Muncie City Council's Tuesday decision to return the speed limit to 30 mph on Tillotson Avenue was for the right reasons. The desire for additional safety is understandable.
However, if the council is concerned with drivers exceeding the speed limit, McKinley Avenue has been overlooked. The main road through Ball State's campus has both high automobile traffic and high pedestrian traffic.
Many students, faculty and staff would agree that stepping on McKinley Avenue requires much caution. Automobile, Shuttle Bus and bicycle traffic have to be monitored for a safe trip across the two to three lanes.
The speed limit on McKinley Avenue is 30 mph, and 15 mph around the Shafer Tower. The city council set the Tillotson speed limit back to 30 mph knowing that people regularly exceed the speed limit, regardless of how high it is. The same rational should be applied to Ball State's main thoroughfare.
Though most of Ball State's foot traffic crosses the street near the Shafer Tower, many students cross McKinley near the Teacher's College, LaFollette Residence Hall and near the Burkhart Building.
If the Tillotson Avenue speed limit is put back at 30 mph, the McKinley Avenue speed limit should also decrease.
Ball State has been working with Muncie on the McKinley Project in an attempt to make McKinley more pedestrian friendly by adding medians for safer crossing areas. This serves as an indication that Muncie and Ball State are both searching for ways to improve pedestrian safety on McKinley.
While Tillotson is home to many residents, churches and businesses, the foot traffic across the street is not nearly as large as that of McKinley Avenue. If pedestrian and traffic safety are concerns for the City Council, the council members should consider using the same rationale to keep the Ball State community safe.
222.-¦*
-¦~o_editorial_01.14.03DNEditorial222% 2AUDT
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
