) slow to a near walking pace within 10 feet of any pedestrian or building entrance, (iii) yield the right of way to pedestrians, and (iv) give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. Cyclists should keep in mind that a pedestrian may be visually impaired, hearing impaired, infirm, or a campus visitor. Pedestrians may make sudden, unpredictable movements. Accidental collisions may seriously injure pedestrians or other cyclists. A cyclist who strikes someone may be liable for personal injuries and property damage.
Lock Your Bicycles in Racks
Cyclists are expected to secure their bicycles in the bicycle racks. Ithaca College has bicycle racks that are located throughout the campus. Bicycles secured to fences, trees, sign posts, stair railings or locations other than bicycle racks may impounded. Locks damaged in the removal will be the responsibility of the owner. Unsecured bicycles may be impounded for safekeeping.
Residence Hall Bicycle Storage
Due to the limited availability of bike racks in the residential community, bicycles may be stored on balconies during the academic year. These must be secured so the bicycle cannot be flipped over the railing (bicycles may not hang outside of the balcony area).
Bicycles may not be stored in student rooms after required check-out dates. This specifically includes the summer recess, regardless of whether a student is assigned the same room for the Fall semester as for the prior Spring semester.
Abandoned, Lost, and Forgotten Bicycle Procedure
General
Throughout the year, Ithaca College faces issues with lost, forgotten, abandoned, vandalized, and stolen bicycles on its property. Campus bicycle parking facilities are limited and designed for temporary parking of bicycles in active use, and not for long-term storage. Abandoned bicycles reduce the number of parking spaces available to active cyclists and can cause safety, accessibility, and aesthetic issues. This procedure sets forth the process for reporting, tagging and removing suspected abandoned bicycles.
The purpose of this procedure is to reduce the number of abandoned bicycles on Ithaca College property in view of assuring that bicycle parking spaces are available to currently active cyclists.
Purpose:
Pursuant to the procedure set forth herein, Ithaca College will remove from its property any bicycle considered to be an Abandoned Bicycle, as such term is defined below, in order to maintain adequate, safe, and accessible bicycle parking. All removed bicycles will remain in storage for a period of 90 days, during which time they may be claimed by their owner. Should a bicycle not be claimed within the 90 days allotted, Ithaca College will donate or recycle the bicycle.
Definition:
“Abandoned Bicycle” means: A bicycle, bicycle parts, bicycle lock(s) or any bicycle related object(s) affixed to designated bicycle parking or other facilities on Ithaca College property; and a bicycle that meets the following criteria:
- A bicycle found under circumstances which reasonably indicate that it has been abandoned (e.g., it appears to be inoperable and/or it does not appear to have been moved for an extended period of time); or
- A bicycle which has been tagged by attaching a notice of impoundment to it, for at least 7 days, and which remains unclaimed by the owner.
Procedures:
Awareness and Education
Bicycles may not be parked at locations on Ithaca College property which are not explicitly designated for bicycle parking. Bicycles parked in a manner causing safety hazards and/or damage to property may be immediately removed and impounded.
This Procedure will, from time to time and in accordance with the provisions hereof, be advertised and promoted to the Ithaca College community by The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management.
This Procedure will be available online on Ithaca College Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management webpages.
Implementation
Bicycle sweeps, tagging and removal of any abandoned bicycle may be conducted at any time throughout the year. Notification of planned sweeps may be posted on Intercom and other campus communication media.
The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management will attach a notice of impoundment tag on any bicycles and bicycle parts, bicycle locks or any bicycle related objects attached to Ithaca College property.
- Tags will be dated with the date that the bicycle was tagged, and include information regarding the intended removal date;
- Tags will be attached in a visible area on the bicycle (e.g. bicycle handlebars);
Any Abandoned Bicycle with a tag affixed for 7 or more days and which remains on Ithaca College property will be photographed and the location, serial number, registration number (if present), and precise description (brand, color, and characteristics) will be recorded in a registry which will be held by The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management.
Office of Facilities and/or The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management staff will subsequently cut the lock affixing the bicycle to Ithaca College property (if any), and impound the Abandoned Bicycle.
Impounded bicycles will be stored for a period not less than 90 days and in accordance with New York State Personal Property Law. During this time the owners can claim it from the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management. Owners may obtain more information regarding the location of their bicycle by calling the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management at 607-274-3333.
In order to obtain an impounded bicycle, a claimant must provide either: (i.) sufficient proof of ownership; or (ii.) both a description of the Abandoned Bicycle and information regarding the location where the bicycle was tagged which are reasonably similar to the description contained in the registry; and (iii.) valid photo identification. The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management has sole authority to determine the sufficiency of evidence of ownership and identity, and the decision of the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management is final.
Any Abandoned Bicycle unclaimed after 90 days following its impoundment will be disposed of or donated at the College’s sole discretion.
If the owner claims an Abandoned Bicycle that was disposed of or donated following impoundment, Ithaca College and, in particular the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management in conjunction with the Office of Risk Management, will handle the owner’s claim in accordance with applicable laws.
The registry will be retained for at least 3 years, after which it will be archived pursuant to the Ithaca College’s records retention rules.
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Updated October 25, 2016