LETTER: Walkways are for pedestrians

Editor,

After reading the guest column by Steve Mecham (and the previous letters and discussion) about walkway use I’m stunned that the true issue hasn’t been dealt with yet.

While bike speed may be a problem, it seems that the true problem is increased motor vehicle traffic on what are supposed to be pedestrian walkways. With the completion of the widening of the walkways last year, it seems that physical plant, USU catering, and other departments have decided that the walkways were installed to provide quick on-campus shortcuts. I routinely (as in daily) see physical plant vehicles using walkways, like the one between the spectrum and the parking lot near the tennis courts, as shortcuts. Additionally, I regularly see USU electric carts (physical plant and food services) traveling at 10 to 15 mph on the walkways while pedestrians are present. As a graduate student who has spent much time on campus before and after the walkway widening, I can conservatively estimate that regular non-emergency vehicle traffic on walkways has doubled in the last year or so. If USU administration is truly concerned with pedestrian safety, or risk management for that matter, a universitywide policy on walkway use needs to be developed and implemented before someone gets hit.

Charles Hanifin