Category Archives: Behaviour and Responsibilities

Ride Right, Walk Wise, Stay Safe

It’s great to see so many staff and students at UC using a mix of transport options – especially more active choices like walking and cycling.

With this variety though, comes the challenge of keeping our roads safe for everyone. Busy environments can overload road users with information, making it harder to react quickly and increasing the risk of accidents.

The City Council has made positive changes to nearby roads, these include lower speed limits, separated cycle lanes, and additional crossings – but safety still depends on all of us.

🚴‍♂️ Cyclists

  • Always give way at pedestrian crossings. Slow down, stay alert, and be ready to stop – even if you’re in a cycle lane.
  • Use the nearest designated cycle crossing to cross roads safely – there are plenty of these on and around campus to help you get where you’re going.
  • If you’re using a pedestrian crossing, hop off and walk your bike across. If it’s a cycle crossing, shared path, or courtesy crossing, you can ride across – just be mindful of others.

🚶‍♀️Pedestrians

  • Choose the safest option – use a pedestrian crossing whenever you can. If you’re within 20 metres of one, it’s not just a great habit, it’s also the law.
  • If you’re getting off a bus, wait until it drives away before crossing – that way you can clearly see (and be seen by) oncoming traffic.
  • Before stepping out, always make eye contact with drivers and cyclists to ensure they’ve seen you and can stop in time.

🛴 E-scooters

  • You can ride on footpaths or roads – just not in dedicated cycle lanes.
  • On roads, stay near the edge; on footpaths, always give way to pedestrians and other users.
  • Be predictable – ride in a straight line, ring your bell if you’re approaching someone, and keep a respectful distance at all times.

 

Let’s keep UC moving safely. Thanks for being part of a community that looks out for one another!

Health and Safety on campus 

UC is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all students. To make sure you feel safe on campus, here are a few things to remember:  

Look up: 

Whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist or skateboarder, it is important to be aware of what’s happening around you. Look out for others when travelling through campus to make sure you are not putting others at risk. 

No smoking or vaping on campus: 

UC is a smokefree campus, meaning you cannot smoke cigarettes or vape on campus grounds, in or near any UC buildings, or at any of our field stations. By respecting the smokefree policy we can all enjoy a healthier place to study, work, socialise and live. 

Do you know where the Emergency Procedures charts are located near your lecture theatres?  

All departments have an Emergency Procedures flip chart outlining what to do in different types of emergencies. The flip charts are on display throughout the University and can be found in all lecture theatres. A PDF version of each page can be found on the UC website Emergency Procedures page 

Assura: 

We need your help to keep our campus safe. If you see something unsafe or you are injured while on campus, it is super easy to let us know. Assura is our easy-to-use health and safety reporting system. Reporting through Assura increases our awareness of hazards, so we can correct any issues and make UC safer. Health and safety is a shared responsibility, and by working together we can protect our community. Report an incident or hazard here on the UC website Report an Incident page.  

It’s time! Check that you’re emergency ready 

Daylight savings ends in a few weeks, so it’s a good time to check you’re ready in case of an emergency.  

A few quick questions: 

  • Have you saved UC Security’s number in your phone? 

UC Security staff are on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so someone will always be there to help you in case of an emergency at UC. Be prepared by saving UC Security’s number: 0800 823 637. 

  • Are your emergency contact details current? 

It’s easy to update your details through myUC. Take a moment to check the person you’ve listed as your emergency contact is still appropriate, and their details are still correct. While you’re logged in to myUC you can also check your details are up-to-date (especially if you’ve moved recently), in case someone from UC needs to reach out to you. 

  • Do you know about UC’s Help point towers? 

There are 13 help towers (topped by blue lights) located across UC’s Ilam and Dovedale campuses to provide information at any time, and immediate assistance in an emergency. Read more>