Cycle Parking Policies

• Policy on Inappropriately Parked Bicycles Which Create a Hazard or Obstruction (External Areas)
• Policy on Inappropriately Parked Bicycles Which Pose Health and Safety Risks (Internal Areas)
• Policy on Removal of Bicycles Suspected of Being Abandoned
• Policy on the Cutting of Cycle Locks at the Request of the Owner

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.

Please be assured that 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.

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:

1. Fire exits
2. Ramps (including disability ramps)
3. External stair rails. 
4. External fire routes
5. 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.

Please note that 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:

1. Contact Security Services on 0117 928 7848 during business hours (8am - 4pm)
2. 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.
3. 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. 
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

The copy of the policy on the Transport Plan website 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.

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

Policy on Inappropriately Parked Bicycles Which Pose Health and Safety Risks (Internal 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.

Please be assured that 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.

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, if bicycles are parked in stairwells and corridors which building users have a duty to keep clear. 

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.

Please note that 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:

1. Contact Security Services on 0117 928 7848 during business hours (8am - 4pm)
2. 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.
3. 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. 
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

The copy of the policy on the Transport Plan website 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 can be requested by 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.

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

FAQs Relating to the Policies and Procedures for Inappropriately Parked Bicycles (PDF, 68kB)

Policy on Removal of Bicycles Suspected of Being Abandoned

Policy

Aim: ensure that valuable space is not taken up by abandoned bicycles in University owned bicycle parking facilities

Bicycle storage Permitted Usage:

• Clifton Campus (incl Satellite sites),Temple Quarter Campus, Dental School & Langford Campus: University bicycle parking facilities are for active users only; they are not for long term storage.
• University of Bristol (owned/managed) Residences: cycle facilities are only for use during a students’ tenancy and all other facilities are for daily use only.

Bicycles left unused for prolonged periods (a minimum of one month):

• Clifton Campus (incl Satellite sites),Temple Quarter Campus, Dental School & Langford Campus:  will be identified for removal and a tagged. The tag will note the date the bicycle was tagged. Unless the tag is removed (signifying the bicycle is not abandoned) the bicycle will be removed by the University’s External Estates team after a minimum of one month. The bicycles details will be recorded (incl. frame number) and photographed and (before and after removal). The bicycles will then be stored in a University storage facility for two months before being donated to charity or recycled.
• University of Bristol (owned/managed) Residences:   Bicycles will be tagged if left after the resident’s tenancy has finished for a minimum of one month and then removed. The tag will note the date the bicycle was tagged. Unless the tag is removed (signifying the bicycle is not abandoned) the bicycle will be removed by the University’s External Estates team after a minimum of one month. The bicycles details will be recorded (incl. frame number) and photographed and (before and after removal).

Retrieval Fee:

• Clifton Campus (incl Satelite sites) & Langford Campus: Bicycles claimed by users after the bicycle has been removed from the cycle storage facility but within the 2 month period the bicycle is in University storage will be charged a £30 retrieval fee. After the two month storage period the bicycle will be donated or recycled and cannot be retrieved by the owner . Owners of locks broken to remove bicycles under this policy will not be reimbursed. The same applies to those who's bicycles have been donated or recycled.
• University of Bristol (owned/managed) Residences: Bicycles removed from University owned Residential cycle facilities will not be stored once removed from the cycle parking facility but will be donated to charity or disposed of appropriately at this time. Owners of locks broken to remove bicycles under this policy will not be reimbursed. The same applies to those who's bicycles have been donated or recycled.

Donation or recycling:

All removed bicycles which are fit to be reused or recycled will be sent to a charity such as Lifecycle for reuse or recycling. If the bicycles are not fit to be reused or recycled they will be disposed of appropriately by the University.

Records of bicycles held in storage will be kept by the University’s Transport team.

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

Process for retrieving bicycles removed by the University:

1. Contact Security Services on 0117 928 7848 during business hours (8am - 4pm)
2. Bicycle owners will be asked by Security Services to give a description of their bicycle, such as colour(s)/make/ distinguishing features, frame number (if known), Bike Register number (if present) which Security Services will check this against records provided by the University’s Transport Team of bicycles was removed under the Abandoned Bike Policy.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. Security Services will inform the University’s Transport team (who store the removed bicycles). The Transport team will then arrange a mutually convenient time for the retrieval of the bicycle.
6. 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.
7. Bicycles will be tagged and left in situ for one month. Bicycles removed from non-residential cycle facilities will then be stored by the University for a further two months only. Bicycles removed from Residential cycle parking facilities, if unclaimed one month after being tagged, will be donated to charity such as Lifecycle UK for reuse or recycling, or ,disposed of appropriately by the University’s Waste team (if not fit for recycling or reuse). This is the legal position of this policy and no other method of disposal of bicycles will be entered into.

The copy of the policy on the Transport Plan website will always be the current and up to date version. The University’s Transport team will hold the current and up to date version of the procedure and can be requested by 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:

• Transport Team
• Security Services
• External Estates
• Facilities Management
• The Secretary’s Office
• Residential and Hospitality Services

Sustainability have given final approval for this policy and procedure.

Any queries regarding this policy should be directed to the Transport Team Email: transport-plan@bristol.ac.uk

‌Abandoned Bicycle Policy FAQs (updated July 2021) (PDF, 142kB)

P‌olicy last updated April 2023

Policy on the Cutting of Cycle Locks at the Request of the Owner

This policy and procedure is for all University of Bristol sites.

Policy

If a University of Bristol staff member or student has lost their cycle lock key or their lock is broken they can place a request through Security Services (security-office-uob@bristol.ac.uk / 0117 928 7848) for the lock to be cut including a description (as detailed as possible) and photo (to be emailed to security) of the bicycle and its location. Only University staff and students can apply for their lock to be cut, the University will not cut a lock for anyone who is not a member of the University. The staff or student request the lock to be cut must show University security officer their bicycle and their Ucard, if they do not have their Ucard with them then the lock cannot be cut. The staff or student must be present when the lock is cut.

The bicycle owner requesting the lock cut will be charged £40 for the cutting of each lock, which should be paid before the lock is cut. This should be paid to Security Services via Card payment only. The payment and lock cutting must be arranged during normal office hours (Monday to Friday 08:00 - 16:00) at a mutually convenient time for the bicycle owner, Security Services and Maintenance Services. The bicycle owner should provide Security with a range of dates and times they are free to attend the lock cutting.

Please note: That although every effort will be made not to damage the bicycle while the lock is being cut, the University accepts no liability for any damage that maybe done to the bicycle while the lock is being removed.

The copy of the policy on the Transport Plan website will always be the current and up to date version. The University’s Transport team will hold the current and up to date version of the procedure and can be requested by 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:
• Transport Team
• Security Services
• Facilities Management
• The Secretary’s Office

Sustainability have given final approval for this policy and procedure. Any queries regarding this policy should be directed to the Transport Team Email: transport-plan@bristol.ac.uk

This policy was last updated in June 2023.