‘Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week’ on campus

VCU Police launches National Campus Safety Awareness Month

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For the next week, VCU Police, VCU RamBikes and other partners will focus on bicycle and pedestrian safety during the university’s first “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week.”

The week-long effort will focus on educating the VCU community, especially freshmen and other new students, about the importance of responsibly and safely sharing the road, whether on bike, on foot or in a vehicle. The week is part of the nationally recognized “National Campus Safety Awareness” month, as well as “Bicycle and Pedestrian Awareness” month in Virginia as declared by Governor Bob McDonnell.

During the week of Sept. 8 to Sept. 14, VCU Police officers and RamBike ambassadors will engage with community members and share literature at a series of events throughout campus. The information shared will cover a range of topics, including subjects as simple as safely crossing the street and following relevant traffic signals, as well as things bicyclists might not consider, such as registering their bike with the VCU Police and the effectiveness of a U-lock versus a cable lock in preventing theft. Officers and ambassadors also will correct unsafe or illegal behaviors as it happens – before it results in a potentially dangerous situation.

According to Officer Matthew Ruland, the VCU Police officer who led the development of the week, the key to safety on the streets around VCU is as simple as developing good safety habits.

“The keys to getting around campus safely are following traffic laws and signage, being predictable in your movements and actions, being visible, being aware of what’s happening around you and being courteous to other folks on the roads,” Ruland said.

Ruland said the goal of the week is to encourage safe, responsible behavior by all people on the roads. He hopes this dedicated week of education will result in “fewer accidents, fewer close calls and fewer complaints.”

Through its police department, VCU RamBikes and other campus organizations, the university provides a wealth of resources for students, faculty and staff interested in getting around campus by alternative means. In March 2012, the League of American Bicyclists recognized VCU as a silver level “bicycle friendly university,” making it one of the top 17 in the nation and the highest ranked in Virginia. Shared bike lanes, numerous bike racks, self-repair stations and inflation stations are found throughout the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

As Virginia’s premier urban research university, VCU values the energy and opportunities afforded by its location in downtown Richmond. As with any opportunity, this unique setting presents unique challenges, including effectively preparing students from suburban or rural areas to be successful while living in an urban environment for the first time.

Schedule of events for VCU Bike and Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week

Officers and ambassadors will provide education and information at the following locations and times:

Monday, Sept. 9 — noon - 1 p.m., intersection of Franklin Street and Shafer Street

Tuesday, Sept. 10 — noon - 1 p.m., intersection of Floyd Avenue and Linden Street;

                             3 p.m. - 4 p.m., intersection of Linden Street and Cary Street

Wednesday, Sept. 11 — noon1 p.m., intersection of Belvidere Street and Main Street

Thursday, Sept. 12 — noon - 1 p.m., intersection of 11th Street and Leigh Street (MCV Campus)

Friday, Sept.  13 — 10 a.m.3 p.m., intersection of Broad Street and Shafer Street

 

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