October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and to mark the occasion, Parking and Transportation Services hosted four outreach events and launched a communications campaign to promote pedestrian safety on campus — particularly for bicycle and scooter users. The department dubbed the month Biketober & Scootober to drive (or pedal) the message home.
Pledge Wall: “I Pledge to Ride Smart”
The first event took place at Cougar Woods Dining Commons, where students were invited to write and post safety pledges on a posterboard that read: “I Pledge to Ride Smart.” Participants completed the sentence: “I pledge to ride smart…”
“We had bike and scooter riders — and even pedestrians— who pledged their commitment to safety,” said Gazelle Galvan, Parking and Transportation Services Program Coordinator. “They shared why being safe matters to them and to those around them.”
Some of the pledges included:
- I pledge to ride smart because I want to respect others.
- I pledge to ride smart to be safe and keep everyone safe.
- I pledge to ride smart because I wouldn’t want to be hit by someone on a bicycle or scooter.
Freshman Lanai Grant, an exercise science major, was among the 25 students who participated. She pledged to maintain a safe speed around others and appreciated the department’s signage— especially one that read “Don’t be a zoom goblin.” Grant said the sign made her laugh but acknowledged seeing scooters zoom past pedestrians.
She also learned something new: the importance of registering her scooter.
“I didn’t know we had to register our scooters until now,” Grant said. “I’m definitely going to do that.”
Trick or Transit: Safety Meets Treats
The second event, Trick or Transit, was held at Butler Plaza. Students stopped by with their bikes and scooters to trick-or-treat for candy and safety essentials like mini kits, headlights, and tire levers.
Parking and Transportation colleagues emphasized the importance of registering bikes and scooters. During the two-hour event, staff spoke with approximately 100 students.
“We want to push registration because if your bike or scooter is lost or stolen, having it registered allows us to work with UHPD to help recover it,” said Galvan.
Freshman Rihanna Taylor, a biochemistry major, had already registered her bike — and it paid off. One morning, the biochemistry major woke up to find her bike missing. Luckily, since it was registered, after it was found, it had been turned into the University of Houston Police Department after being found
Taylor also appreciated the free safety gear.
“It helps a lot because some of that stuff is expensive,” she said. “As a college student on a budget, having these resources available just for registering your bike is really cool.”
Housing Resource Fair & Final Ride
The third event took place at the Housing Resource Fair, where the department connected with 75 students to share safety tips and registration information.
The final event of the month, Costume Ride or Roll, invites students to dress up for Halloween and join Parking & Transportation for a festive ride around campus on bike or scooter.
To learn more about Parking & Transportation’s efforts, visit their website and follow them on Instagram.
