Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Commentary: Final Draft

Walking through the University of Central Florida’s main campus has become a complete disaster. Mobs of people are squished elbow to elbow, gasping for air and worrying about being late for their upcoming class. Then you hear wheels turning and the sound is getting closer and closer. The sidewalk soon splits and someone on a bike or skateboard roars through. Every time this happens I become furious and wish they would not ride where people are walking. Many people feel the same way, like freshman Samantha Salerno, who said, “I get mad and irritated because I always have to be watching out for people riding.” With over fifty three thousand students attending UCF and its satellite campuses, according to the University of Central Florida website, many people like me and Salerno are constantly on the lookout for rolling objects. In fact, when I go to class I have always been able to count at least ten people on bikes and skateboards. This has been the case from day one of the 2009 fall semester. According to Vanessa Fernandez of the Central Florida Future, however, skateboarding has been an issue at UCF ever since 2005. Skaters claim that riding on campus is twice as fast as walking, but with quickness there are many drawbacks as well. The University of Central Florida needs to ban, or at least alter, the skateboarding, longboarding, biking, scootering and other riding polices on campus. Such measures will increase campus safety, lower the stress of walking pedestrians, and even help students better socialize with one another.

Safety is the most important reason UCF needs to crack down on non-walking personal transportation methods. Christine Harper of the Central Florida Future reported that skateboards alone cause about twenty-six thousand people to visit the emergency room per year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These trips to the hospital include broken bones, concussions and open wounds in need of sewing up. This statistic does not, however, show how many people are injured and fail to go to the emergency room. Many students and skaters get bumps, bruises, and abrasions each and every day. I, for one, am a perfect example. I have been involved in three transportation related accidents. The first incident was when a skateboarder ran over the end of my foot. I escaped with a black scuff mark on my new Nike shoe, but the skater wasn’t as fortunate— he fell off his board and scraped up his right arm. The next accident I was involved in was when a bicyclist swerved into my back. Fortunately my backpack was crammed with calculus books so all I experienced was whiplash, but the crash was uncalled for and angered me. The last incident involved a longboarder and the back of my ankle. A shaggy-haired kid was riding and texting on his phone when he rudely hit the back of my leg. Pain shot through my body and I looked down to see a bleeding left leg. I had a deep cut on my ankle but did not need stitches. Aside from my personal experiences, I have also seen countless others involved in collisions. A more serious wreck involved a longboarder trying to dodge someone on the sidewalk next to the Nicholson School of Communications building. The longboarder tried to ramp off of the sidewalk to the street but he lost his balance and fell into the middle of the road. Luckily no cars were coming, but the student still broke his wrist as he tried to catch himself from the road. Many dangerous accidents like this have taken place thus far and they will only continue until new policies are implemented on University of Central Florida’s main campus.

While just about all walkers on the Central Florida campus think things need to change with people and their personal rides, most riders feel things are fine the way it is. Freshman skate and longboarder Steve Schimcat says he boards to class because it is quick and he enjoys the adrenaline rush. “I have been skateboarding all my life, and I am so glad I get to ride on campus.” Schimcat also says that riding allows him to free his mind and enjoy himself without leaving campus. When asked about the safety hazards bikers and skaters pose to themselves and others Steve said, “I ride with caution and try to notify people where I’m going in order to prevent accidents.” He also said he reduces his speed around crowds of people and he never rides while using electronic devices. Steve may say he does not use his cell phone or listen to his iPod while riding, but others are not as courteous or cautious. Accidents are common without distractions, but these electric toys make them even more evident. Electronic devices take away one or more of your senses and a lot of your attention. MP3 players take away one’s ability to hear. Student riders need to be able to hear cars coming, people walking and talking, and other individuals riding their vehicles. Vision is also reduced when using phones and music devices because skaters are peering into their hands and not scanning the road for people and obstacles up ahead.

Although people who ride bikes, boards, and scooters do not think restrictions should be created, something or some things do need to be changed. If nothing changes injuries will continue to occur and pedestrians will only get more aggravated. The best solution I have for the riding issue is to partially ban personal methods of transportation. I believe riding should be permitted on and outside of Gemini Boulevard only. Gemini circles the middle and most frequented part of campus. This area includes the academic buildings, student union and many dorm facilities. Skaters, bikers and scooterists should not have a problem walking within the limits of Gemini. Buildings are packed close together and riding is difficult there anyway. If students do have a problem it is because of pure laziness. I live just inside Gemini in the Lake Claire Apartments and it takes me, at most, fifteen minutes to get to all of my classes and other destinations located within Gemini’s boundaries. Fifteen minutes of walking is not too much to ask, especially if it helps the well-being of student and school staff safety.

All in all, the University of Central Florida definitely has a problem with the amount of bikes, scooters, skateboards, and longboards students ride on campus. If UCF were to use my idea—only allowing riding on and outside of Gemini Boulevard— many things would change for the better. Just imagine walkers being able to walk in peace. No tensing up every time wheels turn around them. Sidewalks will not be used as highways, just as walkways. I can see myself now: smiling on my way to class, not pent up with tension ready to yell at the next discourteous rider. Students will be able to walk side by side and hold steady conversations without having someone whiz in-between them. Bloody arms, knees and sidewalks will be a moment of the past. The University of Central Florida will be beautiful once and for all.

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