Commentary: Rough Draft

Walking through the University of Central Florida’s main campus has become a complete disaster. Over fifty three thousand students attend UCF and its satellite campuses, according to the University of Central Florida website, and it seems like everyone is out and about in the middle of the day. 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.” The “people” Salerno refers to is not a small amount either. 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. But, skateboarding has been an issue at UCF ever since 2005 according to Vanessa Fernandez of the Central Florida Future. Skaters claim that riding on campus is twice as fast as walking, but there are many drawbacks with them as well. The University of Central Florida needs to fix the skateboarding, long boarding, biking, scootering, and other riding problems on campus because it will increase the safety, lower the stress of walking pedestrians, and even help students socialize with one another.

Safety is the most important reason UCF needs to crack down on non walking personal transportation methods. Christine Harper from 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 do not 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 new white Nike shoe. Not such a big deal for me, but 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. Luckily my backpack was packed with calculus books so all I experienced was whiplash, but it still angered me. The last crash involved a long boarder 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. I have also seen countless others involved in collisions. A more serious wreck involved a long-boarder trying to dodge someone on the sidewalk next to the communications building. The long boarder tried to ramp off of the sidewalk to the street, but he lost his balance and feel 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 things change on the University of Central Florida 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 long boarder Steve Schimcat says he boards to class because it is quicker and it is what he loves to do. “I have been skateboarding all my life, and I am so glad I get to ride on campus.” Schimcat also says riding allows him to free his mind and enjoy himself without leaving campus. When asked about the safety hazard bikers and skaters cause themselves and others Steve said, “I ride with caution and try to notify people where I’m going 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 do. Accidents are common without distractions, but with these electric toys, they are even more evident. Electronic devices take away one or more of your senses and a lot of your attention. MP3 players take away people’s ability to hear. Student riders need to be able to hear cars coming, people walking and talking, and other individuals riding their vehicles.

Although people who ride bikes, skateboards, long boards, and scooters do not think anything should be done, something or 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 it. I think riding should be permitted on and outside of Gemini Boulevard only. Gemini circles the middle and most used part of campus. Inside the circle includes the academic buildings, student union, and many dorm facilities. Skaters, bikers, and scooterers should not have a problem walking within 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 in the middle of campus. Fifteen minutes is not too much to ask, especially if it helps the well being of students safety.

All in all, the University of Central Florida definitely has a problem with the amount of bikes, scooters, skateboards, and long boards students ride on campus. If UCF were to use my idea and only allow riding on and outside of Gemini road 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 fierce as I wait to yell at the next rude rider. Students will be able to walk side by side and hold steady conversations without having someone wiz through them. Bloody arms, knees, and sidewalks will be a thing in the past. UCF will be beautiful once and for all.