I recently took some time to sit, think and evaluate. I began to look at what’s going on within my environment. Let’s just say that I did not like what I saw.
I worry about bikers; I worry about pedestrians. Maybe I worry too much, but I was talking to my sister, and she told me about a co-worker of hers who was knocked unconscious by Linfield students after their vehicle struck when she was on her bicycle. The woman was helped to her home, where she vomited throughout the following day as a result of a concussion. She doesn’t even know who is responsible for hitting her.
What happened to her highlights an honest fact: The streets surrounding our campus are dangerous. If you don’t believe that, then you’re not looking closely enough.
The streets are too narrow. Turning left onto Linfield Avenue from Renshaw Avenue or onto Lever Street from Brumback Street is dangerous. There are cars parked along the sidewalk that obstruct drivers’ vision; inching out to increase visibility can be risky, and it takes less than a second for an accident to occur. The same can be said for the streets downtown.
It’s always a gamble driving down a narrow road. It makes me cringe to imagine someone riding in the dark down Davis Street past Potter Hall.
Now, more than ever, those narrow roads are shared by cars, bicycles and pedestrians. This increases the risk of potential accidents, especially when bikers refuse to be courteous and mindful of drivers and traffic laws. That is not to say that bikers are
nuisances or that they need to face public trial, but how can they be kept safe if they don’t take an active role in safety?
Those same perilously narrow streets are tread on by “the big three”: students, faculty and staff. All of them have somewhere to be, something to do and someone to meet since, as has been mentioned, everyone is spread to the point of transparency. Rushing invites carelessness and a disregard for safety.
The cars parked along the sidewalks are dangers for people walking across streets. Suddenly popping out from behind an SUV, or any car for that matter, is hazardous because no one can reasonably foresee a person emerging; that’s the epitome of a blind spot, no
matter what.
Granted, there isn’t much that can be done about the narrow streets and blocked view, as that would require some serious budgeting and street reconstruction. But something can be done in terms of taking care of ourselves and initiating some responsibility and compassion.
Open your eyes and ears; pay attention. To think that playing generic hip-hop music loudly and driving fast down a short stretch of road is more important than avoiding hitting someone walking or biking is frightening. The self-centered disregard we have for one another is ridiculous.
Linfield community, we need to take more precautions and a more active role in our overall well-being.
We don’t think about what can happen to us. It’s all too surreal until one split second changes our lives.One mistake; one decision.
We have to take care of ourselves, Linfield. We have to take care of one another.Our campus is one of the prettiest, most laid-back atmospheres I’ve been in. I don’t want the status quo to become inundated with injuries that could have been avoided.
I just want us to do better for ourselves — to do a better job of being safe, reducing stress, becoming less preoccupied and increasing the pleasurable experiences we have.

Septembre Russell/Copy chief
Septembre Russell can be reached at [email protected].