01.C.15 – Pedestrian Safety
Section: General Administration
Area: Risk Management
1. PURPOSE
This document provides guidelines to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors using University of Houston System university pedestrian walkways and to minimize potential conflicts between motorized vehicles and pedestrians.
This policy applies to all System employees, students, contractors, vendors, visitors, and volunteers on all university campuses.
2. POLICY
2.1. Pedestrians have the right of way on all university sidewalks and crosswalks. At traffic lights, pedestrians must yield to incoming traffic during the "Do Not Walk" signs. Motorized vehicles must always yield to pedestrians. When operating vehicles in close proximity to pedestrians, extreme caution should be used and speeds should not exceed 10 miles per hour.
2.1.1. All bicyclist and skateboard operators shall give pedestrians the right of way on all sidewalks and crosswalks at all times.
2.1.2. Pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders and hover board users shall be vigilant when crossing campus streets. Although pedestrians may have the right of way under the policy, this in no way absolves them if they fail to exercise ordinary caution.
2.2. Motorized vehicles are not permitted to be operated off roads or designated parking areas unless specifically authorized by the university. Such authorization should be made through a published plan for vehicle circulation and parking. Off road operating speeds must consider conditions but should never exceed 10 miles per hour.
2.2.1. Operators should use campus streets and parking lots whenever possible.
2.2.2. Street licensed vehicles should not be operated on walkways unless approved in advance by university management at the director level or higher.
2.2.3. Utility vehicles (e.g., golf carts) may be operated on walkways designated for such use. Operators should avoid walkways during high volume pedestrian usage, such as in between scheduled classes. If an operator must share a walkway with a pedestrian, the maximum speed of the motorized vehicle may not exceed that of pedestrian traffic. Vehicles are not permitted on sidewalks or pathways that are too narrow to accommodate both vehicles and pedestrians.
2.3. Driving on landscaped areas is prohibited unless required as part of a landscape or maintenance project and approved in advance by the project manager or other university management at the director level or higher.
2.4. Motorized vehicles may only be parked in designated areas. Such areas should be designated in a published plan for vehicle circulation and parking.
2.4.1. Motorized vehicles may not be parked within 25 feet of university building entrances except for the loading and unloading of equipment. Vehicles are to move to designated parking areas immediately after loading or unloading.
2.4.2. Parking on grass or landscaped areas is prohibited unless required as part of a landscape or maintenance project and approved in advance by the project manager or other university management at the director level or higher.
2.5. University-owned motorized vehicles may be used on university campuses only when their use is required to complete the task at hand. Operators must comply with System Administrative Memorandum (SAM) 01.C.13 – Business Use of Vehicles .
2.6. All universities may further restrict the use of motorized vehicles on campus pedestrian walkways.
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1. Motorized vehicle: Electric or gas powered cars, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, and utility carts. This policy does not apply to motorized wheelchairs or scooters used by individuals with physical disabilities.
3.2. Pedestrian: A person whose mode of transit is ambulation or who is defined as a pedestrian under the Americans with Disabilities Act . This could include a person walking or using a wheelchair, self-propelled wheelchair or handicap scooter. A service animal, employed by a person with a disability, is granted the status of pedestrian for the purpose of this policy.
LEGAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Pub. L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
Issued: 05/25/2011
Last Reviewed/Revised: 09/22/2021
Responsible Office(s): Finance