Cars stop at the intersection of D and Second streets, students walk through the crosswalk, more students walk, and it never stops. A proper intersection has a traffic light, where people and cars take turns yielding the right of way.
D and Second Street is not a proper intersection. Although no intersection accidents have been reported people should make an effort to maintain a safe crosswalk. Although some college students like to live on the edge, being hit by a car, or getting a jaywalking ticket is not very edgy.
A ticket for jaywalking can be up to $191, and along with being fined pedestrians run the risk of being hit by a car even if the car is going nine miles an hour.
So what are the solutions?
It would be convenient if we had pedestrian bridges going over every street and intersection around the university but we don’t, at least not yet. People should respect the right of way and learn to work with what they’ve got.
Aside from pedestrian bridges, it would be nice if La Verne added a couple of crosswalks in places such as the new parking lot exit on D Street, and along Bonita Avenue closest to Stu-Han and Brandt.
The stretch of D Street between Second Street and Arrow Highway is especially troublesome due to Vista La Verne foot traffic and parking lot filled to capacity. Along with respecting the right of way, maybe students should also learn patience. Students rush across D street as if they are immune to cars and large trucks who drive down D street for the street fair.
Students who are in a rush to class do not necessarily stop and look around for the nearest crosswalk. If they are running late and the nearest intersection is a block down—they take the risk.
Increased foot traffic has also led to gridlock, particularly at the intersection of D Street and Second Street. This is especially bad in the evenings as cars line the block waiting for large groups of students who are rushing to their 6:30 classes.
After a driver patiently waits at an intersection for a group of students to pass, one starts to advance only to have a straggler cross again.
Drivers are forced to slowly creep past the crosswalk in order to get students to stop crossing, which creates more safety risks.
Another crosswalk in the middle of the block on Bonita Avenue would tie up traffic more on an already busy street. Putting it on D Street would possibly push traffic south onto the train tracks along Arrow Highway.
Hence a pedestrian bridge from Parking Lot D to the ACB would be a big help, but it would be expensive and there is not much space available.
Completely closing off D Street south of Second Street would be the safest solution, but it would restrict the flow of visitors to the city’s downtown area.
If this was thought out with enough consideration there would be a solution to the problem with input both from students and city officials.
Hopefully a solution to this problem will arise. But for now students must proceed with caution before crossing.
It starts with the teachings our parents and crossguards taught us since we started walking: Look both ways before you enter the crosswalk.
Maybe a civics course should be offered in the catalog
An intersection that no one respects is almost certain to produce accidents for drivers and pedestrians.
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.