Wednesday, February 12, 1997
SAFETY:
Public auto access to Murphy Hall should be curtailed in light
of recent accidents
Have you noticed that the university maintenance crews have
recently been repainting the pedestrian crossing ("PED XING") signs
and paths next to Murphy Hall? I am always curious as to why
certain policy measures are taken by decision makers, especially
the expediency thereof. They tend to be reactionary measures to
incidents that the political and administrative leaders attempt to
address (more like cover-up), as futile as some of their attempts
might be.
In light of this reaction to repainting the pedestrian crossing
signs, UCLA’s student body should be educated on the danger of
unmitigated (uncontrolled) traffic. Today’s subject is on-campus
traffic, and more specifically a call to alleviate and perhaps end
the flow of automotive traffic in front of Murphy Hall.
Now, you may be wondering why ending the flow of traffic in
front of Murphy is important and how it might affect you if this
issue is neglected. Let me try to provide some insight.
I live in the graduate dorms, better known as Hershey Hall.
Across the street from Hershey, on Hilgard Avenue, are numerous
sorority houses as well as four university-run houses. Within a
10-day period (approximately two weeks ago), two residents of these
Hilgard houses were hit by automobiles while crossing the street
dividing the law school buildings from Murphy Hall.
The first was not extremely severe. A woman was grazed by a UCLA
mail service van. She was able to walk and attend class after the
accident, being in physical shock at the time. Later on that day,
she began to show signs of physical ailment and decided to file a
police report after talking with some friends. Twelve hours later,
she was admitted to the on-campus hospital, checked out and
released. Currently, the woman attends physical therapy sessions
and has back problems. The other victim was not so lucky.
Approximately one week later, a male was hit by a speeding white
Honda Civic in front of Murphy Hall while crossing the
intersection. This man was hit hard, resulting in bruised ribs and
other physical injuries. He cracked the windshield of the car with
his body and was in the hospital for the rest of the day all
because he just wanted to get an education. Aren’t you glad that
the administration has some extra money to spend on paint?
I cross the intersection at least twice a day. All of my classes
are located near the law school, on the north side of campus. In my
experience (having attended one California State University, three
junior colleges and another UC), I have never seen a worse
integration of pedestrian and automotive traffic on a college
campus.
It is obvious that people and cars don’t mix. As a student in
the urban planning department, many of my colleagues study
transportation planning in urban areas. There is even a Web site on
college campus traffic problems. Many of these specialists will
tell you that the worst traffic, perhaps in the United States, is
just south of campus at the 405 and 10 freeway intersection. They
will also tell you that something should be done about the traffic
problems in front of Murphy Hall.
In between classes, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
people crossing this intersection within a brief time period. At
the same time, there are numerous automobiles with students who are
either late for class, late for work, in a hurry, frustrated with
L.A. traffic, etc. These drivers are not the most courteous and
cordial of people, especially if they are coming off the streets or
freeways of Los Angeles to campus. If you take these two conditions
as givens, along with the fact that there are no speed bumps, stop
signs or signals at the intersection in question, you have a
problem of uncontrollable traffic. I most certainly understand the
centrality of the automobile to living in Southern California, but
this is a university campus. People are the most important products
in this institution, and we should not allow ourselves to be
subjected to unnecessary violence.
During my undergraduate tenure at UC Davis, I cannot think of
one instance that compares to the situation in front of Murphy
Hall. At Davis, there are no private vehicles allowed on to the
central interior of campus. At every entrance to the interior,
there are blockades and electronic devices which restrict unwanted
traffic. Only the privileged may drive on campus, these being the
campus police, fire department, bus system and shipping/receiving
vehicles. A few faculty members have access to this inner sanctum
as well. I have never felt that my body was in danger on the
interior of campus, except for those crazy bicyclists who can’t
figure out how to use the round-abouts.
I understand the inherent differences between the cities of
Davis and Los Angeles, but I also attended a comparable urban
institution better know as San Diego State University. At SDSU,
there are not even bicycles allowed on campus, let alone parking or
automobile traffic close to where students walk and interact. I am
not asking the administration to restrict all public traffic to
off-campus, but I think they can remedy the situation in front of
Murphy Hall with a little more than paint.
I call upon Chancellor Young, the dean of students, the
maintenance department, Campus Parking Services, Associated
Students of UCLA, Graduate Students Association and other
responsible parties on this campus to end the flow of traffic in
front of Murphy Hall. Shut it down!
Automotive access for the public should be revoked until such
time that a traffic study and the proper measures are taken to
ensure the safety of the student body. Do not allow your fellow
students’ bodily harm to go unaddressed. Do not allow yourself to
be the next victim. I know  I almost got hit by a red Toyota
the other day.