Dahle is a general representative for the Undergraduate Student
Association Council.
By David Dahle
The most dangerous place to cross the street in Westwood for a
UCLA student, or anyone for that matter, is where Gayley Avenue
meets Landfair Avenue at the bottom of the Saxon Residential Suites
trail.
As a USAC General Representative, I have made student safety my
paramount concern. But even as a regular student this problem has
bothered me for some time.
In October of 2000, I sent a letter to then Fifth District
council member Michael Feuer’s office outlining my concern. I
suggested the installation of a marked crosswalk and any other
appropriate action to remedy the situation.
Upon receiving my letter the council member’s office asked
the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to conduct a second
study of the intersection. The first study was conducted in May
2000 and included a review of existing pedestrian counts, field
observations of persons crossing Gayley Avenue at this
intersection, and updated Police Department records of reported
pedestrian traffic accidents.
In April of 2001, I received a negative reply from the
transportation engineer in the Western District for the DOT. It
stated that police records indicated no reported pedestrian-related
accidents at this intersection, which proved that there were no
“operational problems associated with the lack of a crosswalk
at this location.”
I disagree. Just because there have been no reported pedestrian
accidents does not mean there is no problem. Should we wait until
someone does get hurt to find a solution? Preemptive safety
measures are what save lives.
The reply stated that the DOT will only install crosswalks at
“non-signalized locations where a relatively large number of
pedestrian crossings can be expected,” or if “traffic
conditions necessitate the concentrating of pedestrian crossings at
a specific location to reduce the number of points of conflict
between vehicles and pedestrians.”
In my opinion, both these conditions are met at the spot in
question. A relatively large number of students do cross at this
intersection daily, whether it’s residential hall students
walking to the apartments, or Westwood residents visiting the
dorms. The intersection becomes even more dangerous at night
because of lower visibility. What takes place everyday is a human
game of Frogger where drivers speed around the “blind”
corner while pedestrians run across without knowing for sure if a
car is coming or not.
Finally, the reply reasoned that there is already a crosswalk
installed at Gayley Avenue where the De Neve Residential Suites are
located for students to cross. This is true, but is a person really
expected to walk 425 feet down to the De Neve crossing, cross the
street, and then walk all the way back up the street just to get to
the other side?
Maybe. But from experience I can say that although this may be
the ideal, it is certainly not the norm. Students will continue to
cross at the intersection whether it is illegal or not. The
Department of Transportation must think of a way to remedy this
problem, instead of relying on the illegality of jaywalking as an
excuse for inaction. Maybe a light needs to be installed as well as
a crosswalk. Maybe what is needed is a stop sign. Whatever the
appropriate relief may be, the burden of responsibility is upon the
DOT because it is aware of the situation.
This October I wrote another letter to the new Fifth District
council member Jack Weiss. One of his staff members met me at the
intersection to see the problem first-hand. I also gave the council
member’s office footage of a busy, but normal night that I
videotaped as evidence. Weiss’ office has requested a new
study by the DOT during heavy pedestrian traffic hours.
Now is the time as concerned UCLA students, faculty or involved
citizens to voice your opinion on this issue. I urge you to call or
write a letter to council member Weiss’ office to let him
know the importance of this issue to you. Public pressure will
surely influence the DOT’s response. The city will have to
relent if so many of its residents demand change.