It’s chaos in the crosswalks of NIC.
Day after day, on my way across campus, I stand on the curb, waiting to cross—and watch cars blow through the crosswalk. When a car does stop to let me cross, more often than not, the driver stomps on the gas the moment I’m out of way.
There are dozens of excuses for plowing through crosswalks like this. Maybe you’re running late for class. Maybe you spotted an empty parking space off in the distance, so you’re racing toward it with all the speed and desperation of Indiana Jones fleeing a giant boulder. Maybe you’re just too busy rocking out to Coldplay to notice the pedestrians clustered on the curb.
In the end, the excuse doesn’t really matter—because, frankly, there is no excuse for being inconsiderate and breaking the law. Idaho law mandates that drivers stop at crosswalks, and remain stopped until the crosswalk is clear, not just until the pedestrian is out of the way. Just sit tight; a few extra seconds of patience won’t hurt anyone.
Every day, I also spot blatant jaywalkers. Countless students step off the curbs in inappropriate places, apparently trusting drivers not to run them down. Teenage girls scamper across the road, nowhere near a crosswalk. Frisbee-playing dudes lope across, barely glancing around for cars. Let’s not forget the “anglers,” who start in the crosswalk, but walk at a diagonal angle and soon find themselves strolling blithely through the middle of the road.
Is it really so difficult to mosey over to the nearest crosswalk? At NIC, there seems to be a crosswalk every few feet. Finding one is hardly an arduous task.
Using a crosswalk might take you a bit out of your way, but crossing safely is well worth the extra time. Trust me: Getting hit by a car will slow you down a lot more.
Drivers aren’t psychic. They can’t sense the pedestrians preparing to dash across the road in front of them. Because of this, it’s important to cross in the right place, and also in the right way. Before you step off the curb, make eye contact with the driver who has stopped, to make sure you’ve been seen. If you’re on a bicycle or skateboard, dismount and walk while crossing.
Keep your eyes peeled for pedestrians when driving on campus, particularly in jaywalking hotspots like the area near the SUB, and keep that lead foot in check.
If pedestrians and drivers can pull it together and follow the rules of the road, we can all roam the NIC campus with confidence and safety.
