Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of experiential-learning opportunities through our Bike Shop, Challenge Course, Outdoor-Leadership-Training Program, Outdoor Trips, Rental Center, and Rock Wall. Our programming is designed to nurture and encourage a life-long love of outdoor pursuits along with a deep appreciation of risk management, environmental stewardship, as well as social and cultural inclusivity.
The UCLA Bike Shop is a Do-It-Yourself Workshop that was established as a partnership between UCLA Recreation and UCLA Transportation to encourage transportation by bicycle among current members of the UCLA Community (i.e., students, employees, and members of UCLA Recreation). Our current schedule of classes can be found here.
Summer-Session-A Hours (June 24-August 2, 2019)
Open Monday to Friday (10am-5pm daily), except July 4
Summer-Session-A Hours (August 5-September 13, 2019)
Open Monday to Friday (10am-5pm daily), except September 2
Location: Northwestern corner of Wooden Center
Public Repair-Stand/Air-Pump: Just outside of shop
We maintain a carefully-selected, value-oriented inventory of new parts that are available for purchase. Please note that all sales on our new parts are final (i.e., returns/exchanges will not be accepted and refunds will not be issued).
We also gather used parts that may still be useful and/or contain useful pieces; these used parts are available free of charge. Please note that we do not offer any kind of guarantee on used parts and that we recommend that they be thoroughly inspected/tested.
Contact
2131 John Wooden Center Los Angeles, CA 90095 310.206.7219 bikecenter@recreation.ucla.edu
If you are interested in working at the UCLA Bike Shop, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our offerings by using our DIY services and perusing our website. Eligibility requirements to be considered for employment include being a current student at UCLA and not being in one's final year of studies here. Once you have a good sense of what working here involves and whether you're eligible, we invite you to complete our online job-application.
We often get questions from aspiring and active bicyclists about how to ride to campus from various parts of the city. In response to these inquiries, we've mapped dozens of routes that we've found useful over the years. You may view these routes by clicking on the following links or scrolling down this page to the embedded maps.
If you would like to ask us more about these routes or would like to discuss routes from parts of town not mapped here, please feel free to let us know. We're here as a route-finding resource for you.
Routes to campus from the East
Routes to campus from the North and West
Routes to campus from the South
Special-Event Routes
As demonstrated by UCLA's recognition as a Bicycle Friendly University for its commitment to bicyclists and bicycle-infrastructure improvements, we're here to support you in your bicycle-commuting endeavors. On that note, here are some tips that might be helpful.
Fun Videos about Bike Commuting
For inspiration about commuting by bike and tips on getting started, we invite you to watch this short video created by a UCLA Student for the UCLA Bicycle Coalition: Bikes for All. Another film, Bike-U-mentary produced by BikeUCLA Films, follows two members of the UCLA Community as they ride to class and work on campus. Another film, titled Be a Smarter Commuter, presents various options for commuting to and from campus, including bicycling.
Sharing the road can be challenging when everyone's in a hurry. For a fun video on this topic, we invite you to watch another video that we helped our colleagues in Transportation make, Watch for Bruins. In life, there isn't a rewind button, so please be safe and courteous.
Also, if you're looking for inspiration about learning how to ride in general, we invite you to watch this video.
Locking Your Bicycle
If you've ever wondered how to lock your bike properly, you might enjoy watching this humorous video starring UCLA Students/Staff and produced by BikeUCLA Films, The Bike Bandit, which deals with how--and how not--to lock your bike effectively.
Most thefts can be prevented by using an adequate lock and properly securing the bicycle to an approved parking-facility, such as a bicycle rack. The combination of a U-lock and a 6-foot cable with a loop at each end is preferable to a cable lock by itself. The U-lock should be used to attach at least the bicycle frame and, if possible, one of the wheels to a secure rack. The 6-foot cable can then be connected to the U-lock using the loops and finally run through any unsecured wheels.
As you can see on this Bike Map, UCLA has lots of bike-parking options as well as self-serve-repair stations with air pumps and tools located conveniently around campus. Please also note that we sell Kryptonite U-locks for as low as $26.95.
Bruin Commuter Club
If you commute to and from UCLA by bike, you may qualify to be part of the Bruin Commuter Club which provides alternative-transportation commuters access to products, services, information, benefits, and incentives.
What type of bike should I ride?
If you are trying to decide which type of bike would best fit your riding needs, here's a post we wrote about how to choose a bike that may be helpful.
UCLA Bicycle Master Plan
In March of 2006, UCLA developed its first Bicycle-Master-Plan with the following mission statement: "To improve cycling conditions and promote the bicycle as a transportation mode on, to and from campus, UCLA will set policies and provide infrastructure to support and accommodate bicycling." Countless improvements on behalf of bicycling have been made at UCLA since this plan was released and many more are in the works.
Rules of the Road
The League of American Bicyclists recommends the following rules of the road to help you have a safe and enjoyable commute on your bike: 1) Follow the law; 2) Be predictable; 3) Be conspicuous; 4) Think ahead; 5) Ride ready; 6) Keep your cool. For more information on this topic, please feel free to register for one of our Traffic-Skills-for-Bicyclists classes that are offered free of charge each quarter. The League of American Bicyclists has also posted various videos about how to ride on the road on their website.
Safety First and LAPD's Bike-Liason Officers
If you're unsure about how to ride with motor vehicles, we recommend taking one of our Traffic-Skills Classes. We teach the concept of vehicular cycling which is the idea that bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. If you successfully complete one of our Traffic-Skills Classes, we will provide you with a free set of safety lights, a helmet, and a bell thanks for funding we received from UCLA's The Green Initiative Fund.
We also recommend wearing a bicycle helmet when you ride your bike. Don't have a helmet? Please feel free to visit the UCLA Bike Shop where we have lots of great, affordable helmets for sale. Alternatively, you can get a coupon from us that's good for $20 off a helmet at Helen's Cycles, a bike shop located conveniently in Westwood.
For more information about bicycling maintenance and skills, please feel free to register for one of our classes. You may also refer to this Bike Pocket-Guide from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority which includes such information as laws that apply to bicyclists, how to ride with traffic, and how to lock your bike properly. To find bicycling information specific to UCLA, like a map showing the locations of bike racks, bike lanes, and showers, please refer to the Bicycle Pocket-Guide from UCLA Transportation.
Several years ago, the LAPD appointed four officers to serve as bike liasons to bicyclists throughout the city. These officers, whose names are listed below, are available to help you with your bike-related concerns. For example, if you're having trouble with motor-vehicle drivers passing you with less than the required clearance (three feet) on the same stretch of road regularly, a call to your area's LAPD bike-liason officer may be warranted:
Central Traffic Division: Sgt. Laszlo Sandor, 213 972-1853, 30124@lapd.lacity.org West Traffic Division: Sgt. Christopher Kunz, 213 473-0215, 26315@lapd.lacity.org South Traffic Division: Sgt. Jon Aufdemberg, 213 421-2588, 31630@lapd.lacity.org Valley Traffic Division: Sgt. Steve Egan, 818 644-8146, 26860@lapd.lacity.org
Register Your Bike In addition to registering your bike with the UCPD and/or the National Bike Registry, it's helpful to record your bike's serial-number and store this information in a safe place along with a photograph that shows you with your bike. The serial number should be stamped onto your bicycle frame, usually under the bottom-bracket shell. Immediately Report A Bicycle Theft If your bicycle is stolen, please report it immediately to the UCLA Police Department at 601 Westwood Plaza. You will need to complete a police report that specifies the location where the bicycle was parked and whether or not it was licensed. Route Planning
We mapped some of our favorite routes to/from campus on our route page. You may also plan your route to campus using tools like Google Maps' Bicycling-Directions (click "Get Directions," then click on the bike icon) or by referring to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's bicycle maps. In addition, you're welcome to stop by the UCLA Bike Shop and discuss route planning with us. We enjoy comparing notes on preferred routes around town. Do you have an idea for a new rack location? If so, we invite you to send it our way: bike-info@ts.ucla.edu. We'll look into it as part of our ongoing program to upgrade all bicycle-parking facilities. Retrieve an Impounded Bicycle
If your bicycle was parked illegally or chained to pole or railing, or if it appears to have been abandoned, it may have been impounded. To retrieve your bicycle, please contact the office of Citation Review and Adjudication in Transportation Services at (310) 825-2029.
The following links are provided for informational purposes.
A sampling of On-Campus Organizations and Resources:
A sampling of Bike Shops, DIY Workshops, and Bike-Rental Services in LA:
A sampling of Rides, Events, and Classes in/near LA:
A sampling of Governmental and Non-Governmental Bike-Programs:
Welcome, UCLA class of 2023!
Outdoor Adventures is excited to offer Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trips (BOOTs)! These outdoor experiences are available exclusively to incoming, first-year students. Please read through the information below for details on the calendar, how to enroll, and what to expect on a Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trip.
About Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trips
Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trips enable incoming UCLA students to meet each other in an adventurous, small-group setting before their first quarter of classes begins. Our trips are suitable for beginners; no experience is necessary. Groups are generally comprised of five Participants and three Guides. Our Guides are highly-trained individuals most of whom are current students or recent graduates of UCLA. Under our Guides' leadership, groups venture into a wilderness location, learn about leave-no-trace ethics, sleep under the stars, bond over backcountry meals, support one another in challenging situations, and get excited for their collegiate endeavors.
What is included on a Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trip? - Knowledgeable, experienced Guides - Transportation from UCLA and back in our 8-passenger van - Group camping-equipment such as tents, tarps, stoves, cookware, and first-aid kits. Participants only need to bring what is listed on the "What to Bring List." - The following personal-items are included: backpack, ground pad, sleeping bag. If Participants prefer to use their own backpack, ground pad, and/or sleeping bag, they are welcome to do so provided that their items meet our criteria described in the "What to Bring List." - Delicious camping-meals and snacks prepared by our Guides. Meals on the road are not provided, so be sure to bring cash/card for a roadside purchase. - Extensive opportunities to learn about outdoor recreation and wilderness risk-management. Guides teach seminars that can include map reading, leave-no-trace principles, water treatment, group games, backcountry hygiene, water purification, backcountry stove-use, and more. - An incredibly-memorable experience with other members of the UCLA community. Policies and Risk Management It is our mission to provide cooperative, challenging, and empowering experiences based in the outdoors. Because we recognize that the risks of serious injury or death are inherent to outdoor recreation, effectively managing risk is among our highest priorities. From providing extensive training on this topic to our Guides to requiring all of our Guides to be certified as Wilderness First-Responders, risk management is at the core of what we do and at the core of what we expect from our Participants. Participants must commit to behaving responsibly and in accordance with our Guides' instructions, including signing in agreement to our Participant Code of Conduct prior to trip departure.
2019 Calendar
*Click on the link provided to view detailed trip information and a list of what to bring. How to enroll
Trips go on sale on May 15, 2019, at noon and remain on sale until they are either full or 5 business days before the trip departs. Enrollment may be accessed via our online store. If the student has a UCLA logon, then use it to log into the store. If the student does not yet have a UCLA logon, then the student may create an account according to the directions on the online store's main page. When creating an online account, be sure to include an accurate email-address that the student regularly checks! This email address will be our primary method of contacting students regarding their trip preparations. When trying to find the BOOTs in our online store, be sure that the semester "Summer 2019" is selected in the left-hand column and that the classification selected is "Outdoor Adventures." Trips will be listed under the category of "Outdoor Adventures." Enrollment may also be accomplished in person at the John Wooden Center's Sales-and-Service Desk. Should you encounter technical difficulties while enrolling, please call the Sales-and-Service Team at (310) 206-8373.
Enrolling minors (students under the age of 18) Outdoor Adventures' trips are designed for adults. Incoming, first-year students who are under the age of 18 are still eligible to enroll. In order to enroll a student who is under the age of 18, the student's parent/guardian must create their own account in UCLA Recreation's online store and then create a profile for the student (i.e., their dependent). During the registration process, the parent/guardian will then log in to their own account and enroll the student in the trip. We recommend creating one's account and familiarizing oneself with the registration process in advance of the time that trips go on sale.
Wait list for trips that are full If you would like to be placed on the wait list for trips that are full, please complete this form. In the event that a space becomes available, we will contact individuals on the wait list in chronological order to invite them to register. Please note that joining the wait list does not reserve nor guarantee a space for you should a space become available.
Refund and cancellation policy
Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trips are not eligible for a full refund. 90% refunds may be obtained for Bruin Outdoor Orientation Trips if requested 10 business days prior to departure. To request a refund, please contact us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu.
Arrival and departure details
Our trips depart from (and return to) the Bike Shop/Outdoor Adventures Center which is located in the northwest corner of the John Wooden Center. Click here for a map. It is highly recommended that students be dropped-off and picked-up by someone. Visitor parking is available at an hourly rate in the nearby Parking Lot 4.
Overnight parking is possible, too, during the trip. You will need to purchase a multi-day pass from the parking kiosk located at 555 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles 90095. Parking Lot 4 is the lot in which we recommend you park. Should you need to arrive a day in advance, or depart a day after your trip's conclusion, we recommend you booking a room at the following on-campus hotels: The Luskin Conference Center (1 minute walk from Outdoor Adventure Center) or the UCLA Guest House (a 5-10 minute walk to the Outdoor Adventure Center). Shuttle buses to/from campus and LAX are offered by Fly Away. Medical & Personal Information Forms
In the weeks prior to each trip, we email all participants asking them to complete a Medical-and-Personal-Information Form online. All enrolled participants must complete the Medical and Personal Information Form a minimum of 10 days prior to departure. We aim to provide responsible, accessible trips, including doing our best to accommodate health and personal needs. Failure to complete the Medical and Personal Information Form within this deadline will risk the participant losing their spot on the trip and without a refund. Furthermore, OA cannot guarantee accommodations for medical or personal needs that are disclosed after this deadline. Questions?
We're happy to help. Please email us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu.
The Challenge Course is currently hiring Program Assistants for Experiential Programs. Apply now! Job descriptions and application instructions can be found on the UCLA Recreation Employment page (see top navigation bar > Employment > Student & Non-Student Positions > Outdoor Adventures). For potential clients and those interested in booking: **The Challenge Course is CLOSED at least until October 2019. No reservations are possible at this time. Please check back here for the most current status.**
The UCLA Challenge Course offers unique adventure experiences designed to facilitate group and individual development. The Challenge Course uses a variety of elements and obstacles to present challenges to groups and individuals in a supportive and safe environment.
By providing experiential-based (learn-by-doing) activities, the Challenge Course instills participants with confidence and enthusiasm, and provides lessons and realizations critical to success in classrooms, the workplace, and in life.
Our staff work closely with you at every stage of the process, from establishing desired goals and objectives through program completion and follow-up.
Interested in a Challenge Course program and what it can provide for your specific group?
For availability and to make a reservation, please visit our reservation site at http://reserve.recreation.ucla.edu. For questions, please email us at oac@recreation.ucla.edu.
111 Easton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1370
Each fall, winter, and spring, we offer free workshops on outdoor skills. We teach these workshops in the Outdoor-Adventures Office or the Bike Shop. Both of these venues are located in the northwestern corner of the John-Wooden Center. You may register for workshops in our online store.
On our trips, we prioritize risk management and responsible stewardship of our environment. All of our trips are designed to be cooperative and educational. Participants can look forward to getting involved and learning about all aspects of outdoor recreation, such as setting up tents, cooking meals, natural history, and wilderness ethics. Everyone will work together, learn together, and look out for each other’s needs throughout the trip. If you are looking for some outdoor-minded community and to learn valuable skills, then OA trips are for you.
Pre-Trip Meetings (mandatory) Meetings for all of our trips take place at 6pm on the Tuesday before the trip in the Outdoor Adventures office inside the John Wooden Center. Attendance at the Pre-Trip Meeting is mandatory to ensure that all participants are adequately prepared and are informed about what to expect. If you are not able to attend the Pre-Trip Meeting, you will not be allowed to attend the trip. Please also note that missing the Pre-Trip Meeting does not qualify you for a refund of the trip registration-fee. There aren't any exceptions to this requirement and make-ups for Pre-Trip Meetings are not available.
Equipment/Food/Transportation Outdoor Adventures programs include group gear (tents, stoves, pots & pans). You provide personal gear (sleeping bag, backpack, boots, etc). You may rent sleeping bags, backpacks, ground pads, and headlamps (batteries not included) for your trip from our Rental Center in the John Wooden Center. For more information visit their website.
Overnight outdoor trips include transportation and most meals. You may need to buy a meal on the road the first and last days of the trip. Most of our day trips include transportation, but you will need to bring your own lunch and snacks. Meals are all suitable for vegetarians with potential meat add-on options. Participants should communicate dietary restrictions and preferences on their medical form.
Policies & Risk Management Please note that our trips are alcohol, smoking, tobacco, and illegal-substance free. Outdoor recreation has inherent risk of injury, illness, and/or death. As a trip participant, you are responsible for your safety. UCLA Recreation Outdoor Adventures and its employees assume no liability for any damages arising from outings. Please review the Outdoor Adventures Participant Code of Conduct for a clear understanding of participant expectations prior to enrolling. All participants will be required to sign in agreement to these policies prior to joining the trip.
Guides UCLA Outdoor Adventures guides are staff members with a passion for the outdoors and a desire to share it with others. Our guides receive a variety of theoretical and hands-on training. In addition, all trips include at least one guide who has completed a course in wilderness medicine. If you are interested in learning more about how employment works, please feel free to email us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu. Only current, continuing, undergraduate students at UCLA are eligible for employment consideration.
Trip Offerings
Enrollment
Visit the UCLA Recreation Store webpage to enroll online. If you have an active UCLA Recreation membership, you will see pricing and space availability after you log in. You can browse or search for our trips. They are listed under Outdoor Adventures -> Wilderness Trips. You may also register in person at the Sales Desk in the John Wooden Center. If you encounter an error message or any trouble while trying to process payment for your trip, please contact the Sales Team directly in order to resolve.
Wait List If a trip fills and you would like to be placed on the wait list, please fill out this online form. In the event that someone withdraws from the trip, we will contact individuals from the wait list in the order that they were submitted and invite them to fill the spot. We are unable to reserve the newly-opened spot for the wait list individuals, and will be emailing them to inform them of the open place and invite them to register.
Who can participate in UCLA Outdoor Adventures? Our trips are open only to members of UCLA Recreation. Membership must be active at the time of registration, and during the UCLA Outdoor Adventures event. Most students are members of UCLA Recreation. To check your membership status, try to log in to your account in our online store and/or contact our Sales and Services Team. To learn about membership options and purchasing a membership, please visit our membership site. Our trips are designed for the adult community of UCLA, so children or minors under the age of 18 are not permitted. Exceptions may be granted for currently-enrolled UCLA students who are under the age of 18; please email oa@recreation.ucla.edu to request this exception. Medical Information Form All enrolled participants must complete our online Medical Form no later than the start of the Pre-Trip Meeting. Failure to meet this deadline could result in the loss of one's spot on a trip, and without a refund. The timely and thorough submission of this form is essential to enable us to do our best to accommodate health and personal needs.
Refund Policy Outdoor Trips are not eligible for a full refund. 90% refunds may be obtained for Outdoor Trips when requested 10 business days prior to departure. To request a refund, please contact us at oa@recreation.ucla.edu. Please also note that refunds are not available for short-term memberships (fewer than 12 months) to UCLA Recreation.
If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail us (oa@recreation.ucla.edu).
At the Rental Center, we have a variety of outdoor equipment available for Members of UCLA Recreation to rent. To rent or reserve gear, payment is required and payments are only accepted in person.
2131 John Wooden Center Los Angeles, CA 90095 310.206.7219 rentalcenter@recreation.ucla.edu
At the Rock Wall, located on the first floor of the Wooden Center, members of UCLA Recreation are invited to boulder during our Open-Recreation Hours. We also teach classes during the fall, winter, and spring; our current offerings are listed in UCLA Recreation's online store.
Bouldering is a type of climbing that is done close to the ground without ropes. People at all levels of experience are invited to climb at the Rock Wall. Climbing shoes may be rented for a small fee and they are available free of charge on one's first visit to the wall. In addition, we host a friendly bouldering competition called the Dangling Bruin annually.
Please feel free to email us at oac@recreation.ucla.edu with any questions.
If you enjoy climbing and are interested in working at the UCLA Rock Wall, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our operation by climbing during Open-Recreation Hours. Eligibility requirements to be considered for employment include being a current undergraduate-student at UCLA with previous climbing-experience and the ability to work at least six hours per week. Once you have a good sense of what working here involves and whether you're eligible, we invite you to complete our online job-application.
These courses are hosted by UCLA Recreation's Outdoor Adventures while registration, content, instruction, and certification are provided by NOLS. We invite you to follow the below links for more information and/or to register.
Wilderness First Responder Recertification (WFRR)
February 16 - 18, 2019
https://www.nols.edu/portal/wmi/courses/13766/
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
March 23 - April 1, 2019
https://www.nols.edu/portal/wmi/courses/13767/