Vehicle Safety and Parking Policy

Traffic safety and parking on the Soka University of America (SUA) campus is managed by the office of the Director of Campus Security. This policy includes eligibility for parking permits and regulations on the safe operation of vehicles. 

SUA prioritizes the safety of the campus community on campus roads, parking lots and walkways. 

All members of the University community as well as visitors to the campus are responsible for observing SUA’s safety and parking regulations. These regulations are applicable to individuals operating motor and electric vehicles as well as E-Bikes and scooters on the SUA campus. 

I. General Information 

Individuals operating vehicles on the SUA campus are required to obey state and local laws, as well as SUA's safety and parking policies. Vehicle owners park on the SUA campus at their own risk. SUA assumes no liability or responsibility for loss, theft, or damage to vehicles operated or parked on campus.  

II. Parking Regulations 

Vehicle Parking 

• Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, unless otherwise reserved. 
• All vehicles must be parked in designated parking spaces and may not cross or park on painted lines or extend past the limits of a parking space. 
• Parking is not allowed in fire lanes, driveways, ramps, landscaped areas, crosswalks or sidewalks. Vehicles may not block fire hydrants, driveways, entrances, ramps, other vehicles, or any accessible route.  
• Vehicles parked in spaces on University Drive must be parked in the direction of the flow of traffic. 
• Parking lots and spaces may not be used for purposes other than vehicle parking, without prior approval from the Director of Campus Security.  
• Parking of disabled vehicles or performing maintenance or repair to vehicles on the SUA campus is prohibited regardless of parking permit status. 
• No vehicle may be abandoned on campus for any reason. Storage of vehicles is prohibited. Owners will be charged for the cost of towing and removal. 
• Parking of motor homes, recreational vehicles, trailers and boats is not allowed. 
• No animal may be left unattended in a parked vehicle. 
• All vehicles parked in SUA parking lots must display a valid SUA parking permit. 
• With the exception of SUA students, faculty and staff holding valid parking permits, no parking is allowed from 10:30pm to 6:30am. 

Parking Permits 

• All students, faculty and staff are required to obtain and display parking permits for vehicles operating and parking on campus. Obtaining a permit requires submission of an application to the office of the Director of Campus Security.  
• Acceptance of a university parking permit is acknowledgment of and agreement that the permit holder will abide by SUA’s Parking Policy. 
• Vehicles must have a valid license plate with current registration linked to a parking permit when parked in SUA parking lots. Permits must be visible hanging from the vehicle’s rear-view mirror. 
• Parking permits are required to be renewed annually. 
• Vehicles without annual parking permits must request a temporary permit at the entry security kiosk. Temporary permits are valid only for the date of issue. 

Disabled Parking 

• Only vehicles displaying an DMV issued disabled placard and a valid SUA parking permit may park in any ADA space on campus. 

Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking 

• Parking in electric vehicle charging spaces is restricted to electric vehicles (EV) or plug in-hybrid vehicles (PHEV), at all times. 
• Vehicles must be actively charging when parked in these spaces. Once charged, owners must move to other parking spaces. 
• Vehicles may park in electric vehicle charging spaces for no longer than four hours a day.  

Loading Zone Parking 

• Loading docks and loading zones may be used only by vehicles actively loading or unloading, at all times. 

III. E-Bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, Bicycles and Skateboards: Riding, Parking, and Storing 

SUA is committed to the safety of pedestrians and users of the rights-of-way on campus. This policy applies to the riding, parking, and storing of e-Bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, regular bicycles & skateboards at SUA. 

E-Bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards operated by SUA students, faculty or staff are allowed to operate on the SUA campus provided they are registered with the office of the Director of Campus Security. 

E-Bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards as well as self-propelled skateboards operated by individuals not enrolled as SUA students or employed as SUA faculty or staff are prohibited on the SUA campus without exception. 

Policy Statement: 
SUA Faculty, staff and students operating e-Bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, skateboards or bicycles on the SUA campus must adhere to these provisions: 

• Obey traffic signs & regulations and operate at a maximum speed of 15mph. 
• Operate (ride) only on paved roadways and parking lots. 
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. 
• Do not ride on any sidewalk, stairway or in interior areas of campus or entrances to campus buildings (e.g.: outside bistro, library, res halls). 
• Do not ride in an unsafe manner, including in tandem with a passenger, acrobatic riding, or in heavy pedestrian environments. 
• Do not ride while wearing headphones or using a mobile device (including talking or texting). 
• Do not park (leave, abandon) or store any e-Bike, e-scooter or e-skateboard inside any University building or facility, office, residential housing dorm, room or hallway. 
• Do not charge any e-Bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard in any University building, office, residential housing dorm including rooms in university housing. 
• Do not charge any e-Bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard in any campus interior electrical outlet. 
• E-Bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards as well as bicycles or skateboards must not be parked, left, or abandoned so as to impede or interfere with access to any building or pedestrian area, interior hallway, sidewalk, crosswalk, driveway, stairs, loading zone or fire hydrant. 

California Vehicle Code (CVC) 407.5(a) defines a motorized scooter as any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, has a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding, and is powered by an electric motor. CVC 21235 mandates that all scooter riders in California: 

• Have a valid driver license 
• Ride on the road and remain off sidewalks 
• May not park scooters on a sidewalk in a position that blocks pedestrian paths 
• Not ride in tandem with any other passengers 

Parking Requirements: 
E-Bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard as well as bicycle operators shall park vehicles upright in available parking spaces or in areas not obstructing sidewalks or building entrances. E-Bikes and e-scooters may also park upright in an available bicycle rack space. Parking these vehicles in other parking locations is prohibited. 

Compliance with Policy: 
Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with relevant University policies.