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OSU works to keep roads safe for all travelers DANIEL SMYTH Lantern reporter smyth.41@osu.edu Ohio State hosted a Share the Road event on Wednesday along West Woodruff Avenue to promote traffic safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. OSU officials and University Police were present to promote the educational initiative that asks for all travelers to be aware of their surroundings and not engage in distracting behaviors, no matter what mode of transportation is utilized. “The whole idea for Share the Road is be consistent in our messaging to students, faculty and staff that we all have to get there and we want to get there as quickly as possible, but we want to share the road with everyone,” said Dan Hedman, spokesman for OSU’s Office of Administration and Planning. “Whether you are a pedestrian, a bicyclist or driving
“Whether you are a pedestrian, a bicyclist or driving vehicle, just make sure you recognize others on the road and share the road as much as possible.” Dan Hedman Spokesman, Office of Admnistration and Planning
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areas where CampusParc has increased prices — rates for parking violation fines and garage use have also increased over the fiveyear period, according to the documents. The terms of the contract with CampusParc, owned by Australian investment firm QIC, set price increases at 5.5 percent, per year, for the first 10 years. After 10 years, prices are set at either a 4 percent or a rolling five-year average of inflation, whichever is greater.
Source: Ohio State records.
vehicle, just make sure you recognize others on the road and share the road as much as possible.” Since students use varying forms of transportation, it is important that they follow all applicable traffic laws, the Share the Road website emphasizes. “I don’t think there is any one mode of transportation that is more important to enforce than others,” Rose said. “They all have their own dangers, their own risks and certainly their own responsibilities for making sure others on the roadway stay safe.” Minimizing cell phone use as well as being mindful of other travelers can prevent distracting behaviors that can lead to traffic accidents, according to the Share the Road website. “Obviously there are a tremendous number of people here in a very small space and the only way we can all be safe is if we respect everyone’s rights,” Rose said. Some of the other safety tips promoted Wednesday encouraged pedestrians to use crosswalks and sidewalks, cyclists to wear helmets and motorists to obey all traffic signs, signals and speed limits. Share the Road also posted signs around campus to remind students to be safe while utilizing the roadways. “We’re pushing hard for traffic safety with additional students living on campus this semester now that the North Residential District is fully open,” Hedman said. OSU has been promoting Share Examining parking prices, fines, garage prices and lot prices, garage prices are the only area where there have been increases above the set 5.5 percent. Any proposed changes outside that amount require university approval, Dan Hedman, spokesman for OSU’s Office of Administration and Planning, said in an email. Increases in garage rates tallied between 5.9 and 8.7 percent except for the rate for the first 30 minutes. Dan Hoover, communications director for CampusParc, said in
EILEEN MCCLORY | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
POLITICS FROM 1
well: Turning Point USA and Students for Trump. Turning Point USA’s mission is to promote fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government. Chapter president Devin Bilski said presidential elections equate to people being more active political consumers, and this allows Turning Point USA to connect with students who normally may ignore political news, said Devin Bilski, a fourth-year in economics and political science and the chapter president of the group. “For the past 16 years, America has been going down a path of bigger government with control
DANIEL SMYTH | LANTERN REPORTER
Brutus helps direct traffic during the Share the Road event.
“We are working so hard to elect Hillary because she will fight for us.”
over almost every aspect of our lives,” said Bilski, a fourth-year in economics and political science. “This election is important because if we keep voting for big government, our country will continue to decline, wages will continue to stagnate, and people will continue to have trouble finding work.” Turning Point USA, being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is non-partisan, Bilski said. Those specifically excited about Trump have the opportunity to directly support him through Students for Trump. Active members are organizing campus chalkings and voter registration. The club is also aiming to “help change the perception of Donald Trump here on campus,” according to Dominic Bagnoli, a thirdyear in biology and treasurer of Students for Trump. If you are interested in joining one of these clubs, check out the directory on the Ohio Union website.
the Road since 2012, but, this year, bike safety was one of the main focuses of the program. “We got a grant through Ohio Department of Transportation to promote safety,” said Beth Snoke, director of Transportation and Traffic Management. “We got $25,000 worth of helmets that we are able to give out to all those who sign up for an annual membership (for OSU’s bike-sharing program).” Another important safety concern the initiative addresses is the fact that The Oval is a dedicated walk zone, therefore non-pedestrians must dismount in order to walk through it. “A bike is considered a vehicle in the state of Ohio, so you are supposed to ride on the streets,” Snoke said. “So obey the stoplights, crosswalks, walk your bike in our sidewalk, walk your bike if you are going around the Oval.”
Political organization Turning Point USA recruits members at the Involvement Fair on Aug. 21.
an email that it was “very unlikely” parking-pass rates would not increase to the 5.5-percent level every year, but also emphasized that it was a measure considered when making the deal. He pointed out the $23.6 million already invested in maintenance and improvement for lots and garages. While price increases are essentially guaranteed, they are also constant from year-to-year — which OSU argues is a benefit. Hedman said the agreement allows permit rates to increase annually under university-set caps. “These caps are lower than the historical trend,” he said. Hedman also pointed out that the average compound rate of increases for the years under the university-managed system was 7.5 percent, and prices fluctuated based on operations and project costs for the parking system. Parking passes But what does a 5.5 percent increase mean in dollars? The biggest increase is seen in the departmental reserved parking space, which has gone up more than $300 since 2012, and almost $100 since last year. For sale this year for $1,873, it cost $1,512
during Campus Parc’s first year on campus. The faculty A pass — the most expensive of the 17 passes available to faculty, staff and students, which vary in how close to campus they are and whether or not they’re in a lot or a garage — went on sale in July for $936.48 for the year. That compares to $887.76 last year, and $756 in 2012. Data from 1999 to 2011 did not break down parking pass prices individually. Range of parking price passes over the years Prices do not tell the whole story, however — new parking passes have been created as well. A Lantern story from 2014 detailed the creation of a new faculty pass being created, by an agreement between the university and CampusParc, called the WAE. According to the story, faculty and administrative personnel who bought the WA permit in 2013 — which allowed West Campus surface-lot access and limited garage access — had to buy the WAE if they wanted to keep the limited garage access, but at a price increase of 50 percent. A WA pass cost $207 at the
Jake Vasilj Third-year in history and political science President, College Democrats
ABBY VESOULIS | LANTERN REPORTER
time, and currently goes for $243. But a WAE pass cost $315.96 at its introduction, and currently fetches $351.48. A pass covering those same privileges in 2012 cost $196.20. Fines Parking passes are not the only increase. Every fine associated with parking infractions has increased at or near 5.5 percent since CampusParc took over parking operations as well. The university data from 1999 to 2013, which represented parking pass prices, did not include fines, garage access or surface lots. The largest fine of the 19 listed, illegally parking in a wheelchair accessible parking space was $250 in 2012 — now the fine is $309.75. “Unauthorized use of a Parking Permit” also clocks in at $309.75, originally $250, and “Impound - Refusal to Obey Officer’s Directions” is listed at $223, originally $180.
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