Cycling Safely

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.  

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.