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Smith College supports the use of bicycles by students, faculty and staff for traveling to and around the college campus. Bicycles have a long history on the Smith campus. In the 1920’s the Sophian reported on the growing use of bicycles on campus. Today we know that the use of bicycles has benefit to individual health and (when replacing cars) reduces vehicle emissions that are harmful to human health and reduces emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Collectively these benefits to students, faculty, staff and the environment are consistent with Sophia Smith’s wish that “…the institution be so conducted, that during all coming time it shall do the most good to the greatest number.”
In order to ensure a safe and productive bicycle environment, this Bicycle Policy has been established for our community.
- Registration
All bicycles owned by students, faculty and staff and used on campus must be registered with the Department of Public Safety. Registration can be completed Monday-Friday between 8:30am-4:00pm at Public Safety (Tilly Hall) or printed from their website and return to Public Safety. Information about the bicycle policy will be distributed annually by the Department of Public Safety.
- The registration decal is valid for four (4) years.
- For students, registrations will expire after four (4) years or upon completion or withdrawal from the college.
- For faculty and staff, registrations will expire after four (4) years or at end of employment with Smith College, if sooner.
- Any student, faculty or staff member who has a bicycle with an expired registration must re-register the bicycle.
- Registration Decal
The reflective registration decal must be affixed to the vertical part of the frame facing forward.
- Parking and Storage
During the academic year, all bicycles on campus must be parked or stored in a bicycle rack. Bicycles may not be secured to fire hydrants, trees, parking signs, fences, stairwells, ramps (handicap and/or other), or in the egress path of any building. Bicycles may not be stored in student rooms.
Summer storage for student bicycles in not available. Bicycles may not be left on racks over the summer.
At the conclusion of each academic year, all bicycles left on exterior bicycle racks will be removed and donated.
- Massachusetts Bicycle Laws
Smith College asks that all student and employee bicyclists obey relevant Massachusetts bicycle laws. Among other things, these laws require that:
- Any bicycle operating one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise must display a front light that is visible for not less than 500 feet and a red reflector on the rear fender visible for not less than 300 feet.
- A bell or horn capable of giving a signal audible for at least 100 feet is required, and
- Each bicycle must be equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to stop the bicycle quickly and evenly.
- Violation of Policy
Any bicycle in violation of the college’s bicycle policy (unregistered, showing an expired registration decal or improperly parked or stored) will be removed. If it is not claimed within the semester it is removed it will be donated. A student who repeatedly violates this policy will lose their bicycle privileges at Smith College.
Public Safety will invite a committee to review the bicycle policy on a biannual basis.
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 85: Section 11B.
Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product safety standards, effect; races; violations; penalties
Section 11B. Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right to use all public ways in the commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the commonwealth and the special regulations contained in this section, except that: (1) the bicycle operator may keep to the right when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way, (2) the bicycle operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn, and (3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance. A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
Operators of bicycles shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) The operator shall ride single file on any way except when passing.
(2)(i) The operator shall ride only upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle; a passenger shall ride only upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle or to a trailer towed by the bicycle.
(ii) The operator shall not transport another person between the ages of one to four years, or weighing forty pounds or less, on a bicycle, except in a “baby seat”, so-called, attached to the bicycle, in which such other person shall be able to sit upright; provided, however, that such seat is equipped with a harness to hold such other person securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the feet or hands of such person hitting the spokes of the wheel of the bicycle; or upon or astride a seat of a tandem bicycle equipped so that the other person can comfortably reach the handlebars and pedals. The operator shall not transport any person under the age of one year on said bicycle.
(iii) Any person 16 years of age or younger operating a bicycle or being carried as a passenger on a bicycle on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Said helmet shall fit the person’s head, shall be secured to the person’s head by straps while the bicycle is being operated, and shall meet the standards for helmets established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4) or subsequent standards or the Snell Memorial Foundation’s nineteen hundred and eighty-four standard for use in bicycling or subsequent standards. These requirements shall not apply to a passenger if the passenger is in an enclosed trailer or other device which adequately holds the passenger in place and protects the passenger’s head from impact in an accident.
(iv) A violation of clause (ii) or (iii) shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in any civil action.
(3) The operator shall give an audible warning whenever necessary to insure safe operation of the bicycle; provided, however, the use of a siren or whistle is prohibited.
(4) The operator shall park his bicycle upon a way or a sidewalk in such a manner as not to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(5) The operator shall not permit the bicycle to be drawn by any other moving vehicle. The operator shall not tow any other vehicle or person, except that bicycle trailers properly attached to the bicycle which allow for firm control and braking may be used.
(6) The operator shall not carry any package, bundle or article except in or on a basket, rack, trailer or other device designed for such purposes. The operator shall keep at least one hand upon the handlebars at all times.
(7) Every bicycle operated upon a way shall be equipped with a braking system to enable the operator to bring the bicycle traveling at a speed of fifteen miles per hour to a smooth, safe stop within thirty feet on a dry, clean, hard, level surface.
(8) During the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, the operator shall display to the front of his bicycle a lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet, and to the rear of said bicycle either a lamp emitting a red light, or a red reflector visible for not less than six hundred feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A generator powered lamp which emits light only when the bicycle is moving shall meet the requirements of this clause.
(9) During the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, the operator shall display on each pedal of his bicycle a reflector, or around each of his ankles reflective material visible from the front and rear for a distance of six hundred feet, and reflectors or reflective material, either on said bicycle or on the person of the operator, visible on each side for a distance of six hundred feet, when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps of a motor vehicle. This clause shall not prohibit a bicycle or its operator to be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by clauses (8) and (9).
(10) No bicycle shall be operated upon a way with handlebars so raised that the operator’s hands are above his shoulders while gripping them. Any alteration to extend the fork of a bicycle from the original design and construction of the bicycle manufacturer is prohibited.
(11) The operator of a bicycle shall report any accident involving either personal injury or property damage in excess of one hundred dollars, or both, to the police department in the city or town in which the accident occurred.
Any federal product safety standards relating to bicycles which are more stringent than the requirements of clauses (7) through (10), inclusive, shall supersede said requirements.
Competitive bicycle races may be held on public ways, provided that such races are sponsored by or in cooperation with recognized bicycle organizations and, provided further, that the sponsoring organization shall have obtained the approval of the appropriate police department or departments. Special regulations regarding the movement of bicycles during such races, or in training for races, including, but not limited to, permission to ride abreast, may be established by agreement between the police department and the sponsoring organization.
Violations of any provision of this section except violations of subclause (iii) of clause (2) shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. The parent or guardian of any person under age eighteen shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such person to violate any of the provisions of this section. A bicycle operated by a person under the age of eighteen in violation of this section may be impounded by the police department, or in a town which has no police department, by the selectmen, for a period not to exceed fifteen days. A violation of any provision of this section by a minor under the age of eighteen shall not affect any civil right or liability nor shall such violation be considered a criminal offense.
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