Tash Mahnokaren
Staff Writer
If you are a student, faculty or staff member of Idaho State University, chances are, you are probably aware of the tedium associated with driving on campus. This is especially true in the mornings and afternoons ,when the exchange of traffic is at its peak.
If getting from one point on campus to another takes longer than it should, and if the stops regulating traffic in between increase, individuals tend to be more reckless.
These are the moments that call for a heightened sense of traffic safety awareness.
The importance of a sense of mutual dependency between drivers, bikers and pedestrians is undeniable. While a driver’s sense of awareness on the streets is crucial, a pedestrian’s perception of what is considered safe is equally as important. This includes looking both ways before crossing, yielding to others, and not diverting your attention to other things such as texting.
“Drivers should yield to bikers,” said Sarah Bartholf, frequent biker and student at ISU. “However, bikers should appreciate the inherent risks of biking in the city and do their best to signal and avoid being a disruption to the flow of traffic.”
Bike safety among pedestrian and driving regulations can sometimes go unnoticed.
According to Idaho transportation statistics, 3 percent of the working population in the Pocatello area takes a bike as the primary mode of transportation to work.
“If you’re going to operate on the Quad sidewalks, we ask that you go 10 miles per hour so you don’t come flying down the road,” said Stephen Chatterton, ISU director of public safety. Oftentimes students on bikes have been prone to going at speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour, which increases the chances of a collision with a vehicle or pedestrian.
The Public Safety parking office also has a human-powered vehicle policy, which has expanded to encompass a broad definition of methods of transportation taken on campus grounds. This includes the use of scooters, bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards and carts, to name a few.
This is part of a larger effort to educate the ISU community about proper safety rules with respect to whatever mode of transport they desire to take. The use of various modes of transport is encouraged on campus grounds, and the public safety office works to ensure that everyone is well-educated on safety regulations with respect to their mode of transport.
“There are a lot of people walking up and down the sidewalk and cutting across the streets,” said Chatterton. “We have had some vehicle-pedestrian accidents on the Quad sidewalk.”
Enforcement measures are somewhat hampered because ISU Public Safety does not have police powers to enforce traffic regulations on city streets. In the event that traffic violations do occur, Public Safety is required to defer any enforcement functions to the city, according to Chatterton.
The city police have been cooperative with ISU in promoting better vehicle and pedestrian safety habits.
“A couple of times a year they have done crosswalk enforcement,” said Chatterton.
During this period, the city police regulate traffic in busy areas on campus, namely Martin Luther King Way and Humbolt Street. The city police do traffic enforcement such as stopping vehicles that don’t yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk, and in some cases have even issued citations.
Proper lighting is also a focus area for the benefit of both pedestrians and drivers.
“Our officers do lighting surveys once a month and they’ll identify lights that are not working,” said Chatterton.
In the event that a light change is needed, these changes will then be submitted to facilities. Similarly, if an officer comes across a light that is out during shifts, the submission of a maintenance request to facilities is imminent.
Stoplights and crosswalk signals around campus are not at full usage on the weekends and nights. This has sometimes posed a problem for pedestrians and drivers alike. This is linked to power-saving efforts, according to Chatterton.
ISU student Brandi Allerdings, a resident of on-campus housing, explains that this can sometimes cause confusion.
“When the lights are not at full usage, it is hard to discern between who has the right of way or who should go,” said Allerdings.
Apart from this, Allerdings, who has significant experience as a pedestrian on campus grounds, said drivers are, to a large extent, accommodating to pedestrians.
“We have had about three people hit on the crosswalks over the past four years,” said Chatterton.
This is a significantly lower number in comparison to other campuses. ISU, according to “East Idaho News,” is ranked fifth in the nation for overall security.
ISU also has a safety committee, made up of students, staff and faculty. The Public Safety office works with these members to look at the areas on campus that need additional lighting or pose other safety issues. This committee ensures that a wide variety of issues are addressed.
“We are routinely looking at traffic conditions and running traffic enforcement measures on campus,” said Chatterton. “Once a year we do lighting upgrades, and during the summer we have routine lighting projects.”
Speed trailers are also occasionally set up around the campus vicinity. These LED speed trailers help make individuals aware of their speed and calibrate their speedometer accordingly.
Engaging in proper traffic practices is centered upon the idea of mutual dependency. As such, vehicle users and pedestrians alike need to be aware of rules relating to their mode of transport. Being aware of signage, traffic lights and the general surroundings when taking to the roads is crucial in promoting traffic safety on campus.
