Top 10 Bicycle Safety Tips!

1. Wear a Helmet.
2. Wear light colored clothing.
3. Have reflectors on your bike.
4. Use lights for night cycling.
5. Ride single file.
6. Don't carry bulky packages.
7. Don't carry passengers.
8. Keep bicycle in good operating condition.
9. Always assume that cars don't see you.
10. Use good hand signals.

Bicycle Theft

Theft is on the rise everywhere in the United States and it is reaching record proportions at UNH.  The University Police are doing everything that they can to help protect your valuable investment, but there are some things that you need to do to help us.

The Number One thing that you can do to protect your bicycle from theft is to LOCK IT UP.  Bringing it inside or just leaving it for a minute while you run inside is likely to cost you your bicycle.

Use a quality lock.  Unfortunately thieves are getting smarter and any old lock is not enough.  University Police recommend U-Locks similar to the one shown.  Note that the unlocked portion of the lock has a bend in it to prevent the use of prying tools.   This is a valuable addition to the lock and is not used on all U-Lock systems.   The extra money spent in a good lock could save you hundreds of dollars in your investment.

When you do secure your bike, make sure that you secure it through the frame and rear wheel.  If you have a quick release front tire, lock that up also.

Remember to lock it to something worth-while.  For a quality lock to work, it has to be attached to a secure object.  Many sign posts can easily be removed from the ground; railings can easily be cut.  Make sure to use good judgment.

Make sure that you record the serial number and model of your bicycle.   This is extremely important and could determine if you ever get your bicycle back once it has been stolen.

Always immediately report to the University Police when your bicycle has been stolen.  We recover many bicycles that are never claimed or reported missing/stolen.

Laws Concerning Bicycles in NH

RSA 265:143 Application of Motor Vehicle Laws to Bicycles.

A person riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road, except to special regulations specific to bicycles and laws which have no application to a bicycle.

RSA 265:144 Riding on Bicycles

1. Persons riding bicycles 2 or more abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

1. No person operating a bicycle shall hitch onto any streetcar or any other vehicle moving upon a way.

2. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.

3. No bicycle shall be operated unless the steering, brakes, tires and other required equipment are in safe condition.

4. Any bicyclist shall stop upon demand of a peace officer and permit his bicycle to be inspected.

RSA 265:152 Bicycle Parking

1. A person may park a bicycle on a sidewalk unless prohibited or restricted by an official traffic control device.

2. A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of a pedestrian or other traffic.

3. A person shall not park a bicycle on a roadway in such a manner as to obstruct the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle.

4. In all other respects, bicycles parked on a way shall conform with provisions of law regulating the parking of vehicles.

RSA 265:149 Ordinances and Bylaws

Any city or town shall have the power to make ordinances, bylaws or regulations respecting the use and equipment of bicycles.