Throughout my time as a columnist at the University of Oregon, I have rarely focused on issues that are close to home; instead choosing to put all my opinionated energy toward events across the globe, over which I have absolutely no control. Therefore, for this, my last column at the Oregon Daily Emerald, I should be most pleased to opine on my favorite Eugene talking point: Traffic and transportation.
1. Eugene drivers
California drivers are too fast. Italian drivers are erratic. Elderly drivers take too long to pull out of their driveways. Eugene drivers go 10 miles under the speed limit.
What’s the deal everyone? If we’re allowed to drive at 30 mph, I say we make the most out of that opportunity. That means no creeping around wide curves at half the posted speed limit, or taking two minutes to complete a turn while traveling at 5 mph. Also, drivers, let’s keep in mind that using the break pedal is not the only way to slow down your car: Just take your foot off the gas pedal. Driving with the gas pedal instead of the breaks is better for the automobile; and most importantly, rather than hitting your brakes and starting a chain reaction of brake usage that slows down a two mile long line of traffic, decelerating instead of breaking makes it a snap whenever the time comes to re-accelerate.
2. Bicyclists have rights, too
Okay, we all know that Eugene is a bike friendly town, and for the most part it is.
However, there are a few very basic problems with bike transportation in this town; namely, drivers and pedestrians who fail to appropriately respond to non-motorized vehicles.
Although few bicyclists prefer to travel onto pedestrian territory, in areas of town without bike lanes, bicyclists are often forced to ride on the sidewalks. To promote efficient and safe travel for both parties, pedestrians should step to their right or left and let the bicyclist pass. A pedestrian can safely walk along a parking strip, lawn or cluster of shrubbery for five seconds, whereas a bicyclist runs the risk of falling should they attempt a pass by veering off of the sidewalk.
All too often, pedestrians walk down the street staring at their feet, or their phone, or a passing butterfly, and remain blissfully unaware that they are walking in the path or a bicyclist. Also, if you are a pedestrian, please, please, do not walk down the middle of a bike lane, then act surprised when a bicyclist comes up behind you. This situation is all too common in the bike lane running West on 13th, between Alder and Kincaid.
Cars too are often guilty of simply failing to notice the movements of all vehicles, motorized or not, on the road. When making a right hand turn for instance, many cars will look only to their left, failing to check for a bicyclist crossing the road the car intends to turn onto. Automobile drivers need to remember that when making a turn, the vehicle going straight has the right of way, even if that vehicle is bike.
3. Traffic lights
This sub-point is simple. Listen up city of Eugene: it’s called timing the lights. I guarantee traffic will run twice as fast if lights at intersections in a long row, such as those on 18th, are timed with one another so that cars are not forced to stop every two blocks.
4. Parking on campus
I guarantee that every student driver is beyond fed up with the plethora of 2 hour spots right next to the University, and a lack of any other free long term parking option. In 2 hours, when considering the time spent walking to and from the vehicle, a student can only attend a single 50 minute class; rendering almost every free parking spot near campus useless if a student has more than one class in a day, or wishes to stop by the library or go see a professor during office hours. There is no reason that half of those 2 hour spots cannot be converted to 4 hour spaces. I should hope the University would agree that aiding in the ease of education for students is more important than DPS’ daily quota of parking violations.
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