1. Responsibility
1.1 The Executive Director of Hospitality and Campus Services is responsible for monitoring and updating this policy as needed.
2. General Provisions
2.1 This policy shall govern the use of all personal manual and motorized devices that facilitate the movement of people on the University of New Hampshire Durham campus. This policy is meant to encourage safe shared use of transportation infrastructure including roads, walkways and pathways around campus and town, with environmentally friendly modes of transportation in a manner that protects the safety of all riders, motorists, and pedestrians. Our community expectation is that riders will operate their devices with courtesy on our shared pathways and always yield to pedestrians.
2.2 This policy shall not deny or limit campus access for individuals with disabilities. Mobility devices and other similar Assistive Technology (AT) specifically designed for an individual with a disability or used to facilitate access in accordance with the American Disabilities Act (i.e., wheelchair, mobility-aid) are explicitly excluded from the scope of this policy.
2.3 For community members interested in riding their personal transportation devices on public streets, in town or on campus, it’s important to know that electric motorized devices are not considered vehicles per NH motor vehicle laws; however, riders are required to follow NH state statute, Chapter 265: Rules of the Road and the Town of Durham, Chapter 055: Electronic Motorized Devices/Electric Scooters and related ordinances.
3. Terms and Definitions
3.1 Manual Devices – This term refers to any form of personal transportation propelled solely by human power including bicycles, inline skates, kick scooters, and skateboards.
3.2 Motorized Devices – This term refers to any form of personal transportation powered by electricity or gas not classified as a moped or motorcycle including e-bikes.
4. Registration Process
4.1 Students and employees are prohibited from operating a motorized device on any part of the UNH premises unless such motorized device has been properly permitted through Parking Services. Effective January 1, 2025, owners may only possess and operate motorized devices and batteries that are commercially manufactured and UL/ULC listed as evidence that certain safety standards have been met.
4.2 Registration provides a record of ownership of your personal transportation device. Should your device be lost or stolen, your registration record can be used to file a report with University Police or to contact owners of impounded devices.
5. Dismount and Parking Regulations
5.1 All personal transportation devices are prohibited from the interiors of academic and administrative buildings.
5.2 Riders must fully dismount from their transportation device prior to entering a residential building and walk through the area as operation of any kind while indoors is prohibited.
5.3 Parking is prohibited in pedestrian pathways leading to buildings, vehicle parking spaces or ADA ramps.
5.4 Unattended devices shall only be secured and parked at outdoor racks in such a manner that does not impede the free and clear use of passageways.
5.5 At no time may personal transportation devices, bicycles, or e-bikes be chained, locked, or attached to any handrail, tree, bush, door, signpost, lamp, telephone pole, lamppost, fence, or other object not maintained or designated for the purpose of securing a transportation device.
6. Storage and Charging
6.1 Indoor storage and charging for personal devices are available for resident students in the designated location of their assigned residence hall or campus apartment.
6.2 Motorized devices may be charged in residence halls and campus apartments so long as they are properly permitted, except for hoverboards and gasoline powered motorized devices which are prohibited from all university housing facilities.
6.3 At no time may motorized devices be stored or charged in university housing rooms, or academic and administrative buildings.
6.4 Owners must remove or disconnect the battery of personal devices and actively monitor batteries until charging is complete.
7. Operational Safety
7.1 The University strongly suggests all operators wear safety protection including a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
7.2 Riders are prohibited from operating personal devices while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
7.3 To mitigate any chance of losing control of the device, riders should remain attentive to their surroundings and limit the use of earbuds or headphones.
7.4 Operation of these devices upon a sidewalk, defined as a walkway immediately adjacent to a public road, is strictly prohibited.
7.5 Operation of motorized devices on multi-use trails, and other pathways is subject to regulation by the University of New Hampshire.
7.6 Motorized devices shall not be operated at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions and in no event exceeding the posted limit.
7.7 Devices must be operated near the right-hand side of the roadway or path as practicable, exercising due care when passing a parked vehicle or pedestrian.
7.8 Motorized devices emerging from a driveway or building shall upon approaching a sidewalk or roadway yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on the said sidewalk area; and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.
7.9 Operators of motorized devices must obey all official traffic signals, signs, and other control devices on the UNH premises used in regulating and directing traffic, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
7.10 On roadways, devices shall be operated in the direction and with the flow of vehicular and bicycle travel.
7.11 On public roadways where authorized signs are posted, riders operating a motorized device shall obey the regulation contained therein, except that when such person dismounts from the motorized device to make any such maneuver, the operator shall obey all the traffic ordinances provisions applicable to pedestrians.
7.12 No person shall operate a motorized device unless it is equipped with a brake, front and rear lights, and bell or other audible alert.
8. Oversight and Enforcement
8.1 University Police and Transportation Services will work cooperatively with university departments to enforce personal transportation device regulations.
8.2 Personal transportation devices that are improperly parked, not permitted, or abandoned are subject to citation, fines, impoundment, or disposal, including disposal of hazardous materials, may also be subject to fines by UNH Facilities or Health and Safety and external entities.
8.3 Responsibly for costs that accrue as a result of such fines rests with the device owner and the University shall not be liable for any damage, repair, or replacement associated with moving or impounding any device operated or stored in a manner that violates this policy.
