With the start of another quarter, Student Senate has already begun its work on some of the pressing issues facing Ohio University students.
One issue with particular urgency doesn’t have anything to do with tuition rates, noise violations or athletic budgets. Oxbow Lane that runs in front of the first floor of Baker University Center will be the epicenter of a major initiative soon to come from your Student Senate.
The stretch of road designed to connect Oxbow Lane to Richland Avenue has been blocked since its construction. The center of the university is cut off from the rest, save a thin stretch of road connecting to South Green Drive. This poses a safety risk, a barrier to effective navigation, and a source of confusion for prospective students and their families while they visit and tour our school.
If someone is injured on the first floor of Baker Center, an ambulance is required to take a ludicrous route through a busy stoplight, wasting precious time in its quest for quick response. The same problem applies to fire trucks, police cruisers and any other emergency response units.
Further, the location of Baker Center (and its garage) is very confusing in the context of its location and restricted access for visitors to our school.
Prospective students are often confused about how to get to Baker and how to get out after their tour (I sure was!).
If someone wanted to drive from Porter Hall’s parking lot to his or her dorm’s parking lot on West Green, they would be forced to waste time and gas to navigate through the busy stoplight at the corner of South Green Drive and Richland Avenue. It doesn’t make sense for the roads not to connect.
So you might ask, why no Oxbow?
The city is the reason we can’t get through. Mayor Paul Wiehl has repeatedly refused to consider the matter despite repeated requests and in defiance of an independent 2007 study detailing the advantages of full access.
The mayor has inconsistently cited “traffic patterns,” “pedestrian safety,” and a slew of other excuses as justification for denial. It’s time to stop saying no for the sake of saying no.
I have yet to hear a convincing argument in favor of restricted access, but I can think of countless excellent reasons to connect the roads.
The road is built; all that’s needed is a curb cut and a removal of the barriers.
Spread the word. Tell your City Council representative. Tell the Mayor. It’s time to let logic prevail and open Bobcat Lane. Visitors, ambulance drivers, and daily commuters will thank you for supporting this important initiative.
With student support and a strong, open dialog, I am confident we can get “Bobcat Lane” opened in no time.
Chris Wimsatt is a senior studying political
science and Student Senate treasurer.
