Senate Bill 25-26-18
| Bill ID: | 25-26-18 |
| Name: | University of Maryland Policy and Procedures for Wearing of Helmets While Riding a Micromobility Vehicle on University Property |
| Proposed: | 10/01/2025 |
| Sponsor: | Division of Administration |
| Proposal: | In recent years, the number of micromobility vehicles on campus, including pedal bicycles, e-bikes and escooters, has grown significantly. For a variety of reasons, micromobility vehicles are prone to accidents. Contributing factors include their small size, lack of safety protection, inherent instability of the scooter rider platform, and driver inexperience. Additionally, accidents involving micromobility vehicles often involve head injury, and wearing safety helmets can reduce the severity of injuries. The State of Maryland does not have a helmet law for riders over 16 years of age. The UMD micromobility workgroup <a href="https://admin.umd.edu/initiatives-and-projects/micromobility-workgroup" target="_blank">https://admin.umd.edu/initiatives-and-projects/micromobility-workgroup</a>, which currently includes representatives of eleven campus departments and key student organizations, has recommended implementation of a university policy requiring the wearing of helmets by all micromobility riders, to improve safety on campus. Accidents over the past year continue to be a concern, and some riders have experienced temporarily loss of consciousness and facial and dental injuries. This fall there appears to be an uptick in the severity of accidents. The university is committed to the safety of every person who travels on our campus and efforts have been put in place in an effort to curb the unsafe behavior that can lead to accidents (including multiple safety-related communications, active enforcement, and lowering of the campus speed limit to 15 m.p.h.). Owners of personal electric scooters and e-bikes are required to register their vehicles, after completion of required safety training. Requesting Senate approval of interim helmet policy VI-31.00(A) <a href="https://policies.umd.edu/generaladministration/university-of-maryland-policy-and-procedures-for-the-wearing-of-helmets-while-riding-amicromobility-vehicle-on-university-property" target="_blank">https://policies.umd.edu/generaladministration/university-of-maryland-policy-and-procedures-for-the-wearing-of-helmets-while-riding-amicromobility-vehicle-on-university-property</a>. |
| Active? | Yes |
| Policy: | https://policies.umd.edu/general-administration/university-of-maryland-policy-and-procedures-for-the-wearing-of-helmets-while-riding-a-micromobility-vehicle-on-university-property |