Staff Editorial: Pedestrian Safety

Bulletin front page headlines for the last two weeks have reflected a problem on the streets in and around Gonzaga University. Four students have been hit by vehicles in as many months. We are not dredging for sensationalism here; these are real incidents in which Zags have been seriously injured. We would be remiss to not cover these incidents, as well as speak to their gravity.

There is no doubt that students and other pedestrians should exercise more caution and  consciousness when crossing streets, but the issue may not stop there. Something needs to be done to make drivers more aware of the heavy pedestrian traffic in the area. Right-of-way laws seem to have failed in their efficacy. 

"Please know that this issue is of critical importance to me and we are actively working with the City to develop meaningful ways to improve pedestrian safety surrounding campus," President McCulloh said in a campuswide e-mail on Feb. 8 regarding pedestrian safety. He went on to recommend safety measures for both pedestrians and drivers, and explained the difficulties of obtaining new traffic features.

The Bulletin urges the administration to make good on its promise to aggressively lobby the City for changes. Sharp Avenue may be a difficult fix, requiring someone more knowledgeable than a few student editors, but the crosswalk at Hamilton Street and Desmet Avenue is more cut-and-dried: A stop light, stop sign or some sort of flashing light is incontrovertibly necessary. The preponderance of drivers simply do not notice the lines on the pavement or pedestrian signs, much less students waiting to cross. The University must do all in its power to protect the well-being of the scores of students living on the far side of Hamilton, in a hall and in houses.