Move Safe

Many people at Michigan State University choose walking as their preferred method to travel around campus. Here are a few safety tips to remember as a pedestrian at MSU:

• Always follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Keep alert at all times; it is easy to get distracted and take your eyes off the road.
• Cross streets at crosswalks. This is where drivers expect pedestrians.
• Look for cars and bicycles in all directions – including those turning left or right.
• Never assume an operator or driver sees you. Make eye contact with them as they approach you to make sure you are seen.
• Try to be visible at all times. If you are walking at night, bright clothing and reflective materials will help others see you.
• Watch for cars entering/exiting parking lot driveways and bikes on sidewalks or bike lanes.
• Remain in the sidewalk pedestrian area and stay out of the bike lanes.

Bicycling is a fun, healthy, and popular mode of transportation at MSU. Here are a few things you can do to practice safe cycling:

• Wear a bicycle helmet.
• Check your equipment before riding; inflate tires properly and check that the brakes work.
• Try to make yourself visible to others with lights and bright clothing; just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.
• Place books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack so your hands maintain control of the bicycle.
• Always use bike lanes or designated bike paths. University ordinances prohibit riding on sidewalks.
• Share the road when bike lanes are unavailable. You have a legal right to ride in the road.
• Go with the flow of traffic, not against it; ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as other vehicles.
• A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re the driver… drivers must obey all traffic laws.
• Yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
• Stay alert and watch for anything that could make you lose control of your bike.
• Using personal electronics when you ride can be distracting and unsafe.
• When turning left or right, always look behind you and signal before making turns.
• Bikers should verbalize when passing or approaching on the left (Say aloud, “On the left”)

Pedestrians and bicycles are vulnerable and drivers can do a few things to keep everyone safe:

• Look out for pedestrians and cyclists everywhere, at all times.
• Use extra caution when driving at night or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Yield to pedestrians and cyclists when turning.
• Remember that University ordinances prohibit biking on sidewalks; drivers must share the road with bicycles, even when marked bike lanes are not available.

If you are a moped operator, you must follow the same traffic rules as other motor vehicle operators.
In Michigan, a moped operator under the age of 19 must wear a state-approved helmet on their head when operating a moped on a thoroughfare.  However, the use of a helmet by any moped operator is recommended for safety.
Motorized moped type vehicles may no longer park at the bicycle racks. Parking spaces designed specifically for moped use are available in convenient locations across campus.
All moped operators (faculty, staff, and students) must register their moped with the MSU Parking Office.