Peer reviewers of the University of Wisconsin Transportation Services department expressed concern Friday about aggressive bikers and moped drivers, along with the relationship between pedestrians and car drivers.
The forum included transportation directors from Princeton University, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Washington and California Polytechnic State University, who were invited to the forum to perform a peer review and evaluation of UW’s services. The conclusion of their reviews will be presented later at a yet to be announced date.
Director of Transportation for the University of Colorado Casey Jones said reviewers observed the campus between classes and saw a large amount of student pedestrian traffic. He said there are concerns about aggressive bikers and mopeds as well as drivers being uncomfortable with all the people crossing the streets on campus.
One forum participant, UW junior Michael Hickey, related a recent incident to the forum as an example of dangerous encounters between pedestrians and bikers.
“As I was trying to cross the street last week a biker came flying by and clipped me,” Hickey said. “I jumped out of the way and his handle bars caught my headphones and launched them into the street.”
The concerns were discussed at an open forum held by Transportation Services that included department members, students and representatives from several other universities participating in a peer review of UW.
The forum also touched on ways to increase students’ knowledge about Transportation Services and what they provide for students.
“There are so many other things that they offer that people have no idea about, so I think it’s important for people to know that there are other resources,” UW senior Victoria Pulse said.
Transportation Services Director Patrick Kass said there is not just one good medium to reach the entire student body.
“We need to sit down and try to find a matrix that works, including partnering with the student newspapers, e-mail, direct messages and using social networks,” Kass said.
Second year graduate student in the department of urban and regional planning and public affairs Adam Smith suggested the idea of giving students information about the Transportation Services while they are standing in line to receive their bus passes.
All of the peer reviewers and Kass agreed it was vital to get student input to improve campus transportation and said open forums were a good way to hear concerns and ideas from students, provided students come and voice their concerns and opinions.
Princeton’s Transportation and Parking Services Director Kim Jackson said it is critical to talk to students to find out from their perspective on what they really need.
“The issues facing the campus transportation director are bigger than they have ever been; the environment that we operate in is more complex than it has ever been,” Kass said. “To solve the challenges on this scale really does take the whole of the campus community.”
