Promoting safe movement around our campus is essential–whether it’s walking, biking, or driving.
UC Santa Cruz pathways and roads are bustling with activity, and it’s crucial that everyone feels safe in navigating campus. Unfortunately, there have been instances where traffic regulations have been overlooked, putting our collective well-being at risk.
UC Santa Cruz is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. To enhance safety, the campus is implementing a variety of new initiatives on campus roads.
Community-focused safety, education, and enforcement initiatives
To promote safety for all, UC Santa Cruz is launching a comprehensive campaign emphasizing education and community engagement. Efforts include:
- Educational programs for those exceeding speed limits or overlooking traffic signs
- Establishing a consistent 20 mph speed limit along McLaughlin Drive for everyone
- Improved signage along McLaughlin Drive to remind everyone to look out for one another
- A pilot program to close a section of Steinhart Drive to vehicles, creating a safer space for everyone
- Increased awareness and enforcement of traffic laws across campus
Safety rules for everyone
Walking and biking are great ways to get around campus. While people who are walking have the right of way, it’s important for everyone to stay alert and follow the rules of the road.
For everyone’s safety, people who are on a bike need to share the road with fellow community members and adhere to the same rules as those driving a vehicle, including:
- Yielding to pedestrians
- Riding in the same direction as traffic
- Staying off sidewalks
- Observing speed limits
- Stopping at traffic lights and stop signs
- Signaling when turning or changing lanes
The campus encourages all cyclists to ride predictably, avoiding sudden movements that could surprise others. Through Slug Bike Life, UC Santa Cruz offers workshops and resources to support bicyclists. A winter riding lunch and learn event will be held at noon on Jan. 22
For drivers, being mindful of speed and surroundings is especially important, particularly during busy times like class transitions. By slowing down, drivers can create a safer environment for everyone. We also encourage drivers to park in perimeter lots and consider walking, biking or taking a shuttle or bus within the academic core of campus.
Improvements on McLaughlin Drive and Steinhart Drive
UC Santa Cruz is working to calm traffic on McLaughlin Drive and Steinhart Drive, promoting a safer experience for all.
McLaughlin Drive, connecting Science and Engineering Hill from Heller Drive to Coolidge Drive, now has a uniform speed limit of 20 mph for both vehicles and cyclists. UC Santa Cruz will also enhance signage to remind everyone to yield to pedestrians at the eight crosswalks located along the corridor.
Steinhart Drive, which links Quarry Plaza to McHenry Library and Kerr Hall, is designated for authorized vehicle use only. However, some unauthorized drivers use it as a shortcut. UC Santa Cruz has closed a significant portion of Steinhart Drive to all automobile traffic using temporary barriers, creating a safer space for pedestrians and cyclists. Authorized vehicles will still have access to designated areas, ensuring that essential services remain available.
UC Santa Cruz police officers will be actively engaging with the community along McLaughlin Drive and elsewhere across the campus. They will kick off a week-long educational campaign to remind everyone about the importance of traffic rules. Following this, officers will begin issuing citations for violations, encouraging everyone to take responsibility for community safety.
Cyclists may face fines of up to $200 for infractions; however, first-time offenders can attend Bicycle Traffic School (BTS). This two-hour class provides a valuable opportunity to learn about safe cycling practices for a $35 fee instead of paying the fine. The goal is to increase safety for everyone in the campus community–not to cite individuals.
As part of our commitment to community safety, the campus is also exploring ways to encourage responsible driving, including the potential revocation of parking permits for individuals who drive recklessly on campus.
Together, UC Santa Cruz students, faculty, and staff can enhance safety and create a supportive environment for all members of the campus community.
