letter to UCF

Dear UCF:
There is an epidemic, from my perspective, going on around campus. This is that students and faculty across campus are using other modes of transportation to get around campus while others, such as myself are walking. This frustrates me for a multiple of reasons. Number one is the fact that every day that I calmly make my way around campus I am being put at risk because of the fact that others are flying by me at an alarming rate. I understand that people may on occasion, be late for class which in turn will make them increase their rate of speed, but on bikes / roller blades / skateboards and long boards this is dangerous. From my point of view, I put others at risk when I’m sprinting trying to make class on time; and this is using my own feet. If you just sit and put yourself or one of your loved ones in this position then I believe that you will think hands down things need to be changed. Everyone, including teachers and staff are at risk and I believe under a certain amount of scrutiny, then we can make a change for the better. I have noticed also that some of the people using these modes of transportation are riding things twice the size of themselves. That can’t be safe. I literally saw a girl about five feet two inches tall riding a long board that was easier taller than she was and probably weighed just as much. There was no way that she could have controlled it in a crucial situation. I know that we can’t be bias and let some people using transportation and others not. So how could we make a drastic change for the better without drastically affecting the students? I figured that maybe there could be designated areas along the walkways around campus that could just be for bicycles / roller blades / skateboards etc. I believe that this could be an inexpensive way that could overall improve the well – being of the campus and its community. Not knowing the history of these incidents I can only go on what I see, and if there hasn’t been a lawsuit already then I’m sure it is only inevitable. I know multiple people {friends, family, etc.} that use different means of transportation to get around campus and I strongly urge them to reconsider and walk their lazy butts to class. I think that overall there needs to be some changes for the better around campus. Understandably I could see how at a smaller school this wouldn’t be such a problem, but the fact still remains that at one of the largest University’s in the country, we need to think outside the box and keep our students safety in mind. The majority of people do not like change, but when the overall well – being of the community is in question then without question, changes need to be made. Thank you very much for your time and I hope you take my words into consideration.