There is no question that traffic is a growing concern on campus and throughout Auburn. Between pedestrians, bikers and drivers it is not always easy to share the road, and with fall approaching, it is likely to become more challenging. Luckily there is a growing university and city initiative, concerning both awareness and policy, to create safer, friendlier spaces for everyone to travel.

WaCaDa!, (Walk alike, Cycle alike, Drive alike,) is an Auburn University and City of Auburn partnership that grew out of the mutual need to publicly address traffic issues. Only a year old, the campaign “Respect. Relate. Remind.” was designed by Auburn University’s Sustainability Initiative’s Shelby Spears and Jordon Craddock to help create an awareness that will make Auburn safer for everyone.

“We are looking to create a good, balanced transportation system that is comfortable for both walkers and bikers,” said Matthew Williams, projects coordinator of the Sustainability Initiative. “We don’t want anyone to be afraid of sustainable means of transportation.”

In both the spring and fall, WaCaDa! hosts Safety Week. Students from the Auburn Sustainability Action Program (ASAP) and officers from the Auburn Police Department flood downtown to give prizes for those caught following traffic laws or give firm warnings, and maybe a ticket or two, to those that are not.

“It is a week of awareness bliss,” reflected Williams. “It is not your safety patrol or hall monitor program.”

Captain Tom Stofer said that during Safety Weeks patrols are focused downtown.
“Bicycle officers are not only monitoring drivers, but are making sure bikers are following the same traffic laws and are showing a mutual respect for vehicles,” Stofer said.

Dates for this fall’s event are not yet released, and the campaign name and posters are both subject to change. Contact Williams at 334.844.7777 to get involved.

In addition to the work the Auburn Police Department is doing with WaCaDa!, the department is working with federal and state agencies in efforts to receive specific grants. The money will be used to beef up traffic patrol and pay officers for the overtime they project will be needed for safer streets.

Yet, some community members do not find assurance in the police department’s efforts.
“I was rear-ended at the four-way of East Magnolia and Ross Street right by the fire department and police station, and it still took them at least five to ten minutes to respond to my call,” recalled delivery driver Kevin Blicker.

Many involved in the traffic safety initiative believe a self-policing system would be much more welcomed by the community then increased patrol. For this, Captain Stofer suggests that cars should slow down and buckle up, while bikers ought to share the roadways and stay off sidewalks. Stofer added that bikers in a car accident always lose, so biker should be extra aware.

“Pedestrians are most likely to be seriously injured, so they shouldn’t always assume others are aware of their right of way,” Stofer said.

Traffic Engineer/Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Auburn, Brandy Ezelle, P.E., said that they have seen an increase in cyclists and pedestrians lately.
“The City has been experiencing an increase in bicycle and pedestrian trips due to things such as the obesity epidemic, rising gas prices, and Auburn University’s efforts to lower the vehicle trips on campus,” Ezelle said. “Auburn strives to offer citizens a high quality of life and safety is a large part of that. It is important for your readers to maintain not only their own personal safety, but also consider the safety of their friends and neighbors.”
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However, this initiative is not simply creating awareness, but also implements policy and action that develops a more eco-friendly community.

“The City of Auburn is committed to a sustainable future in many aspects of its operation and management,” Ezelle said. “Additional bikeways and walkways are among the more visible; but we are also working to lower utility costs and decrease waste.”

The Wire Eagle recently publicized what student cyclists can expect in the coming school year: “In addition to new bike paths, plans and efforts to revive bicycling at Auburn include standardized bike racks near major buildings, a bicycle-repair shop in the new student center, new safety programs, adding bike racks on campus buses and possibly implementing a bike loaner program, which would add a campus variant to a program started by the City of Auburn in May.”

The Campus Bike Committee is a group of students, faculty and staff dedicated to increasing bike usage and access around campus. Under the Sustainability Initiative, they expect “bike paths that parallel pedestrian walkways or bike paths that are independent of pedestrian walkways but lead to same destination and a bicycle loop that allows travel around the core campus pedestrian zone and permits faster travel.”

Off campus, a multipurpose mile-long path down Donahue Drive is soon to be completed. The path will allow those living in Chewacla access to campus and serve as a model for the 1.6 mile path soon to be constructed from the Veterinary College, down Wire Road and ending on Samford.

“Unfortunately we had had a bike lane on Wire Road in the ‘80s,” reflected Williams. “But it was taken out to widen the road for cars.”

Today less and less students are driving to class and parking and ticketing are frequent complaints. Those that are choosing to drive are getting dangerously creative.
Auburn student Sarah Gregory said that she sees illegal parking on her street a lot.
“On the street I live on (which is a two-way street, and is right by campus), people always illegally parallel park on both sides so they don’t have to walk far to campus,” Gregory said. “All the illegal parallel parking pretty much makes the street the size of a one-way, makes it difficult for drivers to see if they are clear to pull out of apartments, and generally makes it less safe when approaching oncoming cars. Plus, I only see police ticketing for this about once a month.”

With the loss of a large portion of C-zone, or undergraduate parking, to the development of new student housing, Tiger Transit offers a safer response by adding more buses.
In the fall, Tiger Transit will offer 44 routes with a surge of 48 buses between 8 and 11 am.  Their Web site includes route maps, hours of operation, and information on how to get your buses current status on your cell phone. Visit them at auburn.edu/administration/parking_transit/transit.

The transportation reform is not just limited to bikes and buses, but has shown to spark other alternative ways for commuting on a budget.

“We have also seen huge growth in scooter and motorcycle transportation this year,” said Williams. “A scooter lease program has been proposed to the university and could easily help students with transportation costs.”

Whether you will be walking, biking, scooting, driving or busing around Auburn this fall, keep in mind the city and university are working hard to keep the roads safe, so remember to return the favor.