Campus safety task force proposes trial crosswalks

Two months after its formation by Bloomington Provost Karen Hanson, a safety task force has called for the creation of a newer and safer type of crosswalk.

The task force, which was formed Sept. 18 after student Peter Duong was hit and killed by a car on Fee Lane earlier that month, made five main recommendations to Hanson.

One of the recommendations formed by the task force, which is made up of students, faculty, staff and members of the Bloomington community, is to test two crosswalks with “safe zones” on Fee Lane and to install them at several other locations if they improve traffic safety.

If a pedestrian walks into the street before a car enters the “safety zone,” the pedestrian has the right-of-way, according to the recommendations.

Indiana code on whether a car or pedestrian has the right-of-way at “midblock” crosswalks, which connect sidewalks between traffic lights, is unclear, said Kurt Zorn, co-chair of the task force. Confusion is increased because some students come from states where laws are different.

The recommended crosswalks are designed to clear up uncertainty and to be easy to explain. The task force members from the IU Police Department and Bloomington Police Department were comfortable with the idea, Zorn said.

The committee discussed how the markings would alert drivers more than other crosswalks would and make drivers feel as if the road is narrower, said Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith.

“It’s a unique kind of marking, so hopefully it gets driver’s attention,“ Goldsmith said.
Another recommendation calls for increased education and awareness on traffic safety, including more education for drivers, bikers and walkers through literature and programs focused on new students.

“The education part is focused on everybody,” Goldsmith said.

He said that everyone needs to be aware of their responsibility as pedestrians, drivers and riders in a crowded environment.

Zorn said he wants to remind people of the rules.

“Everyone needs to pay attention to the ‘rules of the road’ so to speak,” he said.

To keep the message in the minds of students and staffs, the report recommends an ongoing media campaign.  

The report also recommends changing some bus stops, including extending the right turn lane in front of the Herman B Wells Library 100 feet to the west so stopped buses don’t block the right turn lane. It also suggests adding a left turn arrow for those turning onto Fee Lane from the eastbound lane on 10th Street.

The last two recommendations are to hire an engineer to survey the pedestrian, biker and vehicle traffic throughout campus and to create a standing committee or advisory body to keep track of traffic safety.

Some of the recommendations came from task force members. Others came from a suggestion e-mail account Hanson set up shortly after Duong’s accident, Zorn said.

“Most of us read through the 500 or so suggestions that came through and there were some common themes,” Zorn said.

Recommendations from the task force

1 Have an education program at the beginning of each semester

2 Create crosswalks with “safe zones” where pedestrians have the right-of-way and implement two trial crosswalks on Fee Lane

3 Moving or eliminating campus and city bus stops

4 Having a traffic engineer study bicycle and traffic patterns

5 Forming a committee or board for continuous oversight of campus traffic safety issues

To see the task force’s complete recommendations, members and meeting minutes, go to www.iub.edu/provost/traffic.