LETTER: Busy street needs a guard

Editor,

I am writing about a situation that affects safety and traffic flow around campus. On the roads through campus, specifically 700 North, there are crosswalks for the convenience of pedestrians. Because of these crosswalks, students cross the street without looking both ways or worrying about traffic. This is dangerous for pedestrians and inconvenient for those in vehicles. This problem can be eased if drivers were less reckless, pedestrians were more cautious and both were more considerate.

Students are so used to these convenient crosswalks, they forget a childhood rule: Look both ways before you cross the street. Last week, a girl talking on a cell phone crossed 700 North at 800 East against a red light, forcing oncoming traffic that had the right-of-way to stop, and she remained completely unaware of her mistake. Students used to crossing without looking have to remember to respect traffic lights and look for cars.

While pedestrians do have the right-of-way on crosswalks, they need to remember that not every vehicle will stop. Some drivers aren’t from Logan and are unfamiliar with these crosswalks; others are simply in too much of a hurry to stop. The Statesman’s blotter has reported numerous incidents of vehicles striking pedestrians on crosswalks. For example, the Sept. 29 blotter reported a vehicle striking a student in a wheelchair while he was in the crosswalk by the HPER and Education buildings.

Pedestrians inconvenience vehicles. Students walk at will, regardless of the cars backed up. Heavy pedestrian flow during class breaks drastically slows traffic and impedes cars leaving parking lots. Students on campus shuttles have trouble getting to classes on time because the bus has to stop so much.

Utah State could resolve this problem by putting crossing guards at the high-traffic crosswalks during class breaks to direct students across the street in groups so both students and vehicles can get where they need to go efficiently and safely. Until then, both pedestrians and drivers need to be more cautious and considerate.

Myrica Hawker