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Current Issue: Volume 130, Number 1 July 14, 2009
Ed/Op


Editorial Notebook
Crosswalk signs pose danger

Posted 10-02-2002 at 2:42PM

Nicole Morroni
Associate Features Editor

I think I speak for the many drivers and commuters who park in the Houston Field House parking lot when I say, “Yay, the signs are gone.” I know that everyone who has driven past the Field House grew to hate the yellow pedestrian signs that grew to be more dangerous than warning signs because of the quick changing curves coming up the hill. The pedestrian sign at the corner of Peoples Avenue and Georgian Street also caused difficulties as it was essentially at the intersection of the Field House parking lot, Colvin Circle, Georgian Street, the back entrance to the Field House, and Peoples Avenue. As if traffic wasn’t interesting enough there, with Red Hawk shuttles parking haphazardly all over the place, now we had to contend with an obstruction in the middle of the road.

Furthermore, the ones on Sage Avenue and 15th Street have also shown they can cause problems. Ideally, if all rules of the road are followed, there probably shouldn’t be any problems. In reality, there is always a car parked on the corners in the no parking areas, which makes driving past these signs difficult since you are left with only a few inches to move. Additionally, the installation of the signs has made the lower section of Sage Avenue impassible for large vehicles such as garbage and delivery trucks which are now required to make detours. The crosswalk between the Union and the Quad has become more of a problem, since now when a car stops to drop people off there is no way to pass them, because there is now a big sign in the way. This can cause many issues in the prime of the day.

All in all, the signs came along with good purpose, but like many things here on campus, they aren’t actually working out the way they were intended. The roads need to be safe for both drivers and pedestrians. So let’s just remember the main rule of driving—don’t hit people—and then the pedestrians will be safe. As for the signs, maybe it’s time they retire to the side of the road, instead of standing in the middle of the road, as people are discouraged from doing.



Posted 10-02-2002 at 2:42PM
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