Catch the Breeze With Biking and Scooting on Campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 7, 2021) — We’re rolling into some of the best days of the year for biking and scooting on campus. As summer heat gives way to more moderate temperatures, these options provide a perfect way to enjoy and explore the Univerisity of Kentucky.
UK encourages students and employees to commute sustainably through our transportation incentive programs like the Bike Voucher Program, Cash Out, Commute Club and Big Blue Cycles.
Biking @ UK
If you’re new to campus, you’ll find that UK is extremely bike-friendly, with a large variety of resources available for cyclists. Explore all of them by visiting Transportation Services' website and learning why UK has been called the “Most Bike Friendly College in America” by Bicycling magazine. Below are just a few of the cycling resources available to you:
- An on-campus bike shop — Wildcat Wheels — manned by knowledgeable students who can help with maintenance issues for free!
- Free bicycle rental options, in case you don’t own your own bike.
- Bike racks located outside nearly every building on campus.
- A bike parts vending machine featuring popular parts, located just inside the Wildcat Wheels shop in Blazer Dining.
- DIY Fix-It stations scattered throughout campus.
- A secure Indoor Bike Room with showers and a DIY Fix-It station, located inside the Healthy Kentucky Research Building.
- Events and giveaways! Follow Wildcat Wheels on Facebook or sign up for the e-newsletter to find out about upcoming social gatherings or biking swag.
Scooting @ UK E-scooters (electric scooters) are still relatively new to campus but are gaining in popularity. UK chose Bird as its preferred e-scooter vendor, which means that the company deploys and redistributes scooters on campus. At only $1 to unlock, plus 15 cents per minute, they’re a relatively low-cost way to travel.
Are you new to Birding? Visit the e-scooter webpage to learn everything you need to know to get started.
Follow the Rules of the Road
When biking or scooting, always exercise caution when interacting with other bicyclists, pedestrians and other motorized vehicles. UK has a formal policy outlining correct usage and the university’s expectations, so take a few minutes to read the policy and to also review the safety and resources information.
One of the most basic rules when biking or scooting is to always yield to pedestrians. This means slow down and scoot over to pass someone on foot and always give audible warning. Be polite! Dismount to pass when sidewalks are crowded or narrow. Both bikes and e-scooters are prohibited in buildings and on elevated pedestrian walkways.
When riding on the road, follow the same rules you would if you were driving a vehicle.
Parking Bikes and E-scooters on Campus
Don’t risk impoundment! Both bikes and Birds must be parked properly. This means that they must be parked either at bike racks or in shared mobility areas and they can’t hamper ingress or egress to buildings or impair accessibility on sidewalks.
Bikes should never be chained to trees, and both bikes and scooters can’t be placed adjacent to or affixed to structures or architectural elements such as handrails, fences, bus shelters, benches, light poles, signage or parking meters.
When parking your bike, always remember to secure it with a high security lock, such as a U-lock.
If you have questions about biking or scooting on campus, email UK Transportation Services at UKBikes@lsv.uky.edu. Sign up for Bike E-news to get all the latest information and follow Transportation Services on Twitter @UKParking and on Facebook @UKWildcatWheels.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.