Section III: Definitions

The words and phrases defined in this section have the meaning indicated when used in these Parking and Traffic Regulations unless the context clearly requires another meaning:

  1. At All Times: Parking spaces that are restricted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  2. Bicycle: Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, and is supported by either 2 or 3 tandem wheels, one of which is 14 inches or more in diameter. This definition also includes all vehicles defined as a bicycle under state law. Electric bicycle/motor-assisted bicycle means a bicycle that:
    1. is designed to be propelled by an electric motor and must have the option of the application of human power;
    2. cannot attain a speed of more than 20 miles per hour without the application of human power; and
    3. does not exceed a weight of 100 pounds.
  3. Bollard: A sturdy, short vertical post used to control traffic access. The bollard is either fixed or retractable. Retractable bollards are equipped with lights that flash red and they emit a high-pitched alert for pedestrians and vehicles altering them to bollard activity.
  4. Booting: To immobilize a vehicle through the use of a device that is designed to be attached to the tire/wheel and renders the vehicle inoperable
  5. Campus: All property that is owned or leased in whole or in part by The University of Texas at Austin; is subject to the general oversight of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System; and is located within Austin, Travis County, Texas, whether or not within the confines of the traffic control stations excepting and excluding:
    1. Property leased to another, not located within one of the areas referred to in this regulation.
    2. Property held for use as an official residence for administrative officers of The University of Texas at Austin.
  6. Cart: A wheeled vehicle that typically has a maximum speed of 25mph or less. It includes but is not limited to all: golf carts, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), off road utility vehicles (UTV’s), low speed vehicles (LSV’s), neighborhood electric vehicles (NEV’s), etc. Here on campus the list includes vehicles produced by: Kawasaki, Club Car, EZ-Go, Cushman, Taylor Dunn, John Deere, Columbia, Polaris, GEM, Kubota, Tiger, Gravely, Yamaha, Pug, Jacobson, Vantage, Toro, Steiner, and others. For the purpose of these regulations, references to vehicles includes carts.
  7. Controlled Access Zone: An area that has specific requirements for access and is controlled through permits, signage, or access credentials.
  8. The Department: The department of Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) of The University of Texas at Austin.
  9. The Director: The director or their designee of the department of Parking and Transportation Services for The University of Texas at Austin.
  10. Electronic Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMD): Electronically propelled two-wheeled devices designed to transport one person, such as Segways.
  11. Emergency Vehicles: Police, ambulance, fire truck, and University vehicles that might typically respond to an emergency such as EHS, FPS, and UEM.
  12. Inhabitation: To live or reside in a vehicle.
  13. Intercom: A two-way communication device using a microphone and speaker, which may or may not be equipped with cameras. Generally located at areas where parking gates or bollards are installed. Intercoms are answered 24/7.
  14. Loading Dock: A signed area or dock reserved for loading/unloading of commercial or approved vehicles at all times. These areas serve as the primary service entrance of a building (see Section VIII: Parking Permits for restrictions).
  15. Loading Zone (LZ): A signed area, drive, or zone reserved for loading/unloading at all times (see Section VII: Parking Regulations for restrictions).
  16. Motor Vehicle: Any vehicle that is self-propelled and in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, except devices moved only by human power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks.
  17. Motorcycle/Moped/Motor Scooters: A self-propelled device with at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation; a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions; a gas or electric motor; and a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating the device.
  18. Noncompliant Parking Space: A spaces that does not meet Federal and/or State ADA requirements to be labeled as ADA compliant. At the discretion of the University some noncompliant spaces may be designated as Special Accommodation spaces.
  19. Official Visitor: An individual who is not normally eligible for an annual university parking permit and who comes to the main campus to conduct important business, to render an important service to the university, or is sponsored by an university entity.
  20. Park: A vehicle stopped in a surface lot, parking garage, or on the street, attended or unattended by any person authorized to move it or capable of moving it immediately upon the direction of a law or traffic enforcement officer.
  21. Parking Area: Any area on the university campus that has been designated and marked for parking, whether on streets, lots, or garages.
  22. Parking Gate: A barrier that impedes access to a lot or parking garage. It is usually activated for entry and exit via a PTS issued credential.
  23. Parking Offices: PTS departmental offices located in the Trinity Garage (1815 Trinity St.) or the parking garage offices located in each garage.
  24. Pedestrian Priority Area: A geographical area where pedestrian traffic is of most importance and takes precedence over all other transportation modes except during emergencies.
  25. Permit: A physical parking permit (decal, parking tag, temporary hangtag, and/or dashboard placard) as well as an electronic (or "virtual") permit used in the license plate recognition system. 
  26. Roller-Skates (inline and others): Any shoe which has wheels attached to it by any means whatsoever and which is intended to be propelled by pushing, pulling, or by the forces of gravity and to which there is not affixed any mechanism for steering.
  27. Scooter: Every non-motorized or motorized device consisting of two or more wheels affixed to a platform or footboard upon which a rider stands and which has a handle or other mechanism for holding or guiding the device. It does not include mopeds, whether operated with or without motor power (see Motorcycle/Moped/Motor Scooters).
  28. Skateboard: Motorized and non-motorized device consisting of two or more wheels affixed to a platform or footboard upon which a rider stands and which does not have steering capability similar to that of a bicycle or brakes which operate on or upon the wheels of the skateboard. It also includes every device generally recognized as a skateboard.
  29. Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer (SVP/CFO): The senior leadership individual who oversees Parking and Transportation.
  30. Service Drives: These spaces are for use by any official university vehicle driver, approved vendor, service provider, or contractor with the appropriate permit. The purpose of these spaces is to provide parking adjacent to facilities for functions associated with normal daily operations.
  31. Sidewalk/Walkway: A sidewalk is that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
  32. Special Accommodation Parking Spaces: Noncompliant spaces that are available only for those with ADA credentials when a noncompliant space will meet their parking needs. Special Accommodation parking spaces are reserved for “D+” permits plus a valid ADA credential between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Monday-Friday. At all other times, the spaces are reserved for anyone displaying a valid ADA credential. These spaces may require the payment of fee during special events.
  33. University Vehicle: A university or UT System vehicle which is either marked by a University of Texas seal, numbered by the university, or as designated by the director.
  34. Tow: Vehicle impound, to include vehicle relocation or hauling to storage.
  35. Vehicles: All mobile machines, either motorized or non-motorized, that typically transport people or cargo. Examples include, but are not limited to, wagons, bicycles, and motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, carts, trucks, and buses).
  36. Visitor: Any individual other than a student, faculty, and/or staff member of The University of Texas at Austin.