This post was updated Jan. 27 at 10:04 p.m.
All electric scooters and bikes used on campus or stored in UCLA-owned housing must be certified and registered starting Nov. 20, UCLA administrators announced in a Monday email.
Electric personal mobility devices – which include personal e-scooters, e-bike and e-skateboards – must be UL-certified and registered with UCLA Transportation to promote campus safety, according to the email sent by Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Monroe Gorden and Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus and Community Safety Steve Lurie.
UL-certification is a safety standard that confirms a device’s battery and electrical parts have been tested to prevent mechanical failure, shock and fire, the administrators added in the email.
They also said in the email that registration will make it easier to identify lost or stolen devices and return them to their rightful owners.
“The safety of our community is paramount, and responsible use of electric personal mobility devices is essential to enjoying campus life,” UCLA Housing said in the email. “Knowing the rules and protecting both your property and the well-being of those around you is a responsibility we all share.”
Students can register their devices beginning Jan. 29, according to the email. The administrators added that UCLA Transportation will host a tabling event outside Bruin Plate on Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to share more details about the new registration program and answer questions.
Ryan Chau, a first-year biology and computer science student, said he believes the policy could impact students who buy cheaper scooters, as UL-certification for those devices might not be guaranteed. Chau, who uses an e-scooter everyday, added that he believes some students might see the new policy as an annoyance.
However, he said the change will not be overly inconvenient for him.
“If it’s not as bad as going to the DMV, then I’m okay,” Chau said. “I do hate having to register my vehicle and stuff, but I’m sure it’s not going to be a whole … line that I have to wait hours in.”
