Open house on Saturday, the State Fair both Saturday and Sunday and a concert Sunday night on Harris field- this weekend was a busy time to be on campus as Homecoming kicked off with a bang. After driving a car and trying to maneuver around all this excitement, however, it’s obvious we’re fortunate not to have started Homecoming off with a screech, a bang and the sounds of an ambulance in the distance.
Traffic, both the pedestrian and automobile varieties, was horrendous this weekend due to the throngs of people around central campus. Moving a car around the area was dangerous, and it’s amazing no one was injured. We need to analyze the problems heavy traffic on campus can cause and look at what we can all do better to minimize the dangers of driving.
Saturday, Cates Avenue was closed from Talley Student Center to Harris Field for open house. This was a great move on the part of the University, allowing people to meander back and forth across the road like it was solely for foot traffic. Unfortunately, for those trying to move a car out of the area Saturday morning, the pedestrians were aloof as they walked directly in front of and crowded around cars trying to leave. Pedestrians should realize that a car can still kill you even if the street you are on is “closed.” It isn’t a good idea to walk directly behind a car that is backing up. Choose walking on the sidewalk rather than the center of the road, even if it is closed. Don’t deliberately stand in the path of an oncoming vehicle. Pedestrians- you have the right away, but the car has more kinetic energy.
Trying to get through campus this weekend in a car was difficult, but trying to park in a paid for DE parking space was even more difficult. The University must do a better job keeping these spots reserved for owners of parking passes during busy times.
Sunday afternoon, the concert on Harris Field had a large tour bus, an 18-wheeler and about 20 circling cars on Cates. Couple all this with the hundreds of students crossing the road, and we had a logistics nightmare. It isn’t fair to people who bought passes, and it’s dangerous to have cars circling in search of a spot with tons of pedestrians around. On weekends as busy as this, the area right along Cates should be closed to motorists from off campus. There’s a lot right behind the Student Health Center, and people from off campus, including band members and roadies, should be required to park there for the safety and fairness of those living on campus.
Finally, drivers need to slow down on campus. Cates isn’t a drag strip. Stop trying to jump the speed bumps in your Acura RSX- you’re going to kill someone. If we all work toward making campus a safer place to walk and drive by being more cautious, we can avoid a horrible tragedy and ensure the safety of everyone. Otherwise, from looking at the situation on campus this weekend, we are heading towards an imminent accident and someone will be hurt.
What are your thoughts about traffic on campus? Send your comments to [email protected].
