There’s no way of telling exactly how many bike, skateboard and scooter accidents students are getting into on Arizona State University’s Tempe campus.
With having so many students attend on-campus classes, crashes are bound to happen.
“I see at least one bike or skateboard accident everyday,” said Connor Ray, an ASU student DART Driver for the Disability Resource Center.
Ray’s job is to pick up and drop off students with disabilities around campus, so witnessing collisions has become routine.
Walk-only zones around campus are provided in certain areas during specific times, but this doesn’t mean students completely abide by the rules. There’s no one to stop them if they choose to not follow them.
“Usually bikers are at fault because they’re going too fast around campus, but students listening to music and staring at their phones can be just as dangerous because they’re unaware of their surroundings,” said Ray.
Students aren’t quick to believe they’re at fault for listening to music, but as seen by others, the lack of being observant has aided in these collisions.
“Once, I hit a guy on my skateboard, and I’ll admit I was in the walk-only zone, but there’s no one to stop me from doing it especially when there aren’t much people around anyways,” said Josiah Destin, an ASU sophomore.
If someone doesn’t move or notice a rider is coming their way, the rider will usually stop before the collision occurs, according to Destin.
“I’ll be the bad guy and take the blame for running into people, but it’d be really nice if other people were observant of their surroundings. Crashes wouldn’t happen as much,” Destin said.
Collisions and the people hit aren’t always so forgiving. Students do get injured and believe if all riders abided by the rules set on campus accidents wouldn’t happen as often.
ASU student, Yasmeen Ketcherside suffered a great deal of injury because a bicyclist “carelessly” crashed into her.
“He wasn’t looking where he was going, and he crashed into my side, leaving my leg completely bruised. It was so painful,” she said.
Ketcherside was walking with her friend in a walk-only zone, not using earphones; the most common thing people noticed students use when they are a part of a crash.
“What upset me the most was how he dealt with the situation. He apologized and quickly left, and it makes me wonder how often that happens,” said Ketcherside.
Both students and riders said they felt as if the other was at fault for the reoccurring accidents on campus.
Students should be more aware of their surroundings, and riders should abide by the walk-only zones rules and any other rule ASU has given them, according to Ketcherside.
