Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A young man darted across the street at the corner of 14th and Tennessee streets at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Saturday. With a “Don’t Walk Sign” flashing, the man headed for the SafeBus parked on the street corner.
The man was a mere five minute walk from the corner of 13th and Kentucky streets — the intersection where former University of Kansas student Ryan Kanost was killed in a hit-and-run accident while crossing the street on Sept. 23, 2006. On Monday, Josh Walton was convicted of two misdemeanors: vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an injury accident. He’ll face up to two years in a county jail sentence and up to a $5,000 fine.
Nearly 18 months later, pedestrian safety in the near-campus Oread Neighborhood, commonly know to students as the “student ghetto,” is still a concern among University students. The neighborhood covers the area from Ninth and 17th streets to Missouri and Massachusetts streets, excluding campus. Three popular bars – The Wheel, The Hawk and The Bull – increase the heavy pedestrian traffic, and the neighborhood contains multiple one-way streets.
“It is unsafe because drunk people, in general, will walk across the street, and not pay attention,” Christine Peterson, Topeka junior, said.
Sergeant Paul Fellers, a Lawrence Police Department spokesperson, said the number of officers on duty depends on the number of officers available.
“While 14th and Ohio is a popular area, officers are responsible for the entire city of Lawrence. Occasionally when manpower allows, specialized enforcement is used to address certain issues,” Fellers said.
According to crime statistics from the Lawrence Police Department’s Web site, the Oread Neighborhood experienced fewer cases of DUI arrests during the first few months of 2007, compared with 2006. In 2006, 27 DUI arrests were made in Neighborhood Area 10B – the location of the Wheel, the Hawk and The Bull, as well as Kanost’s death.
Through June of 2007, only seven DUI arrest had been made. Statistics from July to December 2007 are not currently available on the Web site.
“The police department continues to focus as many resources as possible to deter and arrest impaired drivers,” Fellers said. “The Police Department appreciates and will respond to reports from the public regarding individuals driving under the influence.”
Nazar Kanchwala, Chicago freshman, and DeMario Luttrell, Des Moines, Iowa, freshman, stood on the corner of 14th and Ohio streets Saturday. “I feel like when you’re in a group of people its safer than when you’re alone,” Kanchwala said about walking around the neighborhood at night. “I wouldn’t walk around alone, but I would walk around in a group.”
Luttrell said the number of drunk students leaving the area bars can lead to problems.
“If people are stumbling out into the streets and stuff, it can be dangerous,” Luttrell said.
The heavy pedestrian traffic in the Oread Neighborhood can cause trouble for cars as well. Many greek organizations have designated drivers programs to prevent drunk driving. The Gamma Phi Beta sorority designates members for SADD – Sisters Against Drunk Driving – duty on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Ashley Blanchat, Wichita sophomore, said she’s done SADD duty about five times.
“It gets stressful,” Blanchat said. “People tend to forget there are cars that are driving along those streets, too.”
With three bars in a one block radius, Blanchat said dropping people off and picking people up can be a headache.
“There’s no safe place to drop people off,” Blanchat said. “People get annoyed when you stop, and they try to go around you as people are getting out of your car.”
Peterson said some of the safety responsibilities fell to the pedestrians.
“People don’t pay attention, they just sort of glance for cars,” Peterson said. “But people don’t know how fast cars are coming. If people would follow the crosswalk it’d be safe.”
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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