Speak up by hitting the pavement for campus safety walk
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Students, faculty and staff are invited to join in a walking tour of campus on National Walking Day, April 6, at 2 p.m. The policy tour event will highlight bike and pedestrian safety efforts on campus.
The walk will begin on 21st Avenue between the Vanderbilt Law School and the Owen Graduate School of Management. Participants are encouraged to join the walk at any point along the route.
Campus safety and planning officials as well as representatives of Metro Government Public Works and Planning will join in the policy walk, sponsored by WalkBike Vanderbilt, a newly formed organization on campus.
“This policy walk is the Vanderbilt community’s opportunity to offer input into pedestrian and bike safety issues around campus – both what is working well and what could be improved,” said Mary Pat Teague, associate director, Community, Neighborhood and Local Government Relations.
Members of the Vanderbilt community have submitted suggestions for areas to include on the tour. You may submit additional suggestions towalkbike@vanderbilt.edu.
Points of interest along the tour are as follows (see map below):
- 21st Avenue South at the Law School and Owen School parking entrances. Pedestrian and vehicle right of ways aren’t clear when light is green.
- 21st Avenue South at Terrace Place. Vehicles are failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Pedestrians also are crossing mid-block.
- Intersection of West End Avenue at 21st Avenue South. Traffic light timing has created a dangerous conflict between pedestrians legally in the crosswalk and vehicles turning left onto West End. Metro Public Works will share findings from a review of the intersection.
- Intersection of West End Avenue at 23rd Avenue South. Traffic light timing has created a dangerous conflict between pedestrians legally in the crosswalk and the vehicles turning left on West End.
- 25th Avenue South at the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center (formerly Student Rec Center) down to fraternity houses and the Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt bookstore. Improved lighting needed.
- Crosswalks at 24th Avenue South and Blakemore, Natchez Trace and Kensington, and 25th Avenue South at the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center. Enforcement needed for crosswalk violations by vehicles.
Additional topics for discussion along the walk may include covered bike parking, video surveillance of bike theft, bike commuting and bike pathway designation.
Transportation survey option
Members of the campus community also are encouraged to fill out the Vanderbilt Active Transportation Survey. Organized by the Hillsboro West End Neighborhood (HWEN), the survey will be conducted between April 3 and April 11.The collected data will be used to promote alternatives to commuting by car to campus. HWEN also hopes the survey data will aid in campus planning for parking and commuting options, according to Teague.
Bike safety class offered
A bike safety class will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. April 10 at the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center.
Pedestrian and bike safety reminders
The committee reminds members of the campus community to exercise caution on campus roadways. Cyclists may be required to walk their bikes in some areas, including pedestrian bridges. Cyclists should yield to pedestrians, observe speed limits and provide audible notice when passing. For additional bike and pedestrian safety information, please refer to The Student Handbook.
Information for bicycle commuting to campus can be found here. Click here to join the BikeWalk Vanderbilt listserv.
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