THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
PAGE 3A
IT CAN WAIT
Take the pledge, don't text and drive
JENNIFER SALVA
jsalva@kansan.com
Lawrence Mayor Mike Dever has declared Friday, Sept. 19, "No Texting While Driving—It Can Wait Day."
Distracted driving causes more than nine deaths and 1,060 injuries
each day in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
ANSAN
a KU
hell
The texting proclamation issued Tuesday said, "A driver who sends a text message while driving not only jeopardizes his or her safe
ward teens, as they send five times more text messages than other age groups, according to the "It Can Wait" website.
Samantha Hickman, a senior from Gardner, admits to texting every once in a while at a stoplight, but knows it's dangerous and doesn't like it when drivers
ty, but also the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers."
"Each pledge made to never text while driving is a symbol of commitment..."
"NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING" WEBSITE
The proclamation encourages Lawrence drivers to take the "It Can Wait" pledge, an AT&T initiative to prevent risks associated with texting on the road. The campaign is specifically targeted to
have their eyes on their phones.
"Usually I stare and hope that they look over at me," Hickman said.
Driving while distracted leads to 1,060 injuries in the US daily. Take the pledge this Friday to not text while driving.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN while driving
She knows how dangerous driving while texting can be. Hickman's friend totaled her car in an accident because she was reading a text.
pledge made to never text while driving is a symbol of commitment to be a part of a movement that helps everyone make safe choice*
"I was the one texting her, but she shouldn't have read my text," Hickman said.
According to the website, "each
with their wireless devices on the road."
The pledge to not text while driving can be taken either on the "It
Can Wait" website, or through the Facebook page.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
City looks to improve game day shuttle service
TRANSPORTATION
YU KYUNG LEE
ylee@kansan.com
The city's game day shuttle proved to be popular during the Sept. 7 game against South Dakota, with almost 2,000 people taking the bus from downtown to the stadium for $1. The number of shuttle passengers for the first game increased about 15 percent from last season's average.
The opening of the parking garage on 700 Vermont St., which provides 324 additional parking spaces, allowed for the increase in the number of passengers.
We were kind of surprised that it opened early enough for the first game and we are attributing a lot of the ridership just to that garage alone," said Robert Nugent, Lawrence's public transit administrator.
In fact, the buses weren't able to accommodate all the passengers in time, causing some to arrive late for the game.
"We had some problems with getting vehicles caught up in congestion in and around between 9th and Vanbrook on Mississippi," Nugent said. "And buses do get crowded; it's not atypical of a bus to be operating a short distance with people standing in the bus."
The city transit hopes to improve the service by adding four additional shuttles to the game day route as well as reviewing the supervision and organization of the buses.
It has been five years since the city's transit organization started the game day shuttle to help alleviate the congestion around the stadium.
"If you've ever parked in and around the stadium and in the Oread area, you are going to be lucky to get a parking space for $20. The closer it gets to the game time, the more you'll pay." Nugent
"I think riding the shuttle is definitely something I would think about for the next game."
HAYLEY HUME junior from Derby
said. "It'll go up to about $40 for a parking place for a game."
parking place The shuttle service can save people money, time and the stress of having to search for parking near
the stadium.
"I think riding the shuttle is definitely something I would think about for the next game," Hume said.
"On game day, everyone knows it's crazy and impossible to find parking near the stadium, so having a place downtown that you can park and get to the stadium is a really good idea," said Hayley Hume, a junior from Derby who lives off campus. For the last game, Hume had to hike far from her parking spot to get to the stadium.
Even students who don't need the shuttle service appreciate the shuttle service for alleviating traffic.
"To take some of the cars away from the clutter of the student ghetto where all the students are living, it's a good way to keep things organized." Aden Lindholm.
a sophomore from McPherson, said. "I think that when there's all those people walking around the stadium, to have less cars when there's definitely some intoxication involved, that makes it a lot safer for students."
For now, the shuttle system is expanding to meet the increasing demands, but the popularity of the game day shuttle system for the rest of the season depends on how well Kansas plays.
"As the season goes on, if you don't have a team that is competitive and successful, then your ridership goes down because people don't go to the games. But our ridership will continue to do well and grow as long as the team plays well." Nugent said.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
KU1nfo
People with O- blood types are universal donors. People with AB+ blood types are universal recipients The KU Blood Drive begins next week in the Union and other campus locations.
POLICE REPORTS
Information based on the Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap.
- A 33-year-old female was arrested yesterday on the 2300 block of Ridge Court on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. A $1,500 bond was paid.
- A 36-year-old male was arrested yesterday on the 2300 block of Ridge Court on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled substance. A $2,000 bond was paid.
- A 57-year-old male was arrested Tuesday on the 100 block of Maple Street on suspicion of aggravated battery. No bond was posted.
- A 36-year-old male was arrested Tuesday on the 3000 block of Iowa Street on suspicion of fictitious tag, theft, driving with a revoked, suspended or cancelled license and no insurance. A $400 bond was paid.
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