A guide to taming 'blur' on campus

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The first days of classes are a blur for everyone. One of the major reasons for this is the disastrous combination of speeds ranging from “Fast and Furious” to “Driving Miss Daisy” on campus and Grand River Avenue.

The sidewalks are full of students standing in the center of the pavement looking oblivious, while others walk without purpose, still dazed from the start of a new semester.
There are the walkers that set the pace, bikers and motorized scooters weaving through the crowds, skateboarders that glide, the drivers that don’t understand the meaning of a stop sign and the Capital Area Transportation Authority buses that just don’t care.

Here’s my advice: move. None of these individuals are afraid to hit you.
With so many forms of transportation on campus, it’s amazing how so many students can get to class on time, be in their seat and still find time to stop at Sparty’s Convenience Stores for coffee and a muffin. Others, like myself, have a little trouble. I’ve tried to remedy my tardiness through several methods.

I’ve tried the bus pass, which works relatively well, but can become an archenemy. Waiting for the bus — especially if I’m late to class — can be the deciding factor in giving up altogether and returning to bed. Still, with the bus, I can get to class early enough to get a good seat, listen to one or two more songs on my MP3 player and begin to prepare my notes for the day.

The trick to riding the bus is to be at the stop a few minutes early, have the bus pass handy and never run after a bus that’s taken off already. Arriving early can be the difference in getting a seat or standing under someone’s armpit while someone else’s face is in your bosom. Also, have the bus pass handy, because it drives everyone insane when they have to wait on a person who is holding up the bus. Remember: The clock is ticking.

I’ve also tried walking, which is a reliable source of transport because my legs never go flat, arrive 10 minutes late or pass me without stopping because they’re full to capacity. For me, this works just fine, but being just a few minutes behind schedule can turn a walk into a full-on sprint. Walking fast is a hidden talent of mine, but can cause me to arrive to class with throbbing thighs and covered in a glistening mist of sweat — which is really bad for the people sitting on either side of me. Walking allows one to control his or her pace, burn a few calories and enjoy the sights of campus.

I also get a great view when it comes to witnessing the total wipeout of a biker-on-biker, biker-on-walker or biker-on-bus collision. Walking also has its safety hazards. One must wear proper shoes and that doesn’t always include flip-flops. There is a chance of falling victim to Michigan weather and if you forget something in your room, you have to start all over.

I’ve recently tried riding a bike to get around campus. It’s the first time since eighth grade I’ve gotten on only two wheels and I’m still trying to work out the quirks. I’ve noticed bike riders on campus have a skill in the areas of coordination and timing. They know when to move, when to swerve, when to duck and when to cross the street. It took me two summers to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels, so I’m lacking a little in those areas.

The coolest thing I’ve noticed about bikers on campus is there is a confidence in the way they ride the trails and sidewalks — a swagger if you will. Some pedal vigorously and lean low into the frame, while others just coast hands free and relaxed. It reminds me of the way a model flaunts his or her walk up and down the runway. It’s fast, fierce and sometimes strange, but it gets the job done.
Getting around campus should be easy, but with all these vehicles, paths will intersect. We all need to help each other out.

Walkers: Move out of the way and be observant. If you see a car, a bike, or a bus, wait a second. Bikers: Use your voice. Instead of zooming past someone with no more space than the width of a paper clip, yell out, “Bike on the left.” Lastly, drivers: You do not own the streets on campus, be a little more considerate and let people walk. Hitting someone will result in a hit to your bank account.

Ashley Brown is the State News opinion writer. Reach her at brownas8@msu.edu.

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