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In a society where people are getting scared to speak up, safety becomes an issue.
Needless to say, I have nearly been run over by bicycles, scooters and skateboards multiple times, and I don’t understand why people riding them don’t say anything. I thought it was common bicycle/scooter/skateboard etiquette that when you ride on the sidewalk with people around, you say “on your left” or “on your right,” so that people have the chance to move over. But I haven’t heard that once, only the occasional bicycle bell, if we’re lucky. Why don’t they say something?
It bothers me that people riding these vehicles don’t feel the need to speak up. Or, they are too scared to speak up. I understand this fear, it’s not easy to say something when there are a lot of people around, especially those who have headphones in, but it’s really important to get over it. It’s a matter of safety, and there shouldn’t be any hesitancy about it.
I find this especially frustrating when people riding bicycles, scooters and skateboards are riding behind an unknowing group of people and act annoyed. People can’t read your mind, and even if they did, pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks, so consider riding on the street if it bothers you so much. Sometimes, the person riding their vehicle slows down, and when people don’t move over, they wait for an opening and whizz by. I find that super dangerous, because if someone in that group took one small step to their right or left, they could get injured. This entire possible catastrophe could be avoided if they just said something.
I found some information on Protect IU about scooter and bicycle use on campus. It says that scooters and bicycles should not be used on sidewalks, especially if there are a lot of pedestrians around. It also says that people on such vehicles should use hand signals and obey traffic laws when riding on the road. I agree with both of these points. I do think it is okay for bicycle, scooter and skateboard users to ride on sidewalks, since riding on the road may be scary for some, but I think policies should clarify that if someone is riding on the sidewalk, they should use phrases and alert those around them. This is a crucial part of bicycle, scooter and skateboard use that should be included in safety regulations. Even signs around campus reminding people on these vehicles to speak up could help. It should be common sense, but maybe a little reminder would help tremendously and increase sidewalk safety.
There isn’t much research or regulation about safety for people riding bicycles, scooters or skateboards on the sidewalk, but the City of Bloomington has been making efforts to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and runners in general. For example, they want to reduce the number of crashes, whether they’re car-related or bicycle-related, with the Safe Streets for All action plan; they want to promote and encourage safe and efficient bicycling, walking and running for the purpose of health, recreation and transportation with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission; and they want to improve the conditions of sidewalks so that they are well-maintained for those who use them with their project to innovate sidewalk maintenance. Overall, the city is doing a good job at providing safety regulations for pedestrians, but, like I mentioned above, there should be some specific sidewalk safety policies that will further improve the safety conditions in Bloomington and around campus.
People need to communicate on the sidewalk. This is essential for campus safety, and I don’t think it’s a difficult thing to ask. So bikers, scooter users and skateboarders, please, please, please say something. Your safety and other’s safety depends on it.
Evelyn Strauss is a freshman studying international studies and human biology
