Bike and Pedestrian Safety
In 2023, UC Santa Cruz introduced the e-bike program on campus known as BCycle. While the program increased ridership, there was also an increase in bike-related crashes by almost 400%. Many of these crashes resulted in serious injuries to the bike rider and sometimes a pedestrian or motorist. While biking on campus is generally a safe way to get around, many factors led to this uptick in crashes, including inexperienced riders and their mistakes.
Common mistakes are failing to stop at a stop sign, unsafely turning the bike, unsafe speed for the conditions, failing to yield for a vehicle or pedestrian, or braking improperly by applying only one brake on a downhill slope.
Vehicle Code Violations and Crashes
For more information, visit CHP Bike and Pedestrian Safety
For more safety tips, visit Road Safety Tips
What to do in a Traffic Crash
- First attend to the medical needs of anyone involved. Call 911 if necessary-but remember that 911 is for emergencies only.
- When there are no injuries, move your vehicle out of traffic to the nearest place of safety.
- Notify the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the police department of the city in which the crash occurred.
- Exchange driver license, vehicle registration, and insurance information with the other driver or drivers.
- Do not accept or place any blame. Your insurance company has people trained to determine who is at fault.
- Gather contact information from possible witnesses.
- Take a moment to write down details of the crash, such as time of day, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and the events that led up to the collision.
- Remember, vehicle crashes are not accidents. An alcohol related vehicle crash is just that, a vehicle crash, because the term “accident” implies that these crashes, deaths, and injuries are unavoidable. In fact, alcohol related crashes are predictable and preventable because drinking and driving is the conscious choice of the driver. Never drink and drive or ride with someone who has been drinking. Please be responsible.
For more information, visit the CHP Traffic Page
What to do in a Traffic Stop
- Activate your turn signal and pull off or to the side of the roadway as soon as it is safe to do so
- Stay in your vehicle unless directed by the officer to exit
- Keep your hands on the steering wheel or in a visible location so they are easily observable.
- Follow all instructions the officer gives you or your passengers.
For more information, visit the AAMVA Traffic Stop page
How to Request a Crash Report
Contact the UC Santa Cruz PD either through email, phone, or in writing, with the following information:
- Agency/Company: Applies to government entities or insurance companies.
- Collision/Incident Date: If you do not know the exact date, provide an approximate date.
- Collision/Incident Location: If you do not know the exact location, list as much information as possible.
- Driver or Owner: List the driver or owner of the vehicle. If only your property was damaged, please list your name and address.
- Party of Interest: The most common Parties of Interest are Driver, Passenger, Property Owner, Vehicle Owner, Parent of Minor, or Legal Guardian of an individual. If you are not sure you are entitled to a copy of the report/investigation, please contact any the UC Santa Cruz PD to verify whether you are a proper Party of Interest.
- Your name and contact information, including complete address, phone number, and email
How to File a Traffic Complaint
Contact the UC Santa Cruz PD either through email, phone, or in writing, with the following information:
- Witnesses: If any, collect their names and contact information.
- Date and Time: When did the incident occur?
- Location: Where did it happen? Be specific, including street names or mile markers.
- Actions: What specific traffic violations were committed (e.g., speeding, running a red light, reckless driving)?
- Vehicle Description: Make, model, color, and license plate number of the offending vehicle.
- Driver Description: If possible, include the driver’s sex, hair color, skin color, and estimated age.
- Your name and contact information, including complete address, phone number, and email
Safe System Approach
The UC Santa Cruz PD utilizes the 5E Safety strategies to reduce fatal, injury, or property damage crashes.
5E Safety Strategies
- Education: Educate all road users on safe behaviors
- Enforcement: Enforce actions that reduce high-risk behavior
- Engineering: Apply effective and/or innovative countermeasures.
- Emergency Response: Improve emergency response times and actions.
- Emerging Technologies: Apply emerging technologies to roadway, vehicle, and user
For more information on the Safe System Approach, visit the US Department of Transportation (US DOT) Flyer (PDF), the US DOT Page, or the Federal Highway Administration Page