UF’s Students for the New Urbanism is bringing pedestrian safety to the local community’s attention.
The students used nonpermanent marking spray chalk to make a crosswalk at the intersection of Northwest First Avenue and Northwest 16th Street to promote pedestrian safety, said 19-year-old president Ethan Hudgins.
The sustainability and the built environment sophomore said New Urbanism is a national organization geared toward promoting community building and awareness of environmental and economic issues within local communities.
Hudgins started the UF organization in April to promote New Urbanism to a larger audience. It plans to create pedestrian-friendly streets between downtown and campus.
Alexa Rossi, 22, depends on her bicycle for transportation. The UF religion senior said she appreciates that the group is promoting safety and community building, but she believes more crosswalks will not solve all the safety issues in the community.
“There are a lot of bikers and drivers on the road who don’t pay attention,” she said, adding that more crosswalks won’t prevent pedestrians from cutting through traffic.
The UF organization has more projects lined up to encourage pedestrian safety, such as painting intersections and installing bicycle ramps. Hudgins said cities all across the nation are making great progress.
“Gainesville is already doing a great job,” she said.
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 10/31/2014]
