Sidewalk signs regulate campus traffic
Scattered throughout the sidewalks of campus, there is now a smattering of new sidewalk signs signaling bikers, skateboarders, long boarders and rollerbladers to share the sidewalk, yield to pedestrians and slow down in different areas of campus.
“We’ve been working on putting together a plan for several years, and it’s finally come together,” said USU campus planner Jordy Guth.
The new signs are part of the USU Bike Plan, which is a coordinated effort involving Aggie Blue Bikes, the USU Wellness Program, USU Campus Recreations, the USU Police Department, USU Parking and Transportation, USU Student Services, the USU Sustainability Council, Bicycle/Pedestrian Action Committee, ASUSU and Logan City. According to a presentation given buy USU Facilities, the goal of the plan is to encourage a safer campus, sustainability and increased awareness for bikers, boarders, rollerbladers and pedestrians.
The plan includes an on-campus bike-way network which corresponds with Logan City and identifies specific on-campus paths for bikers, shared roads and sidewalks and caution and dismount zones. Enforcement for these zones and safety regulations, as stated in the presentation, include: Utah state laws, USU Policy No. 501, workshops via Aggie Blue Bikes and local law enforcement.
“The whole thing has been about safety and helping people understand that cycling is OK on campus, but we want people to stay safe,” Guth said.
Zee Spurrier, a mechanical engineering major who said he longboards to class whenever weather will allow, said he feels that boarders and bikers aren’t the only ones who need to be aware of where they are riding. He said pedestrians, too, need to watch where they’re going.
“I know my own abilities. I’m not going to hit somebody, and to have someone tell me to dismount my board and walk is a little frustrating,” Spurrier said. “There may be people who aren’t quite ready to longboard around campus but if these signs start preventing me from getting to class how I like to get to class, then I’ll really be bothered.”
Spurrier said the sidewalks need to be shared and while the bike plan is a step in the right direction, signs on the sidewalk may not make too much of a difference.
John Hand, a transfer student from Boise State majoring in civil engineering, said the idea has some merit.
“A lot of new riders think they’re better than they are. If you don’t know how to ride, you shouldn’t be going through huge crowds,” he said.
Hand said pedestrians should watch for riders just as much as riders should watch for pedestrians.
In addition to the sidewalk symbols seen around campus, the Bike Plan includes an information pamphlet and safety resource information. Two thousand pamphlets have already been handed out to this year’s Connections students and 2000 more have yet to be printed for other students, Guth said. The pamphlets include a map indicating the different bike-ways, crossings and slow zones, as well as safety guidelines and general rules for cyclists.
– allie.jeppson@gmail.com