Comply With Bike Laws
Laws Applicable to Bicycle Use:
- Every person operating a bicycle on Stanford property has all of the responsibilities applicable to the operator of a vehicle and is subject to all sections applicable under Section 21200 of the California Vehicle Code. In this chapter "bicycle" also refers to motorized electric bicycle and motorized scooter.
- In consideration of being permitted to ride a bicycle on Stanford campus, every person operating a bicycle on Stanford property agrees to be bound by the provisions in the Code, including the provisions relating to the cutting of bicycle locks and impounding of bicycles stored in violation of the provisions in Chapter 6.
Bicycle Equipment:
- All bicycles operated on Stanford property shall be equipped in accordance with the California Vehicle Code Section 21201.
- The owner of the bicycle, in violation of Vehicle Code Section 21201, may be issued a traffic citation to appear in the court having jurisdiction over the area where the offense was committed.
- If the traffic citation was issued by DPS personnel, the owner may participate in the University’s Bicycle Safety / Citation Diversion Program.
Bicycle Operation:
- All bicycles operated on Stanford property are subject to the provisions of the California Vehicle Code, Santa Clara County Ordinances or any Palo Alto City Ordinances. The operator of any bicycle may be issued a traffic citation to appear in the Court of 16
- jurisdiction in accordance with the applicable California Vehicle Code or Santa Clara County Ordinance sections for violation of any such provisions.
- Vehicle Code and County Ordinance sections applicable to the operation of bicycles also include but are not limited to those which pertain to safe speed, turning (hand) signals, right-of-way, stop signs and traffic signals.
Excessive Speed:
- No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is safe under existing conditions. Maximum speed limit in Pedestrian Zone is 10 mph, unless otherwise posted. Maximum speed limit in any parking lot or parking area is 10 mph, unless otherwise posted. Maximum speed limit in the “Oval” is 15 mph.
Riding Bicycles:
- No person shall operate a bicycle:
a) On any pedestrian walk, ramp, mall, or patio where signs are posted indicating that bicycle riding is prohibited.
b) On any sidewalk where there is an adjacent, parallel roadway or bicycle path; such sidewalk need not be posted.
c) On any ramp established for the use of persons with disabilities.
d) On any landscaped area. For the purpose of this Section, a landscaped area shall be defined as any unpaved area that has been planted with grass, trees, or shrubbery or which has been graded or improved for purposes other than use by vehicular traffic including undeveloped fields and agricultural areas.
e) On any pedestrian corridor or in an arcade.
f) Inside any campus or hospital building.
Traffic Circles:
- No person operating a bicycle shall enter the center of a traffic circle. All traffic must follow the marked directional route displayed by either signs and or markings on the asphalt (21461a CVC).