Spring Break
Scooter riders need to show responsibility
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Opinion
The scooter was invented in 1946 in Europe as an economical alternative to the car. The popularity of the Vespa has soared with the number of registered scooters and motorcycles at the UA increasing to 68 vehicles since the 2005-06 school year, according to an article in today's issue of The Arkansas Traveler.
But as this new toy makes its way back into the popular scene, it has also made its way through our sidewalks.
According to an Arkansas ordinance, it is illegal to ride scooters on the sidewalks, and yet the scooters remain.
In today's article in the Traveler, students and officials alike said the scooters on sidewalks have become a real problem. And we on the editorial board agree.
With more than 18,000 students walking around the already-crowded sidewalks, can we please have some kind of courtesy from scooter users?
It is highly disrespectful to the pedestrians to take over the sidewalk, and there is also a danger of running over someone.
Our campus is designed mostly for pedestrians and bikes, but not necessarily for a scooter, no matter what size.
There are three different citations for illegally riding scooters on sidewalks, said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer for the UA Police Department.
As of January, no citations have been written for sidewalk riding, Crain said. But we and other students have seen people in scooters on the sidewalks.
So, who's not doing what they're supposed to do?
Are the UA officials responsible for not keeping a better check on the ordinance, or are the students responsible for breaking the rules?
In our opinion, both riders and officials share the fault. University students are not children anymore, and, therefore, should not need police officers to follow them around to make sure they are following the rules. As educated adults, it seems students should have the common sense and courtesy to not ride on narrow sidewalks used by pedestrians.
But as this new toy makes its way back into the popular scene, it has also made its way through our sidewalks.
According to an Arkansas ordinance, it is illegal to ride scooters on the sidewalks, and yet the scooters remain.
In today's article in the Traveler, students and officials alike said the scooters on sidewalks have become a real problem. And we on the editorial board agree.
With more than 18,000 students walking around the already-crowded sidewalks, can we please have some kind of courtesy from scooter users?
It is highly disrespectful to the pedestrians to take over the sidewalk, and there is also a danger of running over someone.
Our campus is designed mostly for pedestrians and bikes, but not necessarily for a scooter, no matter what size.
There are three different citations for illegally riding scooters on sidewalks, said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer for the UA Police Department.
As of January, no citations have been written for sidewalk riding, Crain said. But we and other students have seen people in scooters on the sidewalks.
So, who's not doing what they're supposed to do?
Are the UA officials responsible for not keeping a better check on the ordinance, or are the students responsible for breaking the rules?
In our opinion, both riders and officials share the fault. University students are not children anymore, and, therefore, should not need police officers to follow them around to make sure they are following the rules. As educated adults, it seems students should have the common sense and courtesy to not ride on narrow sidewalks used by pedestrians.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brian
posted 1/18/08 @ 1:22 AM CST
As a long time scooter rider, and facilitator of the current scooter policy enacted about 3-4 years ago, I too am concerned about what I'm seeing on campus. (Continued…)
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