Lessons from Oxford

There’s something rotten in Bloomington. And it ain’t the bagels.

Traffic in college towns is never a cakewalk, but in the four weeks of this semester, a lack of caution and responsibility is taking its toll. So who’s to blame?

We could blame the vehicles. Since they are bigger, they make perfect “bad guys,” and because they are capable of causing serious damage to pedestrians, operators do have a heightened responsibility.

We could blame the pedestrians – especially those who jaywalk.

Walking during a white light is good, and walking during a red light is bad. Carving out a crosswalk for yourself in the middle of the street is even worse.

The side we take will likely depend on our preferred mode of transportation. If we’re walkers, cars will seem belligerent. If we’re drivers, pedestrians will seem headstrong.
Looking at the pattern of another university town might reveal some ideas for both lawmakers and students.

How about Oxford, U.K.? A key feature of Oxford traffic is restraint, on both governmental and individual levels.

The motorways are routed around the city and are joined by a ring road with several park and rides linked to the city bus system.

Vehicles are largely kept outside the city center, since there are virtually no through streets in the city.

Even the main routes are separated by pedestrian areas in the city center.

During my time as a student there, the bicycle, not than the car, was king. Some highbrow Oxford dons frowned on bicycling as invasive technology when it appeared on the streets more 100 years ago, but now even the relentless rain of Britain’s climate can’t keep students and faculty from their open-air rides.

Bloomington has some provisions for bicycling, with designated lanes north and south along Lincoln and Washington streets, east and west along parts of 11th street and Cottage Grove Avenue, and various additional lanes on many of the main streets.
But that’s just a start. The city of the Little 500 could stand still more bike-friendly measures such as a bike lane along 10th Street.

Even more, this town could stand more bikers, which might help to ease some of the parking and traffic issues on and near campus.

This next idea is plainly selfish.

I love driving through roundabouts – and Oxford has lots of roundabouts.   
Why not Bloomington? 

Despite the larger space they require in an intersection, roundabouts provide not only a thrill for some, but a smoother traffic flow for all.

A smoother traffic flow could result in fewer harried drivers, and this could translate into less stress-induced careless driving.

Roundabouts don’t belong everywhere, but in addition to providing smoother traffic, roundabouts also encourage constant alertness and responsibility from drivers.
Aspects of Oxford’s transportation structure can be imitated easily enough through time and public funding, but the attitude of responsibility groomed in that premier British university town cannot be mandated.

It’s up to you and me.