Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved By:
(Students, employees, contractors, consultants, vendors, and guests)	July 2024	October 2024	John Nicklow

Policy Purpose

The policy outlines the Florida Institute of Technology (hereafter “University”) expectations of all community members and guests when operating a motorized micromobility transportation device (hereafter “MMTD”) on University property.

Policy Scope

This policy addresses the use of non-licensed MMTDs as herein defined on campus (licensed vehicle regulations are provided through the Parking and Traffic Regulations). It applies to all members of the University community, including but not limited to administrators, staff, faculty, students, contractors, vendors, guests, and visitors.

Policy Statement

To promote safety at the Florida Institute of Technology, the University reserves the right to regulate the use of MMTDs on University property. Regulations apply to the presence and operation of such MMTDs on University property in accordance with this policy where they must be stored and operated safely and courteously to minimize injury to persons or damage to university property. Exceptions to this policy are provided for an assistance device utilized by an individual with a disability and any utility equipment used by authorized University employees or approved vendors. Where state and local property intersects University property, those are applicable. However, improper operation in violation of law may also be addressed under other University policies (e.g., the Student Code of Conduct).

Policy Owner

Student Affairs and Department of Security

Definitions

Contractor

Third-party individual or company hired by the university to perform specific tasks or provide services within the university’s facilities or grounds.

Employees

Any individual employed by the University including administrators, faculty, and staff.

Guests/Visitors

any person who is present on University property, visiting for any period of time, and does not have a contractual agreement with the university.

Incident

Refers to any act, event, or occurrence.

Motorized Micromobility Transportation Device (MMTD)

A motorized (e.g., electric) wheeled transportation device that can be operated with or without direct human propulsion efforts including but not limited to bicycles, scooters, skateboards, Segways, etc. MMTDs do not include licensed motor vehicles (addressed under the Parking and Traffic Regulations) nor do they include self-balancing electric wheeled boards which are prohibited on University property. Exceptions to this definition include any assistance device utilized by an individual with a disability and any utility equipment used by authorized University employees or approved vendors.

NRTLs

OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) (http://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program/current-list-of-nrtls) identifies whether a scope of test standards indicated for a given product have been conducted and that authorized labs are permitted to apply their registered certification mark to the product. The lab’s mark signifies that the NRTL has tested and certified the product, and that the product complies with the requirements of one or more appropriate product safety test standards.

Right of Way

The right of a person (who may be on foot) to keep traveling lawfully and without interruption, in reference to another approaching from a different direction into the person’s path or when proceeding in the same direction when a person is impeded or threatened with contact due to the action of another to merge or otherwise impact a person.

Self-balancing electric wheeled board

Asingle-person electric vehicle compromising a one or two-wheeled platform on which the rider stands. These devices use a self-balancing gyroscopic system for steering or changing direction depending on which way the rider leans.

Student

Any individual admitted, enrolled, or registered for study at Florida Tech. Participants in resident non-student, camp, high school bridge/ extension/partner/dual-enrollment, and continuing education programs operating on University property under a contractual relationship with University are also included in this definition.

University

The Florida Institute of Technology or Florida Tech.

Vendor

An individual or business entity that provides goods or services to the university or its community members.

Regulations

General

When possessing or operating a MMTD on University property, you must obey the following procedures:

• All MMTDs must be registered with the Department of Security prior to use on campus.
• MMTDs must have been certified as having passed appropriate safety testing by an NRTL-approved lab to receive a registration decal denoting that they are permitted in University facilities in accordance with the regulations herein regarding the possession and operation of such registered MMTDs.
• MMTDs that are not approved through an NRTL-certified lab will NOT receive a registration decal and may not be present on University Property.
• Operators must ride in the direction/flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• Operators must dismount their MMTDs in heavily congested pedestrian areas, crosswalks, and high-traffic areas.
• Operators must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians; and slowdown and/or dismount as necessary to avoid startling or injuring others. Operating an MMTD in a manner that does not allow the operator to identify and avoid pedestrians or impedes the ability of pedestrians to identify and avoid contact is prohibited (e.g., riding near a corner of the building at such speed that a pedestrian stepping around the corner is startled or impacted).
• Operators should use a white front light and a red rear reflector at night and when heavy rain/weather prohibits good visibility.
• MMTD operators shall not wear headsets, headphones, or other listening devices other than a hearing aid. The ability to hear all environmental cues is essential in operating MMTDs.
• The use of handheld devices such as cellular phones is prohibited while operating an MMTD.
• Racing, stunting, trick riding, or towing (allowing another person to be pulled along [e.g., via another MMTD or standard roller/inline skates, skateboards, bicycles, etc.]) are prohibited.
• Operators are prohibited from operating MMTDs inside any University buildings (including any residential facility).

Charging

NRTL-certified MMTDs may only be charged in a student’s residence, an employee’s office, or an appropriate outdoor outlet (note when outlets are needed for university business, MMTDs will be unplugged to meet such needs). Owners/operators are not to overload electrical circuits and are expected to plug directly into a socket. Power strips or extension cords may not be used to charge MMTDs.

Manufacturer requirements must be adhered to when charging an MMTD. Additionally, batteries may only be charged in a flat, dry area away from direct sunlight, liquids, and combustibles, and in an area not to cause a tripping hazard. When charging or storing batteries, keep them away from combustibles or anything that could catch fire. Owner/operators are required to monitor their device’s charging and ensure that it is unplugged once fully charged.

Parking and Storage

Outside of Facilities

University-registered MMTDs are prohibited from being parked in/on sidewalks, parking spaces, pathways, ramps, stairs, or anywhere that could obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic or access for those with a disability. Devices may not block entries to buildings or walkways or impede emergency access to or from a building or area (pull stations, stair railings, building columns, light poles, benches, trashcans).

Inside of Facilities

University-registered MMTDs may be in the possession of the operator in a University facility as they walk-through the building, but they may only be present in a space assigned to an individual (e.g., an office or a residential living unit). Such MMTDs may not be present in classrooms, labs, lounges, or unaccompanied in any hallway due to fire egress regulations, trip and fall hazards, etc.

Responsibilities

Operators of MMTDs assume all risks associated with their use (including injury to self or others, any damage done by MMTDs to facilities, electrical systems, or other property of the University or others).

The owner of the MMTD is responsible for the care and protection of the device, and the University shall not be liable for any loss, including damage or theft.

The University is not liable for injuries or damages that occur as a result of using, owning, operating, or charging an MMTD on University property, and it is recommended that owners and operators have sufficient injury and personal liability insurance in the event of an incident.

In furtherance of the above expectations, an owner/operator must sign a waiver provided by the University to be able to obtain/maintain registration.

While Department of Security personnel will seek to assist a student in identifying whether the manufacturer has obtained and applied a proper sticker documenting NRTL approval, the owner must provide evidence of this if it is not readily evident on the device. Such efforts may include obtaining specific model owner’s manuals attesting to this certification or finding this information on the manufacturer’s website for Security personnel to evaluate.

Enforcement

Operators not following the policy outlined herein are subject to citations, fines, or trespass warnings issued through/by Campus Security personnel (as well as engaging law enforcement to effect removal from property as determined appropriate). 

In the case of egregious violations, repetitive non-compliance, or behavior that could amount to other violations of university policies/procedures, an incident report will be sent to the appropriate department (Human Resources for employees or the Office of Student Conduct for students) for evaluation as to whether additional accountability and sanctions (from warning through separation from the University as appropriate) should be considered by/addressed under the appropriate resolution process.

A guest who refuses to cooperate or comply with University personnel acting in the proper execution of their role (e.g., security personnel, residential staff, dean of students, etc.) in enforcing University policies may be instructed to leave our campus or provided a formal trespass warning or be removed by law enforcement via security personnel as deemed appropriate.