OUR VIEW: Don’t hit pedestrians, walk those bikes.

Students who use bicycles, skateboards, longboards or other such vehicles to get around campus need to be more considerate of those around them.

Granted, these modes of transportation are extremely efficient in getting to and from campus, but once on campus they create an extreme hazard. The University Policy Manual on Campus Walkway Safety, Section 2.1 states, “All vehicles will be prohibited from operating or parking on walks during scheduled class breaks within the Pedestrian Zone from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.”

Isn’t this pretty explicit as to when bicycles and other vehicles can be used?

Sometimes the students on bikes seem to think they have the right-of-way because they move faster than pedestrians. One bicyclist even expressed her views quite abrubtly to a person on foot carrying a large piece of wood. She told the walker to watch where he was going as she weaved in and out of other pedestrians, nearly hitting a fair number of them.

Is it really necessary for those people on bikes to cruise between classes so carelessly? Many students see the problem as one that needs to be solved.

According to the University Police Department, if this policy were enforced it would include a hefty fine.

Imposing monotary fines on violators may not be the only answer, though.

Other solutions might include synchronizing all the clocks around campus with the clock on Old Main or requiring teachers to let classes leave on time so there would be no need to speed from class to class.