Pedestrians shouldn’t have to compete with bikers and skateboarders for sidewalk usage

Some of USD’s walkways are as small as five feet in width. This is too small for bikers, skateboarders and pedestrians to coexist during busier times of day.

As far as I can tell, there aren’t laws or rules regarding skateboarders or bikers on campus.

I went to UPD, SGA, the State of South Dakota codified law website, the City of Vermillion, even consulted the USD student handbook, and couldn’t find laws or rules about who can and who can’t drive, ride or walk on USD’s walkways and sidewalks.

None of the institutions I contacted regarding the subject were even sure it was in their jurisdiction. Farrel Christensen, the building codes official at the City of Vermillion, said USD is private property, and is therefore out of their jurisdiction.

This means the university makes its own rules about who can and can’t use the sidewalks, and what they can use them for.

At most times of the day, using bikes and skateboards on the sidewalks is appropriate and safe. However, there are times when riding bikes and skateboards is discourteous and dangerous.

During passing times, sidewalks and walkways are crowded and there isn’t much room for bikers and skateboards to get by the pedestrians, especially if they’re in groups.

On the smaller sidewalks, bikers may have trouble getting by even one person. This isn’t a problem during non-busy times, say after classes are over, so it’s easier for pedestrians to move out of the way of the bikers and skateboarders.

I understand using a bike or a skateboard as a means for quick and easy transportation across campus, but the threat to public safety is greater than the personal benefit to those who bike and skateboard to class during busy times.

The only real benefit they get is the time they save getting from point A to point B, but they would only save a few minutes, considering the time it takes to unlock and lock up the bike.

According to Google Maps, it takes 13 minutes to walk from the Music Museum to North Complex (across campus). It would take a biker only four minutes of actual biking time, but if he or she has to unlock and lock the bike, which say takes five minutes, biking really isn’t much more time efficient than walking.

In this case, the threats to public safety outweigh the benefits.

There should be a rule that prohibits people from biking or skateboarding on the university’s sidewalks at busy times of day.