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 (during normal operations), classes, and outreach to educate our community about the importance of bicycle safety, such as the rules of the road, safely maintaining and equipping one’s bicycle, and wearing a bicycle helmet for every ride.
Bicycle Safety Classes
- Stanford’s Department of Public Safety hosts free bicycle safety classes.
- 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.
- 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 Webinars
- In response to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders, Stanford offered 17 free, online webinars in 2020 to help meet a renewed interest in biking and jumpstart rides during the pandemic. They all focus on bike safety and improving bike riding skills with over half focusing on bike maintenance skills.
- In 2021, we introduced Bike Quick Stop talks, a shorter 30-minute format, covering topics on bike safety, bike skills and the pure joy of just going for a bike ride.
Bicycle Safety Pledge
- 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.
Bicycle Safety Stations
- During normal operations, on 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 bike events page for location information.
- Bicycle program staff register bikes, conduct bicycle safety checks, provide bicycle safety “rules of the road” and free ID cards, and answer questions about bike safety and riding on campus.
- During normal operations, Stanford departments and groups can request a free on-site Bike Safety Station, which includes a staffed information table, bike safety information, and bike registration.
Bicycle Safety Repair Stands
- Stanford’s 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 10 bicycle safety repair stands on campus.
Bicycle Helmet Promotions
- In partnership with the Campus Bike Shop, you can purchase a quality bicycle helmet for $35 (a 30percent discount).
- Wearing a bike helmet can reduce your risk of head injury by 85 percent, according to David Spain, chief of trauma and critical care surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.
Bike to Work Day
- During normal operations, Stanford participates annually in the Bay Area’s Bike to Work Day Celebration in May to celebrate commuting by bike. In 2019, we hosted a special Bike-A-Palooza event in the Galvez Lot for all bike commuters and pedestrians as a way to thank our community of cyclists and celebrate sustainable transportation.
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.
- 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, the Law School, and the Bechtel International Center.
- Visit the bicycle information page created for new students.
Student Dorm Bicycle Safety Road Shows (currently on hiatus due to COVID)
- During normal operations, 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 Road Show informational flyer
Student-to-Student Education
- During normal operations, 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 roadshows and campus events to reach out to students with bicycle safety information.
- We also have volunteer Student Representatives, who serve as bike ambassadors to help promote and support our programs.
Bicycle Safety Superhero Mascots
- Stanford’s bicycle program mascots are Sprocket Man and Sprocket Woman, our two bicycle safety superheroes.
- 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.
Stanford Bike Safety Committee 2021
The Stanford Bike Safety Committee comprises campus department and student representatives that have an interest in bike safety and can provide support and recommendations for our programs. The Committee meets three times annually.
Stanford University Bicycle Safety Committee 2020-21
- Brian Shaw, Chair, Executive Director, Stanford Transportation
- Ariadne Scott, Assistant Director of Active Mobility, Stanford Transportation
Student Representatives & Guests
- Grace Bagga, Class of 2023
- Hallie Mikacich, Class of 2023
- Brandon Kenery, Class of 2023
- Lena Fowler, Class of 2022
- Saket Myeni, Class of 2021, Stanford Synapse
- Rachel Anders, Stanford Bicycle Project
- Bill Larson, Stanford Public Safety
- Cathy Blake, Associate Director of Campus Planning and Design
- Ellen Corman, Stanford Health Care, Community Outreach and Injury Prevention,
- Catherine Crawford-Swent, Vaden Health Center, Continuity of Care Nurse
- Guests: Don Meyer and Andrew Meyer, Campus Bike Shop