The Omnibus

Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Forum

A student's parked car illustrates the safety threat to pedestrians. SBU Safety and Security tickets for this violation

An issue commonly noticed on Southwest Baptist University's campus is the sidewalk drivers in front of and next to Goodson Student Union.
These sidewalks are accessible from Landen Hall and Goodson Student Union parking lots and provide access to the back doors of the SBU Bookstore, Cat Snack and various University offices. These sidewalks are commonly used to provide a closer access for cars loading and unloading supplies but are also used as a shortcut to the parking lot on Landen Hall's south side.
Sidewalks are made for pedestrians, not cars. The safest place for a person to walk is on the sidewalks, and cars that ignore this restriction take this safety away.
If a student is walking after dark, it is hard for a driver to see them, especially if that car is driving fast and the building blocks their view of an oncoming student. The concerns this creates are not only the safety of the pedestrians that use these sidewalks but also the safety of campus equipment.
Many universities across the country have rules and regulations against using sidewalks for any sort of motor vehicle transportation. The University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio prohibits driving on sidewalks with their policy which states: "A pro-active initiative has begun to promote the safety of all pedestrians using campus sidewalks."
There are now traffic signs posted on or around all entrances from roadways to campus sidewalks prohibiting unauthorized vehicles from driving on sidewalks.
Section 4511.711 of the Ohio Revised Codes states: 'No person shall drive any vehicle other than a bicycle upon a sidewalk are except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.' Campus Police have been made aware of the initiative and are prepared to enforce it."
The only vehicles that have a need to be driving on campus sidewalks are the maintenance vehicles that unload equipment to maintain the quality of our campus.
The University of Denver allows university vehicles to use sidewalks only under limited conditions. University vehicles may only use sidewalks when there is absolutely no other way to reach the worksite.
SBU also has similar policies. Parking in fire lanes, traffic right of ways, pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalks or other service areas are listed in the "Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Regulations" pamphlet under the parking violations section. The moving violations section indicates that operating a vehicle on areas other than streets or roadways is a violation.

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