Campus E-Bike & E-Scooter Parking Regulations
The University enforces e-bike and e-scooter parking regulations on its property at all times, including evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations, and breaks between terms.
- Park your e-bike or e-scooter at an outdoor rack or at a designated charging station.
- E-scooters and e-bikes are not allowed inside any University of Pittsburgh building, including residence halls, apartments, academic and administrative buildings, and garages except for PG Garage.
- Do not park your e-bike or e-scooter on or against trees, handrails, pipes, or trash cans.
- Improperly parked e-bikes and e-scooters are subject to impoundment.
Parking Tips
- Always use a lock when parking your bike or scooter on campus.
- For bikes, be sure to lock the rear wheel and frame to the rack, not just the wheel.
- For scooters, be sure to lock the frame to the rack, not just the stem or handlebars.
- Use a good-quality U-lock rather than a cable.
Where to Park and Charge
All e-bikes and e-scooters are permitted to park at outdoor racks. Visit the bike map to explore available covered and uncovered outdoor racks.
Charge your e-bike or e-scooter on campus at the 2nd level of the Public Health Building (PG) Garage (3812 O’Hara Street).
Be sure to regularly monitor your e-bike or e-scooter while it’s charging and unplug once charging is complete.
Battery Safety Suggestions
E-bikes and e-scooters are commonly powered by lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries which can overheat and catch fire if charged improperly or poorly manufactured. When purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter, search for devices, batteries, and charging equipment that meet nationally recognized safety standards, like:
- UL 2272 certification – the standard for electrical systems for personal e-mobility devices, including e-scooters.
- UL 2849 certification – the standard electrical systems for e-bikes.
Manufacturers should be able to prove that their products were successfully certified to the applicable safety standards.
To avoid battery fires, it’s important to:
- Only use chargers compatible with your device’s battery.
- Do not use damaged or modified batteries (ex: leaking or bulging).
- Do not leave your battery plugged into a charger unattended.
- Unplug the charger from the battery once it is fully charged.
- Store and charge batteries at room temperature; do not store batteries in direct sunlight.
- Follow the instructions from the manufacturer.
In the event of an emergency, contact Pitt Police at 412-624-2121, Environmental Health & Safety at 412-624-9505, or 911.
Visit Section 02-009 of the University Safety Manual to explore fire safety policies and procedures as well as lithium-ion battery guidelines further.
Review micromobility regulations in Pennsylvania via the PA Micromobility Fact Sheet.
Explore Bike Pittsburgh’s E-BikePGH Guide to learn more about all things e-bikes!
Improperly Parked E-Bikes & E-Scooters
A bike or scooter rack is the safest place for you to park your device on campus. E-bikes and e-scooters secured by trees, handrails, or blocking the right of way on the sidewalks, steps, and ramps can be immediately removed by Pitt Police.
E-bikes and e-scooters that show clear signs of abandonment (such as rusted chains, flat tires, and weather damage) and have not moved from a public rack for several weeks will be removed and impounded by the Pitt Police.
If the University moves your e-bike or e-scooter, locks will be removed, and the device will be impounded at your expense. If you believe your e-bike or e-scooter was impounded, lost, or stolen, please contact Pitt Police.
E-bikes and e-scooters that have been impounded and have not been claimed after 90 days are considered abandoned and become the property of the University.