With the start of the new academic year, the UNM Police Department is increasing its visibility and enforcement efforts in and around campus streets, and particularly in areas with dense pedestrian traffic, such as crosswalks. Pedestrian safety is important to our campus because so many members of the community walk, bicycle and skateboard to and from classes and activities. As we return for a new academic year, it is important for pedestrians, bicyclists and boarders to remain alert when crossing campus streets. Crosswalks are provided for safe access across busy streets, and campus police will be targeting jaywalkers crossing outside of pedestrian safe crossings. Officers will also be targeting drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Police officers are also closely monitoring speeders, using radar and other speed detection devices, to enforce the campus speed limit of 20 mph, unless otherwise posted.

Skateboarders are reminded that they are required to obey pedestrian laws as well, and can not ride their boards in the street and must dismount before crossing in a crosswalk. Because of their speed and quick maneuverability, skateboarders are often hard for drivers to spot.

As campus becomes more crowded and as schedules become more rushed, we all have to take extra steps to prevent accidents and needless injuries.

Pedestrians, skateboarders and bicyclists on campus can work to keep themselves safe by following a few simple tips:

-Before stepping off the curb into a crosswalk, stop and look in both directions to be sure that approaching traffic sees you. Although pedestrians have the right of way, not all drivers will stop, particularly if their view of you is blocked by the sun, parked cars or other traffic

-When riding a bicycle, travel with the flow of traffic, never into it. Approaching drivers are not looking for you to be driving at them and might not be prepared to avoid you in their lane of travel. Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic laws, just like vehicles. Other drivers are expecting bicyclists to stop and yield the right of way, just like another driver

-NEVER skateboard in the street, even in a crosswalk. Skateboarders are often too fast and too small to see for drivers

-Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboard. Wear reflective clothing or lights at night to ensure that others can see you when biking

The UNM Police department also offers a 24 hour escort service to anyone needing an escort from an on-campus location to anywhere else on campus or to a location near UNM. Call 277-2241 for more information.

Additional information about this initiative, and other news from the UNM Police Department is available in the UNMPD Office in Hokona-Zuni Hall, or online at http://police.unm.edu

Information on traffic fines, including speeding and pedestrian fines, is available from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court website at http://metrocourt.state.nm.us