Campus Regulations – Charles River Campus
For the full bicycle policy please click here.
Registration
Parking & Transportation Services (Parking & Transportation Services) administers an online bicycle registration program that is open to all members of the Boston University community. To register your bicycle, please click here.
Registrants will receive a permit to place on the frame of their bicycle. While you can register your bicycle at any time, we strongly encourage our community members to take immediate advantage of this convenient online service!
Benefits of Bicycle Registration
Only the owners of registered bicycles
- can be granted card-swipe access to restricted University bicycle parking locations.
- will be notified about projects and activities that may significantly impact their on-campus bicycle use.
- will be personally contacted to correct a concern prior to impound whenever possible.
- are statistically more likely to have their stolen bicycles returned by the Boston University Police when a BU Bicycle permit is displayed.
Bicycle Policies & Regulations for the Charles River Campus
Bicycles will be considered a public safety hazard and may be removed and impounded by PTS without notice and at their owner’s risk and expense when locked:
- in a manner that blocks
- any building entrance or exit
- pedestrian pathways
- safety or handicapped/accessibility equipment, including blue emergency phones
- to stairway handrails
- in any area posted to prohibit bicycle parking; such as on Marsh Plaza
- to trees, as this practice often kills them over time and destroys surrounding landscaping
- to fencing, trash receptacles and benches which degrades their finish, leads to rusting, and reduces their usefulness
Bicycles parked in violation of the above-mentioned Boston University policies may be impounded. All impounded bicycles will be stored at a Parking & Transportation Services facility until the owner claims the bicycle or it is donated or recycled. Parking & Transportation Services is authorized to enforce its policies on the Charles River Campus and on City-owned property immediately adjacent to it.
How to Claim an Impounded Bicycle
When bicycles are removed, they are placed in a secure Parking & Transportation Services facility. When attempting to retrieve a bicycle believed to be in Parking & Transportation Services’ possession, please provide the pertinent information (referenced in the full policy text) by sending an email to Parking & Transportation Services or by using the contact form accessible above.
Bicycle Parking on Public Property
Bicycles may be secured to a Public Property Bicycle Rack for a period of up to seventy-two (72) consecutive hours. Public Property Bicycle Racks are not available for the permanent storage of bicycles. Public Property Bicycle Racks include the black 2 bike capacity racks (loop-style) along the length of Commonwealth Avenue. Bicycles secured to these racks for more than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours are subject to the tagging procedures described above.
Under no circumstances shall a bicycle obstruct the pedestrian or wheelchair path of travel or any fire hydrant, bus stop or handicap access ramps. A parked bicycle must leave at least thirty-six (36) inches of obstruction-free path of travel. Whenever possible, the bicycle must be secured such that it is parallel to pedestrian traffic flow.
Bicycles may be secured to bicycle racks; however, may not be secured to the following.
- Benches
- Bus Stops
- Electric traffic signal poles
- Fire hydrants
- Handrails
- Parking meters
- Police and fire call boxes
- Sign posts
- Trash receptacles
- Trees
For the full bicycle policy please click here.