E-Scooters and Wheeled Device Safety on Campus

E-Scooter & Wheeled Device Safety

Please follow the rules of the road and stay off sidewalks and University Walks when riding bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other personal mobility devices.

• Be mindful of other riders, vehicles, and always yield to pedestrians.
• Watch your speed.  E-Scooters should not be traveling faster than 15 MPH in any campus areas.
• Obey traffic laws:
  • Scooter users must obey the same traffic laws as drivers.
  • Yield to vehicle traffic at crosswalks and intersections.
  • Use the bell, horn or verbal communication before passing pedestrians.
  • Use the right lane when in the street and NEVER ride against traffic.
• Store your devices outside of buildings, away from building entrances, egress pathways, and stairwells.  Secure with a U-lock to a bike rack whenever possible. Lock your device – with a key if possible.
• Most importantly, keep safe and always wear a helmet!

Parking Wheeled Devices

• Always stand scooters upright when parking.
• DO NOT park scooters:
• Blocking sidewalks
• In handicapped zones
• In flow of traffic/on street
• In loading zone
• On railroad tracks
• In bus zones
• On private property
• In an entryway
• In a driveway

More e-scooter safety tips can be found on the Spin Safe Website.

On-Campus Safety

Reminder, scooters are prohibited within college dormatories, apartments and houses.

Scooters are not permitted inside of any University Building.

Review University of Louisiana at Lafayette Code of Student Conduct for safe use: 

14.  Wheeled Devices. Electric Low-Speed Scooters, Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, bicycles and similar wheeled devices are not permitted inside University buildings, residence halls or on tennis courts. Additionally, skateboards and other wheeled items may not be ridden on railings, curbs, benches, or any such fixtures that may be damaged by these activities, and individuals may be liable for damage to University property caused by these activities. No electronic scooters and/or skateboard devices (i.e., hover boards, etc.) will be permitted for use, charging, possession, or storage on University grounds or inside buildings, including campus housing.

Violators of the Code of Student Conduct will be referred to Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

General Reporting Form

This form is to be completed if you wish to report behaviors of concern involving the University of Louisiana at Lafayette students. Please use the online General Reporting Form.

Fire Safety

• There are many reasons for the restrictions regarding e-scooters on our campus.
• Scooters, much like bicycles, are not permitted inside of buildings due to egress concerns. If there were to be a fire in a building, the doorways, hallways and stairwells must be free of obstructions to allow for safe and effective egress of the occupants.
• Additionally, the batteries found in these devices have been known to cause significant fire events.

E-scooter fire engulfs kitchen Video

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

• Charge and store the battery in a safe and cool place, away from where people sleep and without any combustibles nearby.
• Never overcharge the battery, never use charging equipment that didn’t come with your device.
• Always charge when you are awake and alert.
• Do not charge overnight while sleeping and do not leave unattended when charging.
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor or change in color. If your device needs repairs, have them performed by a qualified professional.
• Only purchase batteries that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
• Dispose of used batteries properly.
• Ensure you have a working smoke alarm where you charge your e-bike or e-scooter.