The sun is shining, ready to cause a new collection of sunburns. Students flock to classes and the turning of crisp, new (but preferably used) textbook pages can be heard. To the incoming freshmen, welcome to your new, sweaty home for the next four years, and to those returning students, welcome back.
The campus was largely dormant over the summer, but one issue arose that would significantly affect how students got around campus. The administration brought forward the idea of a bike ban or bike restrictions on the Tempe campus in February, and it gained traction over the summer.
While there is not a total bike ban - or even a partial one at that - Undergraduate Student Government and Parking and Transit Services are working with the University administration in a safety campaign called “Walk Your Wheels.”
The campaign will focus on the importance of walking your bike, scooter, or skateboard in high traffic areas. ASU Police Cmdr. Jim Hardina said there were no plans to enforce this new campaign and the administration wants to teach students using “positive enforcement.”
There is only one problem. If students face no ultimatum for riding in heavy traffic, why would they stop? With a tight class schedule and a huge campus, making it to class on time is a top priority.
There shouldn’t be a full-on bike ban by any means, but instituting something that is enforceable falls more into the realm of common sense. Simple solutions would include putting bike lanes in high traffic areas, e.g. Palm Walk, the sidewalk near Hayden Lawn and around the Memorial Union. Another solution would be to ban bikes in high-traffic areas during the busiest parts of the day.
But with a campaign that lacks enforceable rules, all we can do is encourage common sense from the walkers and riders.
Don’t ride a bike through the busiest parts of campus. A longer route will take less time without the traffic, which is the main reason for riding a bike anyway.
Don’t speed through the heart of the campus. A walker gives no warning before a left turn, and a crash at 20 mph hurts more than a crash at 10.
Also, don’t walk five-wide with a group of friends. Leaving two feet of space for bikes going both directions is discourteous.
Our modes of transportation on campus have to be handled with respect. The walker is upset at the cyclist for going too fast and the cyclist is mad at the walker for not walking in a straight line. The sides need to understand each other.
While our wheels on campus are safe for now, let the first lesson of the semester be that safety is our top priority while moving about campus. And secondly, use common sense. It helps with much more than traveling around campus.
Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
Follow The State Press on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
