Bicycle Safety Educational Efforts at Stanford

Bicycle safety is a top priority at Stanford -- from students, faculty and staff to Stanford’s many visitors. To promote bike safety, Stanford’s bicycle program (part of Stanford Transportation) offers incentives, classes, and outreach to educate our community about the importance of bicycle safety, such as the rules of the road, properly maintaining and equipping one’s bicycle, and wearing a bicycle helmet for every ride.

 

Bicycle Safety Classes

  • In partnership with Stanford’s Department of Public Safety, Stanford Transportation co-hosts bicycle safety classes twice a month.
  • This class also serves as a Bicycle Citation Diversion Class for bicyclists cited at Stanford, enabling them to take the one hour class in lieu of paying a fine.
  • More than 100 classes have been held since Fall 2008, reaching more than 4,000 bicyclists.
  • Guest speakers provide personal and expert testimonies on the importance of wearing a helmet and bike safety
  • Bicycle Safety Class program description and registration information
  • Bicycle Safety Class flyer

Bicycle Safety Pledge and Bike Light Giveaway

  • Bicyclists at Stanford are encouraged to commit to wearing a helmet and following the rules of the road for every ride through the Stanford Bike Safety Pledge.
  • The bicycle program gives away an estimated 3,500 free bicycle lights each year with bike registration (for new FROSH and graduate students).

Bicycle Safety Stations

  • The first Friday of every month, the bicycle program hosts a Bicycle Safety Station from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at a different location each month. Check the main bike page for location information.
  • Bicycle program staff register bikes, conduct bicycle safety checks, provide bicycle safety “rules of the road” and free ID card handouts, and answer questions about bike safety and riding on the campus.
  • Stanford departments and groups can request a free onsite Bike Safety Station, which includes a staffed information table, bike safety information, and bike registration.

Bicycle Safety Repair Stands

  • The bike safety repair stands offer free tools to enable bicyclists to make minor repairs and pump up their tires, making it more convenient for the campus community to maintain their bicycles for bike safety. Multiple tools are securely fastened to the rack, which also serves as a bike stand.
  • There are currently ten bicycle repair stands on the campus.

Bicycle Helmet Promotions

Bike to Work Day

  • Stanford staffed eight Stanford Energizer Stations around campus, which included bike safety information and bike safety signs for bike commuters.

Outreach to Students

New Student Orientation (NSO)

  • Stanford Transportation participates in numerous New Student Orientation (NSO) events to provide bicycle registration, bicycle safety information, to inform students about the laws to obey when riding, and to encourage students to wear bike helmets for every ride.
  • All new students received a free headlight when registering their bike at NSO events.
  • Stanford’s bicycle program incorporates bicycle safety information in NSO materials distributed to students.
  • Specific groups have been reached to encourage bike safety at Stanford, including Resident Advisors, new medical school students, the School of Engineering, Law School, and Bechtel International Center.
  • Visit the bicycle information page created for new students.

Student Dorm Bicycle Safety Roadshows

  • The bicycle program offers interactive bicycle safety presentations, which includes bicycle laws, riding on campus, and the importance of wearing a bike helmet for every ride.
  • As many as 15 dorms are reached per quarter.
  • Bike Safety Dorm Roadshow informational flyer

Bicycle Safety Invention Challenge

  • In partnership with Stanford’s Biodesign program, Stanford Transportation launched Stanford’s first Bicycle Safety Invention Challenge in fall 2008. The competition challenged Stanford students to invent solutions to mitigate bicycle injuries. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel, including bicycle industry leaders, and received cash and bicycle-related prizes.
  • The Stanford Report featured the story

Student-to-Student Education

  • Three part-time students work for the bicycle program throughout the year.
  • Their role is peer-to-peer education, as they assist with the bicycle safety road shows and campus events to outreach to students with bicycle safety information.

Bicycle Safety Mascot

  • Stanford’s bicycle program mascot is Sprocket Man, a bicycle safety superhero.
  • A Stanford student dons the Sprocket Man costume to help reach the campus bicycling community with safety information.
  • Stanford’s website features Sprocket Man comics to promote safe riding and following the rules of the road.
  • Visit Sprocket Man’s webpage

Communications

  • Stanford Report and Stanford Daily articles
  • Posters and signs, including designs tied to event themes (Valentine’s Day “Love Your Brain” promotion, “Bike the Yellow Brick Road” event, and more)
  • Stanford Parents Newsletter
  • Video testimonials featuring Dr. David Spain, Chief of Trauma for Stanford Hospital, discussing the dire consequences of brain injury, and Randy Livingston, chief financial officer and vice president for Business Affairs, who survived a bike crash while riding.