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Bicycling at Stanford

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Bike education opportunities

Bike Diversion Program - Bike Safety Presentations

Fix your bike ticket! This year, the Stanford Department of Public Safety and Parking & Transportation Services introduced the Bicycle Diversion Program. Here is how it works:

In lieu of paying a fine or going to court for a bicycle citation, you may elect to participate in the bicycle diversion program. This program is available only during the first 30 days from the date the citation was issued. After that time period, the citation will be sent to the court for normal processing. You may re-take this class after 18 months, just like drivers traffic school. If you have any questions, please contact SUDPS during office hours at (650) 723-9633.

• Call (650) 723-9633 or check the Bicycle Programs page of the Department of Public Safety website for the date, time and location of the next available bicycle safety presentation
• Enroll and attend a 60 minute bicycle safety presentation put on by the Department of Public Safety and Parking and Transportation Services. You can register online at the Department of Public Safety website.
• Bring the certified card, your copy of the citation, and a picture ID to the presentation
• Correct and have a deputy sign off any license or mechanical violations prior to attending the safety presentation.
• If you complete the program within the 30 day period, the bike citation will be dismissed

Read all about the new program that was recently featured in the Stanford Daily and the Stanford Report.

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White Plaza Bicycle Safety Stations

White Plaza Bicycle Safety Stations — every Friday at White Plaza, 11am-2pm (weather permitting)

• Come and register your bike, get a free bike safety check-up, pump up those tires and ask questions about bike laws and how to ride on campus.

• Learn how to lock your bike up properly—avoid bike theft.

• Free headlights for FROSH and new transfer students.

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Bike education classes

Parking & Transportation Services will be holding bike education classes in the winter and spring. Please send an email to bike-information@stanford.edu if you would like to be notified when classes are scheduled.

Bike Repair Clinics at the Campus Bike Shop

• Professional bike mechanic on duty to answer questions
• Tools and stand available for your use

Bike Safety Education Class

A one hour class/discussion led by Ariadne Scott, Stanford Bicycle Program Coordinator. Classes are held at 340 Bonair Siding, Conference Room H. Topics include:

• Cyclists and the law
• Crashes and how to avoid them
• Bike lanes vs. paths

Learn How to Ride a Bike

Never learned how to ride a bike? We can teach you. Most people can learn the basics of riding a bike in two hours. If you need more time, you can sign up for more than one shift, space permitting.

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Folding bicycle promotion

P&TS invites you to try some of our special folding bike offers, brought to you in partnership with the Campus Bike Shop:

• Free one-week rentals on folding bikes by Breezer and Dahon
• $100 subsidies for certain models of folding bikes

Eligibility restrictions apply.* Offer valid for selected models.

Please email bike-information@stanford.edu to take advantage of this promotion. You will be added to the official "folding bike list," which is managed by the Bike Coordinator and is required to receive the free rental or discount promotion.

If you are interested in seeing which models are available, check out the Campus Bike Shop website.

*Eligibility restrictions: Individuals must live off campus, be required to be on campus during business hours at least half-time (if employee) or be registered in classes (if student) for three consecutive months or more; and be required to display a parking permit in their vehicle (if they chose to drive) at their principal place of work or study. Limit one per person.

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Bicycle parking and security

• Most thefts can be prevented by properly securing the bicycle with an adequate lock, to a secure parking facility such as a bike rack. U-locks, such as Kryptonite, are recommended, but a knowledgeable thief can easily defeat even these. A 6-foot cable or chain (the thicker the better) used with a U-lock allows you to lock to any rack and secure your wheels as well.
• Be aware that any cable is easily cut. Don't entrust your good bicycle to a cable alone. Most bike thefts on campus are due to "cut" cable locks.
• 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 Stanford Public Safety. Utilize bicycle racks whenever possible.

If your bike is stolen, follow these instructions:

1. Report a stolen bike to Stanford Public Safety Department immediately, 723-9633 or call the local police department within the community where the bike was stolen. To report a theft or other crime in progress call 9-911 on campus phones, 911 from other phones.
2. Provide the Bike Registration Number, Serial Number, Make, Model, Size and Color

Abandoned bicycles:

If left unattended, a bicycle may be tagged by the Stanford University Department of Public Safety as abandoned. If the bicycle is not removed in 2 weeks, the department may claim it. This abatement process is performed in student living areas and other parts of campus on an ongoing basis. So please, we recommend you do not store your bike for more than 24 hours by locking it to a bike rack, or it may be removed by the time you return. Register your bike so you can be notified in the case that it is picked up as abandoned.

For questions about abandoned bikes, go to the Department of Public Safety website.

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Bicycle registration

All bicycles used on campus must be licensed with Santa Clara County. 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.

Alternatively, bring your bicycle to our 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.

Some of the questions you'll be asked include:

• Frame size (see photo [JPG, 66 KB] on how to measure frame size; yard sticks are available in our office)
• Wheel size (usually listed on the bike tire)
• Bicycle serial number (usually located under bottom bracket of bike)

If you have any difficulty finding this information, ask one of our staff members, and we'll be happy to help you.

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Bicycle storage locations

Bike storage lockers:

• Medical Center lockers: $24/year through Parking & Transportation. Contact the Bike Coordinator at bike-information@stanford.edu.
• Computer Science (Gates building): lockers owned by department.

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Clothes locker and shower locations

Stanford offers several clothes lockers and showers around campus for bike commuters. If you'd like more information on rental availability or a map of these locations, send an email to the bike coordinator, or stop by our office for more information.

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Bicycles on public transit

All the public transportation options in the Bay Area are bike friendly too. Caltrain, VTA buses, VTA Light Rail, BART and even the Stanford Marguerite shuttle accommodate bicycles with bike racks to mount bikes or with on board capacity. Refer to specific sites for rules and regulations as there are restrictions on some modes of travel: Caltrain - 800-660-4287, VTA - 408-321-2300, and BART. In addition, a great reference for all transportation-related services is located at http://transit.511.org.

• Most Caltrains accommodate 32 bikes on board. Baby Bullet trains accommodate 16 bikes. Look for the yellow sticker on the northern-most train car. Because of high demand, there may be insufficient bike space at commute hours, especially on southbound AM and northbound PM express trains. This is especially true during on Bike to Work Day in May, so plan accordingly.
• Folding bikes are allowed on BART and Caltrain (see each agency's website for folding bike policies). You can learn about folding bikes at http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/. Now is the time to consider owning such a bike! Read about our current folding bicycle promotion.
• All Santa Clara County (VTA) buses can carry 2 bikes on front-mounted racks and 2 more inside the bus at driver's discretion.
• The Dumbarton Express bus from the Union City BART station can carry 2 bikes on front-mounted racks.
• VTA Light Rail vehicles carry 4 bikes per car in the center swivel section; each train typically has 2 cars.
• Stanford's Marguerite Shuttles carry up to 2 bikes.
• The Line U bus from the Fremont BART station and Centerville ACE Train station can carry up to 6 bikes per bus.

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Bicycling safety tips

• Always wear a helmet
• Register your bike
• Don't use a cell phone while riding unless using a hands-free device
• Ride at a safe speed for conditions
• Have your brakes adjusted and working properly
• Stop at stop signs
• Ride on the right side of the roadway
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Ride in the correct direction in one-way areas
• Use lights when riding after dark

While riding your bicycle, obey all traffic laws and buy and wear a bicycle helmet! Helmets can greatly reduce the risk of head injuries and death. Don't "hit the road" without one! However, even the best helmet has limitations. Defensive cycling is the key to bicycle safety. According the California Vehicle Code, every person riding a bicycle upon a street or highway has all the rights and responsibilities of the driver of a motor vehicle. You may be cited for running stop signs, riding at an unsafe speed for conditions, riding on the wrong side of the road or upon sidewalks, wearing headphones while riding, talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device, not having legal brakes, etc. Cyclists are required by state law to use front white lights, rear red reflectors, pedal and side reflectors at night. Additional lights - especially rear red flashers, reflectors, and light colored clothing are a good idea.

For more information about Bicycle Safety, please visit the California DMV Bicycle Safety website.

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Palo Alto Bikestation - Now open

The concept of the newly reopened Palo Alto Bikestation is modeled after the Long Beach Bikestation and thousands of successful European and Japanese bike facilities which operate today. Amenities include bike parking, commuter and recreational rentals, bike repairs, basic bicycle accessory sales, changing room and an outdoor seating area with concessions.

The Palo Alto Transit Center is a central hub for the Caltrain commuter train line, SamTrans bus lines, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus lines, and the Dumbarton Express, as well as Stanford University's Marguerite Shuttle. The Bikestation facility is located on the North side of the Depot on the train boarding platform adjacent to the bus loading/unloading area. The Bikestation brings meaning to the term "intermodal transportation" providing Palo Alto with one of the best examples in the country.

The Palo Alto Bikestation is a project of the City of Palo Alto and is managed and operated by Palo Alto Bicycles. For more information, visit: http://www.bikestation.org

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Buying & selling used bicycles

Used bicycles offer a less expensive, functional alternative to buying a new bike. For individuals looking to buy a used bicycle, or for those trying to sell one, look here for the best places in the area to buy, sell or advertise a used bike.

Bike shops

There are over 15 bicycle shops in the area of campus, even a shop right on campus for your convenience. Listed below are a few that offer full-service bicycle sales, repairs and more within a 2-mile radius.

• Campus Bike Shop
  459 Lagunita Dr., Unit #12, Stanford, CA 94305 (Located in Tresidder Union next to the Coho Coffee House)
  (650) 723-9300
• Cardinal Bike Shop
  1955 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (just north of Stanford Avenue, next to Sundance Mine Co. restaurant)
  (650) 328-8900
• Menlo Velo Bicycles
  433 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (North of the Stanford Shopping Center)
  (650) 327-5137
• Mike's Bicycles
  2180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (Between Stanford Avenue and College at Oxford)
  (650) 493-8776
• Palo Alto Bicycles
  171 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 (Downtown Palo Alto)
  (650) 328-7411
• The Bike Connection
  2086 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (just south of Stanford Avenue, near Escondido Village)
  (650) 424-8034
• The Bike Connection
  622 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (Downtown Menlo Park)
  (650) 327-3318

The online su.market usenet newsgroup

Many bikes and other items are bought and sold using an online bulletin board called "su.market." This requires "Usenet newsreader" software such as Netscape Navigator's "Netscape News" window, and access to a Usenet news host that receives the "su.market" newsgroup. Contact your Internet provider for details.

Department of Public Safety

Public Safety sells some of the abandoned bikes at Stanford. Visit their website for details.

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Resources for all nonmotorized commuters

• Clean Air Cash Rewards (we'll give commuters up to $ 282 /year for not driving alone on to campus)
• Commuter clothes lockers: Most buildings: $16/yr through Parking & Transportation.
• Arrillaga and Roble Gyms have lockers, which they rent to staff, faculty, and students. Those lockers cost: $50/yr (faculty & staff), $35/yr (student).
• Showers in several buildings and gymnasiums
• Bicycle Tutor (Video tutorials courtesy of bicycletutor.com. Learn how to fix your own bike!)

Resources for anyone not driving solo on a given day

• Emergency Ride Home (for emergencies like bike breakdowns, up to 4 times a year - effective after one-time registration with Parking & Transportation Services. And it's free!)

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Resources/Advocacy organizations

Bay Area

• Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition, dedicated to improving bicycling in Berkeley, California and EBBC's sister organization
• Bay Area Bicycle Coalition
• BikeAlameda
• San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
• Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC)
• Marin County Bicycle Coalition
• Responsible Organized Mountain Peddlers (ROMP), http://www.romp.org/

Beyond

• Bikes Belong Coalition, http://www.bikesbelong.org/ Bikes Belong is sponsored by the U.S. bicycle industry with the goal of putting more people on bicycles more often
• California Bicycle Coalition, protecting the rights and promoting the interests of California's bicyclists
• CA Association of Bicycling Organizations (CABO)
• International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) http://www.imba.com/
• League of American Bicyclists, protecting the rights and promoting the interests of bicyclists nationwide
• National Center for Biking and Walking, resources and data on bicycling
• Thunderhead Alliance, the national coalition of state and local bicycle advocacy organizations working in unison to break down the barriers to safe bicycling in American communities

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Bicycle route maps

• Mid-Peninsula Bicycle Map (PDF, 2 MB)
  
  February 2009 edition. Currently this map is available only as on-line resource. In an effort to be green and reduce paper, we are no longer printing hard copies. Please send any changes and/or requests for suggested bike routes to the Stanford campus to bike-information@stanford.edu.
   
• http://svbcbikes.org/resources/maps has a list of local bike maps
• Santa Clara Valley Bikeways Map (PDF, 1.28 MB) from Valley Transit Authority (VTA)
• Pedestrian Pathways and Bikeways (JPG, 416 KB) from Stanford University Community Plan
• 511.org Bike Mapper - an interactive mapping tool that displays Class I, II and III bikeways in the nine-county Bay Area.

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