Campus Mobility

Safety

The West Lafayette location is the size of a small city, and that creates mobility challenges as a lot of people try to get around in different ways. Motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and operators of other devices must all take precautions and work together to create a safe environment. 

Regardless of transportation method used, good behaviors and habits for everyone include:

Paying attention and being aware of your surroundings.

Minimizing distractions such as looking at your phone or wearing headphones or ear buds that interfere with your ability to hear sirens, traffic or others around you.

Additional Tips: Pedestrians

  • Use sidewalks.
  • When crossing streets, use crosswalks at intersections and wait for the walk signal and traffic to clear before proceeding.
  • Increase your visibility to others by wearing light-colored or reflective clothing in early mornings or evenings when less daylight is available.

Additional Tips: Bicyclists, Skateboarders and EMPV Operators

  • If you are a new user, get familiar with your device and how to ride or operate it. Practice in low-traffic areas at low speeds to get comfortable and gain confidence before you move to more congested areas.
  • Wear a helmet and keep both hands on the handlebars.
  • Follow all laws, ordinances, codes and regulations for Indiana, West Lafayette, Purdue and Lafayette when operating in those city limits. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Obey traffic signs and signals
    • Follow posted speed limits. The speed limit on all multi-use paths, bike lanes and cycle tracks is 15 miles per hour.
    • Ride in the direction of traffic and observe the direction of travel on one-way streets.
    • Display a front light and rear reflector at dawn or dusk
    • Yield to other vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Use bicycle lanes, multi-use paths or roadways. Avoid sidewalks. If you must be on a sidewalk, walk your device.
  • Do not carry passengers with you.   
  • Only park in designated areas, such as bicycle racks or signed concrete parking pads.
  • EMPVs may not be stored, operated or charged in Purdue facilities or parking garages, unless otherwise noted in the Traffic and Parking regulations.
  • No more than two devices may be ridden next to each other.

Additional Tips: Motorists

  • Follow posted speed limits.
  • Always yield to pedestrians.
  • Obey Indiana state traffic laws and Purdue Traffic and Parking Regulations. 
  • Share the road and keep a safe passing distance of at least three feet if going around bicyclists or EMPV operators.
  • If parking along a street, check for bicyclists and EMPV operators before opening your door.