UI should make pedestrian safety a priority and repaint crosswalks
With flowers blooming and the weather warming up, this is the time of year campus shines.
This is why it’s so disappointing that walking to campus can be such a scary experience at times.
The main culprit? Unsafe crosswalks.
Shannon Kelly
UI crosswalks have deteriorated into unsafe territory, with poor visibility and maintenance being overlooked.
UI is a pedestrian-oriented campus, so logically crosswalk maintenance should be a priority. Even before spring hits, some crosswalks on campus are barely visible, scratched away by gravel and continuous road traffic.
The elements have done their job, wearing away crosswalk paint in various locations on campus. Crosswalks on Deakin Street, Greek Row and even outside the Student Recreation Center have all faded and become difficult to see.
The university repaints crosswalks from time to time, yet crosswalks should be repainted well before they are barely detectable. Although it may result in an added cost, repainting crosswalks on a regular basis would be in the best interest of the university and the faculty, staff and students who walk to and from campus everyday.
Visibility with crosswalks only gets worse at night. Some UI crosswalks are in locations with poor to no nighttime lighting. Many students can recall occasions where they had a close call as a pedestrian or as a driver on campus. In fact, earlier this month there were at least two traffic accidents involving pedestrians on campus in a single day.
No one wants to be at either end of such an ordeal. In what would be a new step toward safety, UI administrators should look at what our neighbors a few miles to the west are doing.
A lighted crosswalk system similar to that on the Washington State University campus would increase safety for pedestrians at UI. At WSU, crosswalk signs light up whenever a pedestrian is crossing the road. While UI doesn’t necessarily need a system elaborate enough for four lanes of traffic, some sort of lighted system to efficiently alert drivers to crossing pedestrians will improve campus safety.
The next best solution, which can also be combined with a WSU a system, is to have better streetlights surrounding crosswalks.
Many drivers on campus would also benefit, especially visitors who are less familiar with the campus’ pedestrian friendly nature. This brings up the other part of the equation — drivers need to be more alert and respectful of pedestrians.
It’s easy to speed through campus, but being aware of the surroundings and slowing down is a critical step in reducing the chances of an accident. Be patient and let people cross the road.
In fairness, UI has made some efforts to keep crosswalks safe. The crosswalk in front of the Bruce Pitman Center, formerly the Student Union Building, is a shining example. It was renovated to include enhanced lighting, signs and textured surfaces in the crosswalk to give the area a pedestrian vibe. This is a great first step in promoting pedestrian safety, but more must be done.
As the university continues its fundraising efforts, hopefully some of the proceeds can be utilized to repair and improve campus-crossing areas. In the meantime, drive attentively and stop at crosswalks for fellow Vandals.
Shannon Kelly can be reached at [email protected]