OCTOBER IS SAFETY MONTH
Each October our campus celebrates safety month to promote safe transportation habits on and around campus. Whether you bike, scoot, walk, or drive, it's important to know how to safely interact with others in traffic, ride predictably, and with care!
Join us for a month full of fun activities and events that will help keep you safe while on the road! See our calendar of events and details below.
Ride with Care:
- Follow Traffic Signs and Wait your Turn: Obey traffic signals, stop at stop signs, stay in your lane and always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Slow Your Roll: Mind your speed and give yourself at least 20 ft before stopping. Remember Terps, slow and steady wins the race.
- Ride on the Road (and Stay in Your Lane!): On low-speed roadways, micromoblity devices are to operate in roadways like other moving vehicles. On campus, remember to dismount at crosswalks and walk your wheels on sidewalks and yield to pedestrians.
- Make Space for Each Other: Leave 3 feet between yourself and another vehicle when passing—don’t try to squeeze by.
- Be Predictable: Make your intentions clear to everyone. Don’t make abrupt turns or swerve around other vehicles. Brush up on your hand signals, slow down, and make eye contact with other travelers to cue your intentions.
Visit the Safety Starts with You page for more important safety information across all modes of transportation.
Take the pledge to demonstrate your commitment to share the road and help keep our campus streets safe!
safety Month Events
This month, receive free giveaways, join us for fun events, and learn new things about safe transportation on campus!
Safety Month Kick-off and Helmet Giveway
Monday, October 2 | 11 a.m. -1 p.m. | Tawes Plaza
Join BikeUMD for a tour of campus by bike or scooter! We will travel through campus on roads and trails, while learning about basic maintenance and safety tips for your ride!
Campus bike & Scoot Tour
Friday, October 6 | 12 p.m. -1:30 p.m. | Hornbake Plaza | Register
We all have more fun when we’re safe. Grab a free helmet and navigate a traffic course on your bike or scooter while learning about the dangers of riding under the influence. RSVP required.
Chalk the Walk
Sunday, October 8 (Rain date: Sunday, October 22 | 2 - 5:30 p.m. | Tawes Plaza
Did you know that colorful pavement can enhance pedestrian safety? Join us for a community paint-in day and block party as we bring the crosswalks around Tawes Plaza to life with temporary artwork. Let your creativity flow with the DOTS Sustainability Team, UMD Placemaking Minor students, and student clubs as we create street murals to calm traffic on-campus, build community, and beautify our campus.
Bikeways Virtual Mobility Audit
Monday, October 9 | 12 p.m. -1:00 p.m. | Register for the webinar
Join us for a virtual tour of the Bikeways Feasibility Study, which sets out to create new paths for Terps who bicycle, scooter, and skate around east and west campus! Learn more about the project, explore interesting geospatial data around the project site, and preview the mobility audit toolkits that will be on community data collection events later in the month.
Come out and ride
Tuesday, October 10 | 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. | Regents Drive Garage | Register
Celebrate National Coming Out Day and connect with your community by joining a group ride to Manifest Bakery in Hyattsville. This is a very beginner-friendly ride that primarily takes place on bicycle+pedestrian trails. During the ride, we will stick together and travel at a conversational pace. Bikes, scooters, and skates are all welcome! RSVP required.
UMD farmers market pop-up
Wednesday, October 11 | 11 a.m. -1 p.m. | Tawes Plaza
Make pumpkin smoothies on the DOTS Smoothie Bike, learn about the prizes and sights you can see during Walktober events around Maryland, discover safety facts, and learn about DOTS programs for commuters with the Transportation Trivia Ball!
Eastern Campus Mobility Audit
Thursday, October 12 | 1 p.m. -3:30 p.m. | Location shared with participants prior to event date | Register
Take part in the Bikeways Feasibility Study by joining a behind-the-handlebars tour of our eastern study area. The feedback and opinions gathered in this audit will be shared with the project team during the feasibility study and preliminary design phase. A complimentary lunch will be provided by DOTS at the end of each session. RSVP required. Each audit is capped at 20 participants.
DC Bike Party Trip
Friday, October 13 | 6 p.m. (DOTS Lawn), 6:40 p.m. (College Park Metro), 8 p.m. (Dupont Circle) | Register
Learn confident city riding tips and experience safety in numbers with the monthly DC Bike Party Trip, which features lights, music, and a costumed theme-of-the-month!
Western Campus Mobility Audit
Wednesday, October 18 | 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. | Location shared with participants prior to event date | Register
Take part in the Bikeways Feasibility Study by joining a behind-the-handlebars tour of our western study area. The feedback and opinions gathered in this audit will be shared with the project team during the feasibility study and preliminary design phase. A complimentary lunch will be provided by DOTS at the end of each session. RSVP required. Each audit is capped at 20 participants.
Bike to Breakfast
Thursday, October 26 | 8 a.m. -10 a.m. | Paint Branch Trail Entrance near CSI Center
Connect with your micromobility community and share feedback and ideas while enjoying free coffee and breakfast treats. Bike to Breakfast takes place on the last Thursday of each month at rotating bicycle-friendly locations on campus. Follow @dots_umd on Instagram for more information.
Campus Sustainability Month Celebration
Friday, October 27 | 1 - 3 p.m. | Hornbake Plaza
Join the Office of Sustainability in celebrating Campus Sustainability Month and Transportation Safety Month with DOTS. Whether you bike, scooter, skate, or ride public transit, the Campus Sustainability Month Celebration is an interactive event that will give you the chance to win prizes and learn more about the resources available for safe and sustainable transit around campus!
Bikes Be Bright
Monday, October 30 | 4 p.m. -6 p.m. | Regents Drive Garage
Stop by DOTS to receive a free set of bike lights!
Haunted UMD Ride
Monday, October 30 | 6 p.m. -8 p.m. | Regents Drive Garage | Register
Don your favorite Halloween costume and join us on a bicycle, scooter, or skate tour to hear the stories behind UMD’s most haunted spots. Wear your favorite costume to have the chance to win a swag bag full of prizes.