UF Transportation and Parking Services has decided to restrict scooter drivers from driving through campus for the safety of pedestrians. This has reduced the amount of scooter parking close to the center of campus.
The most frequented scooter parking spaces are those closest to the classroom buildings, which are also the areas most populated with students.
I propose that the department not close the campus to scooters completely but only restrict access to the most central part of campus, which consists of the stretch of Newell Drive between Union Road and Inner Road. This area is the most pedestrian dense and contains a large crosswalk between Turlington Plaza and Century Tower.
Another area that is highly trafficked by students is the crosswalk between Weimer Hall and the Florida Gym on Stadium Road. A stop sign at that location would force scooter drivers to stop before they reached the crosswalk, allowing students to cross safely.
These changes would allow the parking lots behind the Academic Advising Center and those next to the Florida Gym, Library West and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to remain open to scooters.
UF has been supportive of Gators going green. Scooters are an affordable way for students to save money on gas and reduce their fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission. There is no reason to punish scooter owners when there are compromise options that protect students and allow drivers to continue parking close to class.
Justin Hewlett
UF Alumnus
