Bicycle Safety

The Essentials of Smart Cycling

Follow the Law

A bike is a legal road vehicle, and riders are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers.

Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic, as far to the right as is safe for you, in the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.

Read more on Georgia specific bicycle laws or pick up a free Georgia Bikes Bicyclist Pocket Guide at the TPS Customer Relations Office.

Be Predictable

Make your intentions clear to other road users. Ride straight, don’t swerve in and out of parked cars. Signal turns and scan behind you well in advance of changing lanes.

Be Conspicuous

Ride where you can be seen, not on the sidewalk.

Wear bright clothing.

Use a white front light and red rear light in addition to reflectors* at night or in low visibility.

Make eye contact with other road users.

*Recent research demonstrates that adding reflective materials at the joints of the body (elbows, knees etc.) will lead a driver’s eyes to pick up on the motion of the reflective patches and identify a cyclist or pedestrian as a person much more effectively than with reflectors on the torso (as with a safety vest).

Be Courteous

Watch out for others and slow down while sharing pathways with people on foot. This applies to the many multi-use paths that cross through campus as well as the Greenways and Firefly Trail off campus.

Think Ahead

Anticipate what other road users will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and don’t rely on others to use turn signals. Ride outside the “door zone” of parked cars. Look out for debris and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at a right angle to avoid slipping.

Ride Ready

Check your tires have sufficient air, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release wheel levers are closed tight. Carry supplies appropriate for your ride. Wear a helmet that fits you properly.

Ride Alert

Avoid distractions such as cell phones and earbuds that may prevent you from seeing or hearing other road users.

Do not ride while impaired by alcohol or other substances. In 2023, 21% of US cyclists killed in in a traffic crash had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

Bicycle Maintenance

A well maintained bike is safe, efficient, and fun to ride. There are a lot of options on campus to keep your bike in top shape.

Fixit Stations

There are six Fixit self service bike repair stations on campus, located at the Miller Learning Center, the Ramsey Center, The Main Library, Myers Quad, Miller Plant Sciences, and the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies.

Refer to the UGA Mobile App map for exact locations.

Scan the QR code on the repair stations with your smartphone to see repair instructions.

On-Campus Repairs

Operation Safe Drive is a one day car and bike safety check service offered to members of the campus community by UGA Transportation & Parking Services prior to Thanksgiving Break.

Sustainable UGA also offers pop-up bike repair sessions during the school year.

BikeAthens

The BikeAthens Bike Recycling Program is a volunteer organization that refurbishes donated bikes to give to people who need affordable transportation. While helping the community, volunteers learn basic and advanced bike repair and maintenance skills that they can later apply to their own bike.

The shop also offers Fix Your Own Bike sessions.

Bicycle Security

There are two main layers of bike security: Prevention and Recovery. To prevent your bike from being stolen, always lock it to an approved bicycle rack using a high-quality lock, and know how to properly install it. Always lock through the frame and at least one wheel.

In the unfortunate event that your bike is stolen, it is far more likely to be recovered if you have detailed information about it and can prove it is yours. Register your bike online for free at Bike Index so you will always have access to photos of your bike as well as critical identifying information such as the make, model, color, and serial number. If you choose not to register your bike, at least keep this important information in a safe place.

Should you need to report your bike stolen on campus, call the UGA Police Department at (706) 542-2200. Be prepared to tell them the details about your bike (Bike Index can generate a report automatically) as well as where and when you last saw it.

Cycling FAQs