§1.04
Operation and Parking of Motor Vehicles and Bicycles

Responsible Manager

Rev. 2/08

  1. General
  2. Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Parking
    1. General
      Table 1.04(B)(1) — Eligibility for an LBNL Parking Permit
      Table 1.04(B)(2) — Ineligibility for an LBNL Parking Permit
    2. Types of Parking Permits and Parking Spaces
    3. Parking Regulations
    4. Modes of Transportation Prohibited at the Laboratory
  3. Emergency Off-Hour Automotive Assistance
    1. Availability
    2. Nonavailability
  4. Commuting Alternatives

A. GENERAL

Berkeley Lab presents many unique challenges for motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. The roadways are narrow, can be crowded and under construction, traverse steep terrain, and intersect in many different ways. It is critically important for all individuals who share the roadways at the Laboratory to exercise caution at all times for their own safety and the safety of others. Bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians must be especially aware of safety considerations and be more vigilant when in close proximity to one another.

All individuals operating motor vehicles or bicycles on Laboratory property must comply with the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and Berkeley Lab traffic and parking regulations. Permission to operate a vehicle or bicycle on Laboratory property is subject to the control of the Laboratory Security Manager and may be revoked at any time. Because of the steep terrain, all skateboards, scooters,electronic personal assisted mobility devices (such as Segways), and in-line skates are prohibited from operating on Laboratory property. Employees may also be subject to discipline up to and including dismissal for traffic and parking violations. In the absence of any special conditions or regulations applicable to traffic or parking, all provisions of the California Vehicle Code relating to traffic or parking apply. The maximum speed limit on all Laboratory property is 25 miles per hour (for all but emergency vehicles), or slower as conditions require.

B. MOTOR VEHICLE AND BICYCLE PARKING

1. General

Limited on-site vehicle parking is provided for certain employees and visitors. For a list of eligible and ineligible persons, see RPM Table 1.04(B)(1) (Eligible for Parking Permit) and Table 1.04 (B)(2) (Ineligible for Parking Permit). The Badge Office issues valid Laboratory parking permits. Some parking spaces are open to unreserved parking, while others are reserved. Maps indicating parking areas are available at the entry gates, or the Badge Office. Only one parking permit is issued to an eligible person who requests a parking permit. Exceptions are made for motorcycle, motor scooter, and bicycle permits, which may be issued in addition to an automobile permit.

PARKING PERMIT VIOLATIONS

  1. Use of Laboratory parking permit by a person other than the one to whom it was originally issued is prohibited.
  2. The sale, transfer, alteration, or loan of Laboratory parking permits is prohibited.
  3. All vehicles parked on Laboratory property must display a valid (hanging) Laboratory parking permit suspended from the rearview mirror.
  4. Orange Circle spaces are for the use of Laboratory Directors, and other personnel designated by the Laboratory Directorate. Orange Circle parking spaces are reserved on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis, and parking in Orange Circle spaces is prohibited.
  5. Spaces designated as Blue Triangle are reserved for Senior Staff and Senior Scientists between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (At times and days other than those specified, Blue Triangle parking spaces and lots revert to General Parking spaces and lots.)
  6. Parking spaces for persons with a disability are reserved (for those persons) at all times.
  7. Parking in spaces designated for government vehicles is prohibited.
  8. Parking of cars for a period of more than three days is prohibited without first receiving a Prolonged Parking Pass signed by the Site Access Manager.
  9. Parking outside of marked parking spaces or designated parking strips along roadways is prohibited. Parking restrictions must be observed in posted areas.
  10. Parking in a manner that encroaches on or blocks an adjacent parking space or traffic way is prohibited, except in specific stack-parking areas. (All stack parking guidelines must be followed.)
  11. Parking in a way as to project a vehicle over a parking lane or end line is prohibited.
  12. Backing into parking spaces is prohibited in all areas so posted.
  13. Parking of vehicles in spaces designated for motorcycle parking is prohibited.

 

Table 1.04 (B)(1)
Eligibility for an LBNL Parking Permit

EMPLOYEES

Career

Individuals who have an appointment established at a fixed percentage of time at fifty percent or more of full time for an indefinite period.

Visiting Faculty

University or college faculty members who have dual employment between a university or college and the Laboratory, and are approved by the cognizant Division Director.

Term Appointments

Scientific and nonscientific individuals who are employed to work on a specific project of clearly limited duration of six months or more.

Rehired Retirees

Employees, including retirees under special UC/state provisions and those rehired from layoff status, who were formerly eligible for parking.

Participating Retirees

Specific class of employees rehired from layoff status, who were formerly eligible for parking.

Limited Appointment

Individuals employed to work for less than 1,000 hours in a twelve-month period.

Graduate Students

Registered graduate students who are affiliated with the Laboratory as student employees. Parking upgrades can be granted by the Site Access Manager for graduate students who commute from campuses outside the Bay Area.

Student Assistants

Registered college or university students whose affiliation with the Laboratory is as a student employee. Parking upgrades can be granted by the Site Access Manager for students who commute from campuses outside of the Bay Area.

Disabled

Disabled persons working at the Laboratory (including non-employees engaged in on-site services)

NONEMPLOYEES

Participating Guests

Professionals

Professionals and their associates engaged in Laboratory-approved research, including (1) individuals using the Laboratory using the Laboratory National User Facilities, (2) personnel currently employed at other University of California facilities, and (3) other professionals when the Laboratory and the participant have mutual interests and the individuals have adequate training and experience to meet high professional standards in their fields. NSF, DOE participants in NSF, DOE, or similarly sponsored programs in which the Laboratory is participating (e.g., faculty on programs of Associated Western Universities or postdoctoral fellows).

Contract Employees

Employees of companies that have a formal contractual agreement with the Laboratory.

Consultants

Recognized experts in a specific field of scientific, engineering, technical, or administrative interest who primarily furnish advice or express views or opinions about problems or questions presented by the Laboratory.

DOE Employees
(Berkeley Site Office)

Employees of the Department of Energy’s Berkeley Site Office.

Students not on Laboratory payroll

Students who are comparable to graduate student research assistants but who are not on Laboratory payroll, including those participating in NSF, DOE, or similarly sponsored programs in which the Laboratory is participating.

Casual Visitors

Individuals visiting the Laboratory for a week or less who are not engaged in Laboratory research or use Laboratory facilities.

Vendors (Service Contractors)

Employees of service contractors (i.e., food services, computer services)

 

Table 1.04(B)(2)
Ineligibility for an LBNL Parking Permit

NONEMPLOYEES

Participating Guests

Agency (Temp) Personnel

Employees of a temporary-help agency; contract labor employees.

Nonparticipating Guests

Contract Employees

Employees of contactors, unless the employee’s vehicles are necessary to the job.

Subcontractor Employees

Employees of subcontactors, unless the employee’s vehicles are necessary to the job and can be parked inside the agreed-upon contractors' “laydown” area. Special permit must be issued by the Site Access Manager.

 

The Site Access Manager may make exceptions to the parking policy. For extenuating circumstances that require an exception to the policy, requests should be made directly to the Site Access Manager.

2. Types of Parking Permits and Parking Spaces

Authorized Laboratory permits hang on the vehicle's rearview mirror. (Decal-type permits are used for motorcycles, scooters, motorbikes, mopeds, and bicycles.) In addition, the Badge Office issues temporary hanging-type parking permits for all participating guests and other noncareer eligible employees.

  1. Orange Circle: Allows parking in Orange Circle permit parking spaces, Blue Triangle parking spaces, or any General parking spaces. Eligible Orange Circle permit holders are determined by the Laboratory Deputy Director for Operations.

  2. Blue Triangle (Permanent): Issued to Career and UC Faculty Employees. Allows parking in Blue Triangle parking spaces or unreserved General parking spaces. Determination for Blue Triangle Permanent parking is based on a yearly set salary minimum.

  3. Blue Triangle (Temporary):  Issued to noncareer Laboratory and certain UC Faculty personnel. Allows parking in Blue Triangle spaces or unreserved General parking spaces. Determination for Blue Triangle Temporary parking is based on job classification.

  4. General (Permanent & Temporary):  Allows parking in all designated parking spaces not otherwise restricted or marked.

  5. Off-Hours (After-Hours):  For employees who do not have regular parking. Allows parking only during off-hours between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday – Friday, and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.

  6. Medical Parking (Blue Triangle or Reserve status): When requested by the Laboratory, Medical Department Medical Parking is issued for 30 days to someone who has a medical situation or is recovering from a medical injury and, due to restricted general mobility, needs to park close to his/her office or place of work.

  7. Vendor Parking: (Blue Triangle status): Issued to vendor companies who service the Laboratory on a regular basis.

  8. Disabled Person Permit:  Allows parking for disabled persons through a special permit that is issued in addition to a regular Laboratory Parking permit.

  9. Visitor Permit: Paper permit issued at Laboratory entry points or by Site Access for parking spaces that are reserved for visitors only and are not for use by regular or temporary employees.

  10. Official Vehicle:  An official vehicle permit is designated by license plate (United States Government or State of California) or by a special placard issued by the Laboratory Motor Pool only, to identify vehicles leased or rented for official business. For the complete policy statement on the use of official vehicles, see RPM §1.05 (Use of Official Vehicles).

  11. Stack Parking:  Because Laboratory policy encourages the use of stack parking for commuter vehicles, stack-parking areas have been established. Movement of a vehicle in stack parking may be necessary to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. Employees are encouraged to use stack parking. If they do not observe the following regulations, they may be subject to the penalty provisions of Paragraph (B)(3), below:

3.  Parking Regulations

  1. Forgotten Permit. Persons who forget their hanging permit may request a temporary one-day parking permit at the entry gate, the issuance of a temporary parking permit will be reported to Site Access. Abuses of the temporary permit provisions are subject to the penalties noted in Paragraph (C), below.

  2. Replacement of Lost or Stolen Parking Permits. To replace a lost or stolen parking permit contact the Badge Office.

  3. Penalties for Abuse of Parking Privileges.  To ensure that the parking policy is enforced equitably throughout Berkeley Lab on-site parking areas, the Laboratory has instituted a point system for parking violations by which various parking offenses are assigned penalty points within a period of time, and after six points are accumulated within a six-month period parking privileges are suspended. If a continual pattern of abuse is detected, further disciplinary action may be taken (see Parking Enforcement System)

  4. Return of Parking Permit on Termination of Employment.  Parking permits are the Property of the Laboratory and must be returned to the employee’s Division Office, or the Badge Office no later than the last day of employment. If the Permit Holder leaves after hours parking permits can also be turned in to the security officer at the entry gates.

4. Modes of Transportation Prohibited at the Laboratory

The following modes of transportation are prohibited at the Laboratory:

  1. In-line skates (Rollerblades)
  2. Roller skates
  3. Segways (two-wheel motorized vehicles)
  4. Skateboards
  5. All other modes of transportation motorized, or non-motorized that may be considered unsafe by the Laboratory Directorate

C.  EMERGENCY OFF-HOUR AUTOMOTIVE ASSISTANCE

1. Availability

Emergency off-hour (night and weekend) automotive assistance for employees who encounter difficulties with their personal automobiles may be obtained by contacting the Maintenance and Operations Group between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as well as weekends and Laboratory holidays. The Laboratory will provide (a) a battery charge to start an employee’s car or (b) one gallon of fuel (unleaded gasoline or diesel fuel for $2.00). If an employee’s car cannot be started with Laboratory assistance and commercial service is not available, the responding Laboratory person is authorized to take the stranded employee to the nearest public transportation.

2. Nonavailability

 During normal business hours (7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) employees are expected to use their choice of commercial emergency service available in the area. Laboratory facilities, supplies, or equipment may not be used for their repair or maintenance of the employee vehicles.

D. COMMUTING ALTERNATIVES

Because of the limited parking available on site, employees are encouraged to use public and other transportation options whenever available. Options are described on the Site Access Web Site or call the Site Access Office at x4551 for more information.

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