City should improve street traffic situation

Earlier this month while traveling to Minneapolis on business, I witnessed a rare phenomenon: a busy metropolitan community where cars, bicycles and pedestrians co-existed in relative harmony. I was pleasantly surprised to see cars routinely yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, respect bike lanes and generally refrain from the "I own the road" mentality often witnessed here in Greater Lafayette. Traffic wasn’t snarled, there wasn’t a barrage of angry car horns, and I didn’t see many rude hand gestures or lane changes. I was AMAZED!

Of course the situation was a culmination of efforts. Bicyclists used generous and well-marked lanes and followed traffic signals. Pedestrians also observed signals and (mostly) didn’t jaywalk. I didn’t see motorists running red (or late yellow) lights. More importantly, the city found it in their means to accommodate all commuters by providing adequate facilities. Several miles of skyways linked buildings, completely separating a large percentage of pedestrian traffic from the streets. A pedestrian bridge across State Street at University would be a great addition to our campus.

Perhaps our own community can apply some of these simple concepts to relieve the aggravation of students, faculty, staff and residents who travel in and around West Lafayette. Merely observing the rules of the road would be a good start, but success lies in compliance by motorized and non-motorized traffic. The city could follow up with improved signal timing and lane markings (especially between 2nd and 4th streets). The completion of the road resurfacing, US 231 and railroad relocation projects has certainly improved conditions for vehicles — let’s continue the trend for the rest of our commuters. We just might live up to those "Bicycle Friendly Community" signs optimistically posted a few years ago.

A. Guentert

Staff member

Dept. of Food Science

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