Bike Licensing

There are five good reasons to license your bike:

1. It's the law. All bikes operated on the UC Santa Cruz campus and in the city of Santa Cruz must be registered with a current California bicycle license. Unlicensed bikes on campus are subject to citation.

2. It helps prevent theft, and aids in recovering stolen bikes. Send a warning to would–be thieves: This bike is registered with law enforcement agencies. Licensing enters your bike into a statewide system of identification, recovery and notification – and also significantly encreases the likelihood of your stolen bike being found and returned.

3. It's free. TAPS offers free bike licenses and bike license renewals to campus affiliates (students, staff, and faculty) with a valid UCSC ID card. Bike licenses and renewals are valid statewide for up to three years. OPERS does bike licensing for TAPS – see UCSC Recreation Dept. and OPERS Bike Maintenance Clinic information below formore information.

4. It's easy. Bring your bicycle and get it licensed at:

• UCSC Recreation Department (831/459-2806), upstairs at the East Field House, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  
  
• OPERS Bike Maintenance Clinic (831/459-2806), East Field House Porch,
  2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays during academic quarters.
  
  
• The City of Santa Cruz Finance Department (831/420-5050), 809 Center St., Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cost: $3

5. And in the worst case...bike licenses provide a means of identifying accident victims. Please note: To obtain information about a bicycle that was previously licensed at UCSC contact the Campus Police at 831/459-2231.

What to do if your bike has been stolen.