In winter, everyone faces fear of accidents at SRU
By Amanda Zabotsky
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Opinion
If you drive, you're afraid of pedestrians. If you walk, you're afraid of cars. But in both cases, you're afraid of a cyclist.
I've even had professors complain about moving around campus when they have class in different buildings other than those where their offices reside.
Its true SRU's campus is set up funny from the expansion and demolition to make room for this or that, but it seems a bit senseless not to have a continuous loop connecting upper and lower campus.
Instead, everyone has to get on Keister Road and then turn back in to get from one side of campus to the other.
Another problem seems to be the crosswalks. Especially with the dreaded snow in our future.
Winter is the season for accidents.
Cars sliding on ice or slush into other cars.
Or, on foot, you're a hazard to yourself and anyone around you.
I think it's ingrained in us from early on in life that if we're falling, we take down whoever is near us.
But I can only see the crosswalks getting worse.
Maybe the police who patrol campus would do more good than they are by getting out of their cruisers and monitoring crosswalks.
Not in the Crossing Guard manner, but that might be more effective in preventing people from speeding up in the crosswalks.
Pedestrians have the right of way… or am I mistaken?
If you can't get to campus on time to find a parking space between classes, then you don't need to honk or speed up when students, faculty or staff are walking where there are clearly marked sections for crossing the streets.
These are not main highways with semi-trucks-it's SRU campus where the speed limit is 25 mph.
Once the snow falls, hopefully we'll be more mindful and not make pedestrians wait to cross the road in the cold, or make them fear for their lives that they're going to get run over.
And watch out for those Kubota with the snow plows.
They're sneaky and like to strike fear in students just as much as cyclists.
I've even had professors complain about moving around campus when they have class in different buildings other than those where their offices reside.
Its true SRU's campus is set up funny from the expansion and demolition to make room for this or that, but it seems a bit senseless not to have a continuous loop connecting upper and lower campus.
Instead, everyone has to get on Keister Road and then turn back in to get from one side of campus to the other.
Another problem seems to be the crosswalks. Especially with the dreaded snow in our future.
Winter is the season for accidents.
Cars sliding on ice or slush into other cars.
Or, on foot, you're a hazard to yourself and anyone around you.
I think it's ingrained in us from early on in life that if we're falling, we take down whoever is near us.
But I can only see the crosswalks getting worse.
Maybe the police who patrol campus would do more good than they are by getting out of their cruisers and monitoring crosswalks.
Not in the Crossing Guard manner, but that might be more effective in preventing people from speeding up in the crosswalks.
Pedestrians have the right of way… or am I mistaken?
If you can't get to campus on time to find a parking space between classes, then you don't need to honk or speed up when students, faculty or staff are walking where there are clearly marked sections for crossing the streets.
These are not main highways with semi-trucks-it's SRU campus where the speed limit is 25 mph.
Once the snow falls, hopefully we'll be more mindful and not make pedestrians wait to cross the road in the cold, or make them fear for their lives that they're going to get run over.
And watch out for those Kubota with the snow plows.
They're sneaky and like to strike fear in students just as much as cyclists.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Lee
posted 11/06/09 @ 8:59 PM EST
"Pedestrians have the right of away... or am I mistaken?"
You are mistaken.
General rule.--When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian CROSSING THE ROADWAY WITHIN ANY MARKED CROSSWALK. (Continued…)
William
posted 11/07/09 @ 7:18 PM EST
Tenants from Stoneworth should heed this advice:
SR Borough Police will catch you! Every morning, I see students-- either with cigarette or cell phone in hand(or both)-- tailgating other cars into the borough. (Continued…)
Alan
posted 11/09/09 @ 12:30 AM EST
Pedestrians DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT OF WAY! Lee, glad you posted that. That is how the law is written. Police can cite pedestrians for crossing when a vehicle is approaching. (Continued…)
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