COLUMN: Sharing walkways is best solution
A recent editorial printed in The Statesman has sparked discussions concerning the University Walkway Policy. This policy (#509) was put into effect on August 31, 1998. The policy was passed in an effort to increase the safety of pedestrians on our sidewalks.
Utah law allows for the riding of bikes on sidewalks (see 41-6-87.3 Utah Code Annotated). Under the law, a person riding a bike on a sidewalk must “yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.” The code also states that the rider may not ride in a negligent manner or at a speed that is not reasonable and prudent under existing conditions. The University Walkway Policy goes a step further and does not allow the riding of bikes at all within the pedestrian zone (as defined in the policy) during class breaks.
On the day the sidewalk policy went into effect, and for several weeks after, USU Campus Police conducted heavy patrolling during class breaks. We found few problems and no citations were issued. We did receive a lot of contempt from many of the riders we talked to. As time went on, our enforcement efforts were reduced based on the low level of serious violations encountered. This is not to say that there are not dangerous riders on campus. We know that there are some who ride recklessly. We hear stories of unreported near-misses between bike riders and pedestrians. On very few occasions we have heard of pedestrians who have been hit by a bike. A review of our records show that in the past 10 years we have only received one report of a pedestrian being hit by a bike. There were no injuries in this case.
To effectively enforce the policy a police officer would have to be on a bike at a majority of the class breaks on a very regular basis. This is almost impossible with only one, and on occasion, two patrol officers on duty during the day. Responding to complaints, responding to service calls, investigating traffic accidents, conducting traffic enforcement on the streets, and writing necessary reports take much of the officers’ time.
With an increase in the overall campus population expected in the future, the reduction of central parking lots that will occur over the coming years, and increased fuel prices, we expect to see more bikes on campus. We encourage the use of bikes as alternative transportation which will help decrease traffic congestion in and around campus and will help maintain the safe air quality which is at risk in this valley. However, with the limited personnel of the campus police, we must rely on our campus citizens to voluntarily comply with the policy and the law. Most of those who violate the policy by riding their bikes during class breaks do not create a risk to pedestrians. Those who are reckless by riding fast and weaving in and out of pedestrians are those we are most concerned with. If caught, they will be cited into the Logan Judicial Court. I encourage anyone involved in a dangerous incident with a bicyclist to report it to campus police. We may not be able to do anything with your particular case, but if we get enough reports we may be able to determine a pattern of dangerous riders and conduct directed patrols to locate the violators.
Reckless drivers in vehicles can be identified by a license plate. Should there be a policy requiring bikes to be licensed with an easily visible license plate attached to the bike?
I commend those who bicycle to and around campus in a safe manner. We are open to suggestions on ways to ensure that pedestrians and bicyclists can safely share the sidewalks on campus. Working together, I’m confident we can come up with a viable solution.
Steve Mecham is chief of USU Campus Police. Comments can be sent to mecham@cc.usu.edu.