Micromobility refers to lightweight, low-speed personal mobility devices such as bikes and scooters and their battery-electric variants. A micromobility device is a great option for getting around Grounds quickly and it makes an excellent commute mode for students, staff, and faculty living in town or as a last-mile commute option.
Parking and Transportation (P&T) manages the use of micromobility on Grounds. Students and employees are encouraged to review the information below for bike and scooter best practices to take care of themself and their device.
Have a question, concern, or feedback? P&T micromobility staff can be contacted at [email protected].
Riding Rules & Safety
It is the responsibility of all riders to know and follow Virginia state laws. As an overview, riders are encouraged to review VDOT’s Bike Safety information for rules and safety tips (applies to scooter riders as well). While on Grounds, riders are also subject to and should review University Polices PRM-019 (bikes) and SEC-043 (e-bikes and e-scooters).
Notably, riders must:
- Ride in accordance with Virginia state laws,
- Obey all traffic signs, signals, lights, and markings, and
- Yield the right of way to pedestrians.
Riders are also encouraged to:
- Always wear a helmet (required by policy of those riding an e-bike or e-scooter),
- Use front-facing and rear-facing lights.
Parking & Enforcement
Micromobility devices should be parked in a manner that maintains the accessibility and the aesthetic beauty of Grounds. Bike racks are available for bike and scooter parking and are located at the entrances of most classroom buildings, libraries, and residence halls. Devices should not be parked at/secured to any non-bike rack, such as handrails and trees, or parked in such a way that blocks sidewalks, curb cuts, staircases, ramps, and building access. For indoor parking, students living on-Grounds may also keep their non-battery-electric device in their room.
Devices that are not properly parked are subject to impoundment by P&T without notification. Devices that are properly parked but appear to be abandoned based on condition will be tagged, notifying the owner that the device will be impounded at a later date if the bike is not moved or its condition does not improve. When a device is impounded, an impound fee of $40 is applied, and the device is held for 60 days. The device will default to University property if not claimed within that timeframe.
To check if P&T has impounded a device, the owner should email [email protected] with the following details: a description of the device (make, model, color, distinguishing features) and proof of ownership (receipt, registration information). Staff will coordinate a time at which the device can be picked up once the impound fee has been paid. If P&T does not have the device, the owner is encouraged to contact UVA Police to report it missing.
Security & Registration
Micromobility owners should take steps to safeguard their devices from potential theft. When parking at a bike rack, owners should secure their device with a bike lock, making sure the frame of the bike is locked to the rack. Owners are encouraged to use at a minimum a U-Lock style lock to secure their device, as it is one of the best, low-cost options.
New Registration System
P&T has partnered with Bike Index to provide new and improved bike registration! On Bike Index, you can:
- Register or update your micromobility device
- Report thefts or view missing devices in your area
- Receive parking notifications about your device
- Request that a device be released from impound
Maintenance
Micromobility owners are encouraged to regularly service their device to maintain its proper function. Fixit stations are available around Grounds for owners to have the space and tools necessary to perform their own bike maintenance. Consult the Bike Map for locations. Bike pumps are also available for use upon request at the front desk of the Clemons, Brown, and Fine Arts libraries.
Once a semester, P&T hosts a team of bike mechanics to offer free bike repairs to students. Be sure to follow us at UVA_micromobility on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest events. For professional servicing anytime, owners are encouraged to check out Charlottesville’s local bike shops: Blue Ridge Cyclery, Endeavor, and Blue Wheel.
Long-Term Storage & Summer Break
Devices that are not regularly used should not be stored long-term at bike racks. Lack of use with constant exposure will cause the device’s condition to rapidly deteriorate, plus devices that never move are prime targets for thieves. Students who are not regularly riding their device are encouraged to store it in their residence (if living on-Grounds, be sure it is in compliance with University policy). P&T does not provide any long-term storage options.
Students should not leave devices stored at bike racks over summer break. P&T performs an annual sweep of the bike racks over the summer, and any devices not regularly being used will be impounded.
Battery-Electric Devices
E-bikes and e-scooters are largely treated the same as “analog” or traditional, non-electric bicycles, except for the following (per Policy SEC-043):
- E-Bikes and e-scooters may not be ridden on sidewalks,
- A helmet is required while riding,
- Devices cannot be parked or stored in any University or Medical Center building that has not been approved by Parking & Transportation; and
- Devices cannot be charged from any University or Medical Center electrical outlet that has not been approved by Parking & Transportation.
The following is an exclusive list of approved locations for short-term electric micromobility device storage and charging. Devices may not be plugged into any outlet at a University facility for longer than 24hrs.
- Fontaine Research Park Garage, secured bike parking corral, ground floor
Given the restraints on indoor parking and charging of battery-electric devices, students living in on-Grounds housing are encouraged not to bring an e-bike or e-scooter to Grounds. Devices found in violation of the policy are subject to impoundment.
Veo Device Rentals
Veo is a third-party provider of rentable e-scooters and e-bikes that are available to students and employees on Grounds and within the City of Charlottesville. Users are subject to the same rules of the road and should follow the same safety guidelines as those using privately-owned devices.
Users must download the Veo app and set up an account to rent an e-scooter or e-bike. To start a ride, the user will scan the QR code on the device to unlock it. To end a ride, if on Grounds, the user must be at one of many designated parking locations, which are visible within the app. Devices should be parked so that they are left upright and stable, and do not block streets, sidewalks, curb cuts, staircases, ramps, and building access/egress. Users who do not properly park their device may be fined by Veo.
Issues with the Veo app or a device? Contact Veo at [email protected] or 1-855-836-2256.
Additional Resources
- UVA Bike and Scooter Map
- Shower Facilities
- University Policy PRM-019 – Riding, Parking, and Storing Bicycles at the University
- University Policy SEC-034 – Riding, Parking, and Storing Motorized Scooters and Electric Power-Assisted Bicycles at the University