Bike Safety and Registration

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Examples of proper bike safety as well as instructions for registering your bike within the UA transportation system.

Campus Bike Registration

Registering your bike is free and easy with online registration. Login to your Mybama account, choose next and then select Permit page, at which time you can choose the Bike Permit option.

Laws and Safety

Be aware of your surroundings and know that sharing the road with other bicyclists and motor vehicles is important to your safety. Be sure to ride defensively and prepare for the unexpected and plan alternate maneuver to avoid conflict. Rules alone do not always protect bicyclists from injury. So stay alert, make yourself visible and ride predictably.  Our Practicing bicycle safety video gives you an idea of how to be safe riding around the UA campus.

Dress Appropriately

Wear a hard-shell helmet whenever you ride (required by law for cyclists under sixteen years of age). Wear light-colored clothes at night. Make yourself as visible as possible.

As a vehicle, bicycles must obey all the Rules of the Road. Cyclists have the same privileges and duties as other traffic.

Riding double is only permitted when carrying a child in an approved carrier or when riding on a tandem bicycle. Children should always wear a helmet.

Pedestrians have the right of way on walkways. You must give an audible warning as you pass. Cross driveways and intersections at a walkers pace and look carefully for traffic. Cyclists are not allowed to ride on sidewalks in Tuscaloosa.

Watch for sewer grates, slippery manhole covers, oily pavement, gravel and ice. Cross railroad tracks at right angles. For better control as you move across bumps and other hazards, stand up on your pedals.

Ride in single file when riding in a group on city streets, except when overtaking or passing. Alabama Code 32-5A-263(12)

The Majority of urban bicycle accidents take place at intersections. Proceed carefully, make sure you are visible and signal your intentions. Vehicles making turns can be particularly dangerous.

Share the road and the responsibilities. Motorists and cyclists get along much better when showing courtesy and consideration towards each other.

Be wary of parked cars. Motorists can unexpectedly open doors. Ride a car door width away from parked cars.

Transportation becomes recreation; the necessary jaunt becomes a pleasurable and healthy journey. Plan your trip and prepare for sudden weather changes. Bring a set of clothes and freshen up at work.

Confirm that you are seen. Establish eye contact with motorists to ensure that they know you are on the road. Share the road in a polite and courteous manner.

Avoid dodging between parked cars. Ride in a straight line at least three feet away from the curb to allow room for moving around road hazards. Watch for care entering from driveways.

Look over your shoulder to check regularly and use a mirror to monitor traffic. Although bicycles have an equal right to the road, be prepared to maneuver for safety.

As a vehicle: Signal your intentions in advance. Move to the left turning lane, and complete the turn when it is safe.

As a pedestrian: Ride to the far crosswalk and walk across the street.

Use a bike carrier, small backpack or saddlebags to transport packages. This secures your load and frees your hands for safe riding.

Avoid being in a right-turn-only lane if you plan to proceed straight through. Move into the straight through lane early. In narrow lanes or slow traffic, it may be safer to take the whole lane.

Signal all turns and stops ahead of time, check over your shoulder, then make your intended move only when it is safe to do so.

Always use a strong white headlight, rear light, and red reflector at night or when visibility is poor. Use bike reflectors and reflective clothing. See and be seen!