2008 Woodie Awards
Riverside crosswalk needs protection
Clarkson student died at the crosswalk in 1977-why wait for another?
Editorial Staff
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Opinion
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In order to access the Riverside apartment complex, located across Clarkson Avenue from the new President's house, one must cross Clarkson Avenue by a crosswalk that has been poorly maintained. Instead of waiting for a student or other community member to be injured by a car while crossing the road, Clarkson should press the village of Potsdam to provide better protection to pedestrians at this location.
The Riverside apartments were built sometime in the 1950s, but at the time Clarkson did not own the property, and the university purchased the property many years later. Clarkson Avenue, however, is not Clarkson property: it is owned and operated by the Village of Potsdam.
Most Riverside residents feel unsafe crossing the road at this intersection, especially at night or during high traffic. It can be difficult to judge how far a car is from the crosswalk, especially because it's on top of a hill. Adjacent to the crosswalk is the road that leads past Snell Hall, forming an intersection with one stop sign. Pedestrians using the crosswalk must balance the oncoming traffic in both directions, which is usually heavy in the morning during a walk to class, as well as traffic from the intersection. One wrong move means serious injury or death for a student and maybe a minor dent for a vehicle.
Another problem with the location is that the speed limit is 30 miles per hour, but hardly any drivers obey the limit. Policemen have rarely to never been seen checking speeds in the area between the intersection with Route 11 and the entrances to the campus. If a driver who is unfamiliar with the area is not aware of the crosswalk because of its lack of substantial warning signs, a pedestrian's life may be in danger, and that pedestrian is probably a Clarkson student.
Some drivers have recently become annoyed with the students using the crosswalk. One Riverside resident witnessed a driver giving her the finger as she was crossing the road. Students should not be risking their life every time they go to and from their apartment, especially when any danger can be eliminated, or at least reduced, by using additional traffic signs.
The Riverside apartments were built sometime in the 1950s, but at the time Clarkson did not own the property, and the university purchased the property many years later. Clarkson Avenue, however, is not Clarkson property: it is owned and operated by the Village of Potsdam.
Most Riverside residents feel unsafe crossing the road at this intersection, especially at night or during high traffic. It can be difficult to judge how far a car is from the crosswalk, especially because it's on top of a hill. Adjacent to the crosswalk is the road that leads past Snell Hall, forming an intersection with one stop sign. Pedestrians using the crosswalk must balance the oncoming traffic in both directions, which is usually heavy in the morning during a walk to class, as well as traffic from the intersection. One wrong move means serious injury or death for a student and maybe a minor dent for a vehicle.
Another problem with the location is that the speed limit is 30 miles per hour, but hardly any drivers obey the limit. Policemen have rarely to never been seen checking speeds in the area between the intersection with Route 11 and the entrances to the campus. If a driver who is unfamiliar with the area is not aware of the crosswalk because of its lack of substantial warning signs, a pedestrian's life may be in danger, and that pedestrian is probably a Clarkson student.
Some drivers have recently become annoyed with the students using the crosswalk. One Riverside resident witnessed a driver giving her the finger as she was crossing the road. Students should not be risking their life every time they go to and from their apartment, especially when any danger can be eliminated, or at least reduced, by using additional traffic signs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Coleman Hamel
posted 12/07/06 @ 1:59 PM EST
It's the President's new house!!!!! Or did a new president sneak in when no one was looking?
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