Photo by Eleonor Segura / Daily Titan
As a result of automobile and pedestrian traffic congestion, some believe that road regulations should be improved around Cal State Fullerton, particularly on Nutwood Avenue.
According to a past Daily Titan report, Sgt. Andrew Goodrich of the Fullerton Police Department attributes a high volume of pedestrian traffic around CSUF to a higher potential for traffic accidents. Last year, reports about traffic related incidents placed a majority of accidents and injuries on Nutwood Avenue, around College Park.
Walking across Nutwood Avenue to get to work, Amanda Van Enk, 19, a liberal studies major, said she has never had problems with traffic while trying to get across the street.
Although she has never had an issue with the traffic congestion, she has a friend who was on a bike and got hit by a car. However, she said she does not think the city of Fullerton could do anything to further improve the flow of traffic or keeping pedestrians safe.
“Honestly, I feel like I don’t know how much they could really do. For the most part, people are aware there are 40,000 people walking in and out of here (on Nutwood Avenue),” said Van Enk.
The traffic is a problem for others on Nutwood Avenue at College Park.
“This is ugly. I don’t even know how to fix it,” said Ryan Smith, CSUF associate director of major events. “You have a really tight window to get through, because the lights aren’t regulated right, something is wrong with the way (the city of Fullerton) sets this up.”
Outside of College Park and at the crosswalk across from Steven G. Mihaylo Hall near Nutwood Avenue, some feel that they are not safe and feel that the traffic lights have a big part in safety.
“(People) drive too fast, and there’s so many different ways cars can come at you,” said Deena Robinson, administrative assistant at the office of major events, who has been working at CSUF for 12 years.
There have also been reports that Nutwood Avenue may ultimately close down as part of the College Town rezoning project.
Smith said it is going to be a long time until it closes.
“There won’t be any traffic here at all,” Robinson said.
Even though Smith and Robinson have not been hit by a car, both have almost seen it happen to other people.
Robinson said even standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street at Commonwealth and Chapman avenues is dangerous.
“If you don’t watch before you step out, when it says the crosswalk is on, you can get hit. It’s almost happened to me a million times; that’s why I watch, because cars will blow (through) that (yellow) light to get through it,” Robinson said. “You have to watch the cars and not just the light.”
Last year the Daily Titan reported that when a cyclist was attempting to cross the street on Nutwood and Commonwealth avenues, the cyclist was thrown from his bike and was left with minor injuries.
Authorities suggest that students always be aware of their surroundings while crossing the street. The city of Fullerton advises to never insist that any pedestrian has the right-of-way; in many cases a driver may not see the pedestrian until it is too late.