Outer Loop hazard to drivers, pedestrians

By Christine Pao     1/15/09 6:00pm

A substantial hazard exists that surrounds all of Rice University: the Outer Loop. As someone who has traveled and crossed the Outer Loop several times, whether merely for exercise or as a pathway to reach an alternate destination, I am fully aware of the large number of pedestrians who make use of it daily. For anyone who uses it, the sacred Outer Loop serves as an excellent jogging and walking lane, a convenient route to different parking lots and a barrier that, coupled with the hedges, shields Rice from some of Houston's more unsavory aspects. But the Outer Loop itself presents several dangers to both the students who use it and the drivers who cross it getting in and out of Rice. During the nighttime and early morning hours, the Outer Loop becomes a deadly intersection of pedestrians and cars. I frequently have been the passenger inside a car whose driver nearly crashed into an innocent jogger, a incident caused not only by the alarming lack of light but also by the general dynamics of the Outer Loop. The first impulse might be to blame the driver for his recklessness, but it is not completely his fault.

For one thing, the traffic of Houston is enough to stress even the most seasoned drivers, and waiting for a small opening to speed in or out of one of the busy streets surrounding campus can make anyone nervous. Drivers in this state of mind tend to rush through the intersections, paying more attention to oncoming cars then to the multitudes of pedestrians coming from both right and left.

Additionally, although the numerous trees make for a magnificent view of the splendor of nature, they are not so great at providing clear views of pedestrians. I am by no means advocating for Rice to cut down every single tree lining the Outer Loop, but merely calling to attention the fact that they can be incredible inhibitors to visibility. Perhaps if there were fewer trees immediately surrounding campus entrances, drivers would not have to worry about obstructed views of pedestrians.

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Walkers and runners, on the other hand, despite the few signs telling them to yield to traffic, do not constantly remain attentive to incoming and outgoing cars - it's just not something they usually have on their minds, considering the many distractions they have to deal with like iPods, other runners and their dogs. Thus, I find the basic setup of the Outer Loop to be inherently dangerous, not garnering the attentiveness necessary from either drivers nor pedestrians.

Recently, however, Facilities, Engineering and Planning created a project to install light fixtures along the Outer Loop, a move that will drastically improve visibility and decrease the risk of collision. I applaud FE&P staff for recognizing the hazardous lack of regular lighting. While some sections of the Outer Loop are well-lit, other areas remain pitch black, and for the motivated citizen who likes to run or walk late at night or early in the morning, it can be quite dangerous in the dark - especially with the tendency for drunk drivers to operate vehicles during these hours. Basically, until FE&P installs these new light fixtures, I believe the Outer Loop will be an essentially dangerous path to take for jogging, running or even mere walking. I caution both pedestrians and drivers to pay attention to each other while making use of Rice's gravel-paved border.

Christine Pao is a Martel College freshman.

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