OUR VIEW: No stopping policy not best solution

Being able to be dropped off 10 feet from the TSC is a great thing. Students are close to the rest of campus and with this cold weather, students don’t have to freeze as they walk from their car into a building. Recently there were signs that were put up outside the TSC at the roundabout telling people “No stopping or Standing.” Police can now ticket vehicles that disobey the signs.

What are students to do now? There is no other place that is so central to the rest of campus. The roundabout is used by the Aggie Shuttle to drop off and pick up passengers. Why can’t it be used for students not using the bus?

Safety. That is the answer the university and transportation services is giving. USU is doing what is best for the students by protecting them from a potentially dangerous situation. By not allowing cars to stop in the roundabout area, it prevents accidents from happening between cars and buses. This also prevents students who are standing on the curb, either waiting for the bus or for someone to pick them up, from getting hit.

While the university may have made the safest decision at this time, it’s not the most accommodating one. Not everyone takes the bus or shuttle to and from school. There needs to be a place on campus where students can be picked up and dropped off. The student center is the most logical place. Since it is currently not available, somewhere else needs to be made available.

Ultimately, though, this won’t fix safety problems. Until another pick up or drop off stop is created, the problem is not going away. Students will find somewhere else to stop their cars and back up traffic or cause safety problems other places. Space on 700 North is too limited for cars to sto. Something needs to be done, if only temporarily.