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Cornell University

Facilities and
Campus Services

Cycling on Campus

Keys to Safe and Successful Cycling at Cornell

Cycling is an excellent way to get to and around campus, and navigating Ithaca’s hills is easy with TCAT’s free bike rack program.

 

  • Follow safe cycling guidelines.
  • Obey all path and pavement markings.
  • Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
  • You Must Register your bicycle here. There is no charge for registration. 
  • Bicycles must be parked at bike racks or in bike storage areas.
photo of person biking, McGraw tower in the background

 

Bicycles may be parked inside a building only with the written permission of the building coordinator or director. 

Remember: avoid hallways, stairwells, and any place where they may constitute a safety hazard. Any bicycle parked in violation of these regulations or in a manner such as to constitute a safety hazard may be impounded.

Never leave or park your bike or other wheeled vehicle in Life Safety Zones such as fire hydrants, fire lanes, or other emergency zones, or in any service drive, building entrance, walkway ramp, or any other passageway to which emergency equipment, wheelchairs, pedestrians, or service equipment may need access.

 

Getting Started:

Cornell has a campus policy that prohibits bicycling, Segway use, and in-line skating on campus sidewalks and pathways unless it is a marked, shared path. As a rule, if it's not a roadway and it isn't marked with yellow paint, it's a dismount zone. No motorized skateboard, e-scooters or similar motorized wheeled devices may be propelled on any sidewalk. These devices may be operated on roadways with a posted speed limit of 30 MPH or less. Only NYSDOT approved vehicles allowed on roadways.

  • White markings are exclusive bike lanes. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. In most cases, bike lanes and bike routes on roadways, driveways, and parking lots will take you to your destination.
  • Yellow markings denote shared walks. Cyclists and skaters may ride on these paths, but must yield to pedestrians. 

  • Red or no markings are dismount zones. Cyclists and skaters must either dismount and walk or circumvent the area using bike lanes (cyclists only), bike routes (cyclists only), and shared walks.

     

Note on Electric Scooters and Dockless Bikeshare

New York now allows electric scooters and bikes on roadways with a posted speed limit of 30 MPH or less. Be sure to follow the e-scooter and e-bike rules of the road, and yield to pedestrians. 

Users of Ithaca’s community bike share program must note Cornell requires that all bikes be parked at a bike rack.

Ecology Alert

Portions of the Cornell Botanic Gardens, the City's Six Mile Gorge, and other public lands have been posted off limits to bicycles. Please abide by these restrictions and use common sense whenever you bicycle. Misuse of bicycles can cause environmental damage in some fragile, natural areas.

 

 

Your bike can be impounded if it:

  • creates a safety hazard.
  • is in a walkway, stairway, doorway, hallway, etc.
  • is locked to a railing, signpost, tree, or anything else that is NOT a bike rack.
  • appears to be abandoned.

 

Biking Guidelines

Be Safe

  • Make sure your bike is mechanically safe and is the right fit for you­—have it adjusted at a local bike shop for a more comfortable and safer riding experience.
  • Wear a helmet. It greatly reduces the risk of serious head injuries and brain damage in a crash.
  • Tunes off! It’s against the law to wear more than one ear phone attached to an audio device (iPod, cell phone, etc.). Use your ears to keep tuned-in with traffic sounds. 

Be Seen

  • Wear brightly colored and/or reflective clothing to increase your visibility to motorists.
  • Install a bell or horn. It’s the law.
  • Use legal headlights and taillights if you ever ride at dusk or at night. They are also required by law.
  • Use a personal strobe light. While it’s not a legal taillight, it will get you noticed!  

Be Predictable

  • Follow all of the rules of the road. Cyclists are treated the same as other vehicle drivers and can be ticketed when they don’t obey traffic laws.
  • Ride with the flow of traffic.
  • Stop for all red lights and stop signs.
  • Look in all directions for traffic.
  • Signal stops and turns, and make sure motorists and pedestrians see you.
  • Don’t make left turns from bike lanes—position yourself as you would if you were a motorist to make a left turn.
  • Be extra vigilant around buses. 

Be Secure

  • Register your bike with Cornell Commuter and Parking Services.
  • Register your bike with your municipality.
  • Bikes must be parked in a bike rack or in a residence hall storage area.
  • Use a u-lock or other high-quality lock to secure your bike to the rack.
  • Lock the frame and wheel to the rack.
  • Report a missing bike to the police.