Speeding on Inner Loop must be stopped

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by Scott Dewey

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To the editor:

More than three times just within the past two weeks, I have seen motorists on the Inner Loop around campus threatening, harassing and intimidating pedestrians seeking to use marked crosswalks.

This problem seems to be particularly acute on the north side of campus. On the south side of the loop, there is frequently more traffic, more parked cars and other obstructions that evidently impede the speeders.

But on the north side, they drive as though they were on I-40 east of Amarillo with nobody else around for miles.

It is chiefly young drivers, whether students or visitors, who are to blame. They are breaking the law, either by the mere fact of speeding or by violating the rights of pedestrians at a crosswalk, to which motorists must legally defer.

I am writing to bring this problem to the attention of the proper campus officials -- the Campus Police, the parking authority, whoever -- and to urge them to take appropriate action.

Since this grossly inconsiderate speeding is rampant, and police officers of course cannot be patrolling for and pursuing speeders all the time, I would recommend a structural solution.

One or two good speed bumps spaced 15 to 25 feet in front of each marked crosswalk could do a world of good for slowing down speeders and would not much affect those who are already behaving in a proper way.

These speed bumps could have openings left on the sides, or perhaps in the middle, so that they would not impede skaters or cyclists who use the Inner Loop but would slow down automobiles.

Otherwise, perhaps more stop signs could be used, although many motorists frequently ignore some of those already in place.

Pedestrians should not have to feel intimidated by cars on a mostly-walking campus such as Rice.

If such irresponsible, infantile and idiotic driving behavior is allowed to continue, I have no doubt that before too long, some innocent pedestrian will be seriously hurt.

Scott Dewey

Graduate Student

Department of History

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the February 23, 1996 issue.

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