Policy on inappropriately parked bicycles which create a hazard or obstruction (external areas)

The aim of this policy is to discourage people from parking their bicycles in areas which create a hazard or obstruction, such as a bicycle parked in a fire exit.

If bicycles are parked in an area which creates a hazard or obstruction then the University has a policy and procedure in place for the removal of the bicycles and for owners of these bicycles to retrieve them.

The University is not planning on removing bicycles which are parked in areas which are not official cycle parking facilities unless they create a hazard or obstruction (such being parked in a fire exit).

This policy (and the accompanying procedure) is applicable to all University of Bristol sites.

Areas of hazard or obstruction

Inappropriately parked bicycles which create a hazard or obstruction are defined as those which are parked in areas or in such a way that they create a hazard or obstruction. For example:

Fire exits,
Ramps (including disability ramps),
External stair rails,
External fire routes,
Building entrances and exits.

Bicycle owners are responsible for parking their bicycles with care so as to not create a hazard or obstruction. It is advised that if you are unsure if parking your bicycle in a location or in a way will create a hazard or obstruction then you are advised to not park in that location.

Removal of bicycles

The University has a duty to maintain safe premises and if necessary will, and is legally permitted to, remove bicycles which are parked in areas which they are not permitted to (as detailed above) even if no signage is present and without notice.

Process for retrieving bicycles removed by the University

Contact Security Services on 0117 928 7848 during business hours (8am - 4pm)
Bicycle owners will be asked by Security Services to give a description of their bicycle, such as colour(s)/make/any distinguishing features, frame number (if known), Bike Register number (if present) which security Services will compare to the incident report (which holds all these details, including a photo of the bicycle before it was removed) before Security Services authorises the return of the bicycle.
The bicycle owner will be fined a minimum charge of £30 for contravening this policy, payable either via the University’s online shop or to Security Services.
Whilst every care will be taken not to damage the bicycle, the University accepts no responsibility for any damage to the bicycle either before or after removal (including during storage).
Security Services will inform the University’s Sustainability team (who store the removed bicycles). Sustainability will then arrange a mutually convenient time for the retrieval of the bicycle.
If in order to remove your bicycle your lock has been cut, you will not be reimbursed for the cost of the lock and you will not be provided with a replacement.
Bicycles will be stored by the University for one month only, at which time if unclaimed it will be donated to charity such as Lifecycle UK for reuse or recycling. This is the legal position of this policy and no other method of disposal of bicycles will be entered into.

Teams responsible for this policy

This copy of the policy will always be the current and up to date version.

Sustainability (Transport) will hold the current and up to date version of the procedure and staff involved in delivering this policy can request a copy of the procedure from the University’s Transport team, by emailing transport-plan@bristol.ac.uk

The following key stakeholders have been jointly involved in developing this policy and the accompanying procedure:

Sustainability (Transport),
Security Services,
Facilities Management (Hard Services),
Facilities Management,
The Secretaries Office,
Site Services,
Safety and Health.

Sustainability have given final approval for this policy and procedure.

Contact

Any queries regarding this policy should be directed to the Sustainability (Transport) team at transport-plan@bristol.ac.uk