Parking and Traffic Rules

Visitor Parking Policy

All visitors to the Tupper Campus – whether during business hours or as overnight guests - should park in Lot C unless provided specific instructions by the office or division hosting them. Directions to Lot C can be obtained via the Entry Control Station (ECS). Visitors are subject to all campus parking and traffic regulations while on campus.

If an office wishes to request parking permits for visitors to park in an area other than Lot C, they should contact the Department of Public Safety at dps@bryant.edu or by phone at 401-232-6112 to make specific arrangements.

Admissions Visitors

Visitors to the Admission Office should stop at the Entry Control Station (ECS) for directions to the designated visitor spaces in Lot C. These spaces are managed by the Admission Office and are reserved for Admissions-related visitors 24/7. Faculty, staff, and students are not permitted to park in these spaces at any time and may be subject to ticketing and/or towing. Availability of these spaces may be adjusted during major campus events.

Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center (BELC) Visitors

Visitors to the BELC are permitted to park in the first row of the surface lot. These spots are reserved specifically for visitors seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. These spots are not to be utilized by staff, faculty, or students and vehicles found in these spaces may be subject to ticketing and/or towing. 

Bryant Leadership Council (BLC) Parking

Bryant Leadership Council Parking is a privilege available to faculty, staff, and guests of the campus at the discretion of the Division of University Advancement. BLC Parking is available in Lot A, Lot G, Lot Q, and the BELC garage and surface lot. BLC members must have a valid BLC permit issued by the Division of University Advancement, which must be displayed when parking in these areas. A BLC permit must be accompanied by a valid Bryant University parking decal. The BLC permit is not transferable from one person to another.

BLC Parking is for the exclusive use of BLC members Monday – Friday between the hours of 6am – 6pm. Parking is subject to availability and is not guaranteed; if BLC spaces are not available, members must use general parking spaces. The use of other reserved spaces, handicapped parking, or fire lanes in lieu of BLC parking is strictly prohibited.

Contractor Parking

Contractors performing work in the Unistructure may park their vehicles in Lot L, located at the intersection of John Mowry Rd and the Lower Maintenance Roadway. Contractors performing work in other portions of campus will be provided with parking near their worksite as determined by Facilities Management and the Department of Public Safety. 

Disability Parking

Handicapped parking spaces are readily available throughout the Bryant University campus. DPS will make reasonable accommodations to aid any persons requiring special assistance and can be contacted at 401-232-6001.

All vehicles parking in handicapped parking spaces must display a valid handicapped permit issued by the vehicle’s state of registration. Failure to display an appropriate permit may result in ticketing and/or towing.

Faculty and staff requiring special accommodation due to a temporary condition should contact the Office of Human Resources. Students requiring temporary accommodation should contact the Office of Accessibility Services. 

Faculty/Staff Parking

On the Tupper Campus, Lot E is reserved exclusively for faculty and staff parking 24/7 and may not be utilized by students.

Additionally, Lot E hosts reserved parking for campus visitors along the perimeter. Visitor parking spaces in this area display signage indicating either “Reserved” or “Open.”

• “Reserved” indicates the space has been specifically held for an expected guest or scheduled campus visit.
• “Open” indicates the space is not assigned to a particular visitor and may be utilized by a faculty or staff person. “Open” does not permit parking by students. Unauthorized vehicles parked in “Open” spaces may be subject to ticketing and/or towing.

On the BELC Campus, the first floor of the Parking Garage and the back rows of the surface lot are reserved exclusively for employee use.

First Year Resident Parking/Special Permits

First-year resident students are not permitted to bring vehicles to Bryant University’s campus. However, the University recognizes that some students may have a compelling need for a vehicle and may experience undue hardship as a result of this prohibition. In such cases, students may petition the Department of Public Safety for an exemption by submitting the First-Year Resident Student Parking Waiver Petition Form along with all required supporting documentation, as outlined on the form.

Petitions and supporting materials must be submitted electronically to DPS at dps@bryant.edu. Submitting a petition does not guarantee approval and should not be interpreted as a commitment by DPS to grant a waiver. Students under consideration for an exemption must not bring a vehicle to campus until a Special Permit has been formally approved. Please allow up to two (2) weeks for processing.

Approved permits may be picked up at the Department of Public Safety between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are valid for the current academic year only. Special Permits are subject to the standard permit fee unless an exception is granted by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Students granted a Special Permit are authorized to park in the following locations:

• September 1 – November 30: BELC Garage, 2^nd Floor or higher
• December 1 – May 30: Tupper Campus, Lot C and D

Reserved Parking

Reserved parking spaces are available throughout campus for Residence Life staff, Heath Services staff, Counseling staff, Facilities vehicles, and Department of Public Safety vehicles. Parking in these spaces by members of the community not affiliated with these offices is strictly prohibited and subject to ticketing and/or towing.

Liability and Assumption of Risk

While Bryant University is a safe campus and DPS personnel regularly patrol parking areas and roadways, parking and driving on University property is at the owner’s risk. The University cannot guarantee absolute security and is not responsible for personal injury or for the loss of, or damage to, vehicles or their contents resulting from theft, vandalism, weather, fallen branches, collisions, construction activity, or any other circumstance. 

Mass Transit Vehicles

Rented, chartered, or personally owned buses, vans, limousines or other mass transit vehicles must have prior approval from the Department of Public Safety prior to entering campus. To obtain approval, email the Department of Public Safety at dps@bryant.edu and include the date of arrival, time of arrival, vehicle type, and affiliated event and passenger details. Requests must be received at least 5 business days prior to the date of the event. Failure to obtain appropriate approval may result in the vehicle being delayed, redirected, or denied access to campus property.

Upon arrival, drivers must follow all directions from DPS personnel regarding approved drop-off, pick-up, and staging locations. Mass-transit vehicles are not permitted to idle near residence halls or to block roadways, fire lanes, or parking areas.

When returning to campus, all parties must present valid Bryant identification or have an appropriate guest pass. 

Motorcycles, Mopeds, and Motorized Personal Vehicles

Motorcycles, mopeds, and motor scooters must be registered with Department of Public Safety and display a valid parking permit. These vehicles may park in regular parking spaces. Parking on sidewalks, walkways, grass, or other areas not designated for parking is prohibited.

Hoverboards, electric scooters, electric skateboards, pedal-assisted e-bikes (Class I & II), and other lithium battery powered devices are prohibited from campus due to fire safety hazard. Indoor storage or charging of these devices is strictly prohibited. Devices may be confiscated or removed if found on University property.

Dirt bikes, Class III e-bikes (throttle), ATVs, UTVs, golf carts, low-speed vehicles (LSVs), and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) are strictly prohibited, outside of those owned and operated by the University for official purposes. Unauthorized vehicles of these types may be denied entry or removed from campus. 

Entry Control Station

The Entry Control Station at the entrance to the Tupper Campus is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by the Department of Public Safety. DPS staff reserve the right to deny entry to any person or vehicle at their discretion.

Outside of normal operating hours for campus buildings and offices, all vehicles must stop at the Entry Control Station. Occupants must present a valid University ID or an approved guest pass to gain entry. Failure to do so may result in a fine or student conduct violation, or – in the case of non-affiliated parties – denial of access to campus. 

Parking Enforcement

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is solely responsible for the development, implementation, and enforcement of parking and traffic regulations on Bryant University property. Parking and traffic regulations remain in effect at all times, regardless of whether the academic semester is in session.

In the absence of voluntary compliance, DPS officers are authorized to issue citations and initiate towing. For more serious or repeated violations, DPS administration may suspend or revoke campus parking or driving privileges.

DPS personnel are not required to issue a warning prior to taking enforcement action, nor are they obligated to provide notice afterward beyond the standard citation.

DPS may temporarily alter, adjust, suspend, or modify any parking or traffic regulation contained in this document at its discretion without prior community notification. The community will be notified in advance of any permanent changes to parking or traffic regulations.

Monetary fines and fees associated with enforcement actions—including citations, towing, and storage fees—are the responsibility of the registered owner or operator of the vehicle. Multiple violations may be assessed on a single citation at the discretion of the citing officer, depending on the circumstances (e.g., “Fire Lane” and “Failure to Register”).

Parking violations assessed by DPS include, but are not limited to:

The removal, relocation, or tampering with any sign, barricade, traffic cone, caution tape, or other device used to restrict or reserve a parking space or area will be reported as a student conduct violation, in addition to any citation issued by DPS personnel.

Appeals

Appeals of parking enforcement actions are adjudicated monthly by DPS administration. Appeals must be filed within five (5) calendar days of the date of issuance. The decision of DPS administration is final.

Parking citations may only be appealed on specific grounds. Acceptable grounds for appeal include:

• Incorrect information on the citation (e.g., wrong license plate, date, time, or   
  location)
• Medical or safety emergencies, supported by documentation
• Official University business with prior approval from the appropriate department
• Obstructed or unclear signage or markings that prevented a reasonable person from determining the restriction
• Vehicle breakdowns that prevented proper parking, supported by documentation
• Other exigent circumstances at the discretion of DPS administration

Weather-related appeals may be considered only when severe conditions or emergency weather operations directly prevent access to designated parking areas or significantly obscure signage or markings.

The following are not valid grounds for appeal: lack of knowledge of regulations, disagreement with the rules, time constraints, routine weather conditions (including rain, cold temperatures, and typical snow accumulation), short-term parking, or other personal circumstances.

To file an appeal, use the navigation path below:

1. Go to the ARMS Parking Portal and log in using your Bryant credentials
2. Click “Citations” in the sidebar. A list of citations attached to your vehicle(s) should be displayed.
3. Click on the Citation Number of the citation you wish to appeal
4. Click “+ADD APPEAL” in the upper right corner.
5. In the “Add Appeal” window, add any relevant information under “Student Narrative”
6. Click “Save”

Appeal status may be viewed at any time in the ARMS Parking Portal by using the “Appeals” tab in the sidebar menu.  

Payment of Fines

Monetary fines associated with enforcement actions are the sole responsibility of the registered owner of the vehicle. Violations may have different penalties attached (see “Parking Enforcement”) and are indicated on the citation. Payment of fines may be made in person at the Bursar’s Office during normal business hours or online via the steps below:

1. Go to the Student Account Center and enter your Bryant credentials
2. On the menu bar at the top of the page, select “Payments”
3. Below “Current Account Balance” click “Pay” at the far right of the account status line
4. Under “Select Payment Method” select Electronic Check or Credit card via PayPath
5. Follow the prompts to submit payment 

Vehicle Registration

A current Bryant University parking permit is required on all faculty, staff, student, and institutional vehicles operated on campus. Vehicles must be registered according to the classification of the primary operator (e.g., vehicles driven by student children of employees must display a student parking permit, not a faculty/staff permit).

Vehicles may be registered in person at the Department of Public Safety during normal business hours or online through the ARMS Parking Portal. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, Bryant ID, and the vehicle’s state registration.

To register online:

1. Go to the ARMS Parking Portal and enter your Bryant credentials
2. Click “Vehicles”
3. Click “+NEW”
4. Enter the appropriate vehicle information (License Plate, Make, Model, Color, et cetera)
5. Click “Save”.
   (NOTE: If you are a returning student with a vehicle that is already registered in the system, you do not need to do Steps 2-5)
6. Click “Permit Request” and follow the prompts.

After registering their vehicle, students must go to the U-Store and pay the fee associated with their classification. Requests for exemptions to the student parking fee must be made to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Student permits will not be issued unless payment has been processed or DPS has received notification of an approved exemption from the Vice President for Student Affairs or their designee.

Permit Display Requirements

Parking permits must be clearly displayed on the lower left corner of the vehicle’s windshield, unless otherwise directed by the Department of Public Safety. Permits must remain fully visible from the exterior of the vehicle at all times and may not be obstructed by window tint, stickers, sunshades, or dashboard items. Motorcycle permits should be attached to the right front fork or lower left side of the faring (if applicable).

Only original, unaltered permits issued by Bryant University are valid. Photocopies, reproductions, altered permits, or permits reported lost or stolen are not acceptable and may result in citation or student conduct action.

Parking permits are non-transferable and may be used only by the individual and vehicle to which they are assigned. Permits may not be shared, sold, lent, or otherwise used on vehicles not registered to the permit holder.

Failure to properly display a valid permit may result in citation, even if the vehicle is registered in the ARMS Parking Portal.

It is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure that the vehicle’s license plate information in the ARMS Parking Portal is accurate and up to date.

All parking decals remain the property of Bryant University and can be recalled at the University’s discretion. 

Temporary Parking Permits

Temporary parking permits are available for students, faculty, and staff when their primary registered vehicle is unavailable due to repair, mechanical issues, or other short-term circumstances. Temporary permits provide the same parking privileges as the individual’s standard permit classification (e.g., a student with a temporary permit may only park in student-designated lots).

Students must either hold a valid University parking permit for their primary vehicle or demonstrate a documented, compelling need for short-term vehicle access that does not meet the criteria for a Special Permit.

Temporary permits may be obtained during normal business hours at the Department of Public Safety. Applicants must have their Bryant ID and vehicle information at the time of request.

All temporary permits are valid only for the dates specified by the issuing DPS official and must be displayed on the rearview mirror at all times while parked on campus.

Issuance of temporary permits is at the sole discretion of DPS. Requests may be approved, modified, or denied based on operational needs, availability, or compliance history. DPS may limit the number or duration of temporary permits issued to the same individual within an academic year at its discretion.

Failure to notify DPS of the presence of a temporary vehicle does not exempt the operator from any citations incurred. 

Restricted Parking and Driving Areas

During normal campus operations, personal vehicles may not be driven or parked on sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, lawns, landscaped areas, or in any areas directly adjacent to residence halls. These areas must remain clear for pedestrian safety, accessibility, and emergency response. Parking or driving in these locations is permitted only with prior authorization from the Department of Public Safety or as part of a University-coordinated event (e.g., Move-In, Commencement, Athletics events). Unauthorized vehicles found in prohibited areas may be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense, and students may also be referred for student conduct review when violations create safety hazards or obstruct access.

Scofflaw and Towing

A vehicle reaches Scofflaw status when it has received three (3) substantiated parking citations within the current fiscal year (July 1–June 30). Vehicles in Scofflaw status are subject to towing beginning on the third citation and for every subsequent citation, regardless of whether fines have been paid.

Citations dismissed through the appeal process do not count toward Scofflaw status; however, citations with pending appeals do count until officially approved and reversed.

Immediate Tow Violations

The following serious violations may result in an immediate tow, regardless of Scofflaw status:

• Parking in a fire lane
• Unauthorized parking in a handicapped/accessible space
• Obstructing roadways, driveways, loading zones, or other vehicles
• Parking that creates or contributes to a hazardous condition
• Abandoned or inoperable vehicles
• Parking in areas designated as a “tow zone” by sign or ground marking
• Failure to comply with directions from DPS personnel
• When necessary to support University operations, events, or emergency access

Towing Fees and Release of Vehicles

Towing, storage, and related fees are the responsibility of the registered owner and are payable directly to the towing company.

DPS is not required to issue a warning before initiating a tow or to notify the vehicle owner after towing has occurred (see Parking Enforcement). 

Campus Speed Limits

The speed limit on all campus roadways, lots, and internal campus areas is 20 mph, unless otherwise indicated by signage.

Drivers are required to adjust their speed to account for pedestrians, traffic conditions, construction activity, and inclement weather, regardless of posted limits. Reduced speeds may be necessary to maintain safe operation during high-traffic periods, limited visibility, or adverse weather.

Failure to comply with posted or conditions-based speed requirements may result in citation or other enforcement action by DPS. 

Student Guest Passes

All overnight visitors must be registered with both the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Housing and Residential Life through the Guest Pass System. Registered overnight visitors are required to park their vehicles in Lot C (see Visitor Parking). Visitors parked outside of designated visitor areas may be subject to citation or towing.

Hosts are responsible for ensuring that their guests comply with all University parking and traffic regulations. Violations by guests may result in enforcement action for both the guest and the host.

For additional requirements regarding overnight guests, please refer to the University Visitor Policy. Questions may be directed to the Department of Housing and Residential Life at 232-6040. 

Safety Escorts and Motorist Assistance

The Department of Public Safety provides safety escort services and vehicle jumpstarts upon request. To obtain these services, contact DPS at (401) 232-6001.

DPS does not provide vehicle lockout services.