With clogging construction on Broadway, the CU Police Department is warning students to be extra cautious on their commutes to and from campus.
CUPD released a press release with information regarding construction on Broadway, along with pedestrian safety tips for students to keep in mind this spring. According to the press release, “pedestrian injuries are often the result of inattentive motorists and persons not using crosswalks.” It also warns drivers and pedestrians to avoid technological distractions like cell phones, iPods and GPS devices.
Roadwork signage on Euclid Ave. at Broadway St. CUPD is advising students to be extra careful crossing Broadway due to the construction. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)
Ryan Huff, communications manager for CUPD, said the tips and information were introduced for a few reasons, namely the construction situation on Broadway.
“Since students left for winter break, traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction on Broadway Street,” Huff said.
Josh Tiras, a 21-year-old junior aerospace engineering major, said that the amount of traffic on Broadway is inconvenient.
“Getting everywhere else is not bad,” Tiras said. “It’s just hard because everything runs through Broadway. There’s definitely trouble there.”
Another point of release was to help drivers and students better understand the HAWK crosswalk on campus. The HAWK crosswalk stops vehicles so pedestrians can get across and as soon as the pedestrians pass, the light allows vehicles to continue. The signal for the crosswalk does not affect side streets and does not promote traffic.
Huff said most pedestrians understand the HAWK crosswalk, but drivers are still having trouble. He explained that if the light is flashing red at the crosswalk, drivers should treat it as a stop sign; if the light is solid red, it should be treated as a stoplight.
Jacob Parelman, a 20-year-old sophomore psychology major said that, overall, he feels safe cycling to and around campus.
“Being a pedestrian city, automobile drivers understand,” Parelman said.
Parelman said that he felt the construction of the new pedestrian underpasses unnecessary.
“People are still going to be crossing the street wherever they want,” Parelman said.
Huff said that he hopes the tips will result in a decrease of accidents like the one that occurred in September on Regent Drive, in which a student was critically injured. He also intends to reintroduce the safety information and tips in upcoming semesters.
“There is a potential for accidents if people don’t take the time to increase safety and awareness,” Huff said. “Take the time to protect yourself as well as others.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Adrian Garcia at adga6558@colorado.edu.
