:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Friday, September 30, 2005 ::

More News On Bus Fatality

The News-Gazette has some more information on the incident, some of it is apparently more accurate than the DI's. Sarah Channick, a freshman in ACES, was struck at Sixth and Chalmers, which, as I recall, has stop signs for Chalmers with Sixth being one-way southbound with no stop. Also, from what I recall, that intersection is one of the few on campus that actually has adequate markings for the crosswalks. She was apparently talking on a cellphone at the time of the collision, but the article states that "it is unknown whether it is a factor in the accident[.]" For those who've been counting, this is the third pedestrian fatality in three years, although this is the first to occur in broad daylight. I don't know what's to be done about it, especially since the university doesn't control most of the places where vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents actually occur, but this isn't exactly a heartening trend.

The article also states that fifteen years ago, the big issue was the large volume of bicycle traffic on campus. If so, I'm not encouraged that the University's efforts to deal with pedestrian safety will be effective in the long-term. Why? Many of the bike paths are poorly maintained, the university doesn't even seem to know where half its paths actually lie, and many parts of campus, especially the East and North sections, do not have bike paths at all, forcing cyclists onto the street. That track record, plus the indication that the evil of habitual cell phone use will only grow over the next few years and not be subject to fads, lead me to believe that little short of some major institutional change'll be effective.

I'm willing to be surprised, though.

UPDATE, 0001, 1 Oct: Kiyoshi has some more poignant thoughts on the matter, as well as some further information about the circumstances of the incident.

:: The Squire 2:43 PM :: email this post :: ::
...