On Monday, the CW ran a column written by Ms. Tori Lee demanding that bike riders abstain from using the sidewalks around campus. As a longtime bike rider myself, I’d like to point out that this isn’t possible.

There are several places on campus where bike lanes do not exist (SEC Quad, south end of Engineering Row, parts of University Boulevard, Hackberry Lane between Campus Drive and the biology building, to name a few), and in the places they do exist, they are often occupied by University vehicles and delivery services who decide they’re actually parking spots. (If you do not believe me on this, go out to the Quad on Friday morning during tailgate setup and look where every single vehicle involved is parked.)

In many of these situations, it is truly unsafe to use the road – it is not a matter of whether one feels safe or not, but a matter of physics. Bikes are innately incapable of moving at car speeds. Even world record holders working with state-of-the-art equipment are not capable of going much faster than 30 mph in a non-sprint setting, and most of the cyclists on campus decidedly do not fall into this category. Many cars on campus are not driven by people used to working around cyclists and looking out for them, and the truth of the matter is, if a car and a cyclist collide, the cyclist always loses – possibly a limb or a life.

While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about some ways pedestrians can help themselves: first, do not walk in a group that takes up the entire sidewalk. This creates a problem for other pedestrians, as well as cyclists, and it should honestly be a fined legal offense, just like driving in a pack of cars that takes up both sides of the road would be. Imagine a dotted line splitting the sidewalk down the middle. (Some sidewalks here have one conveniently printed; perhaps you can practice on these first.) Don’t step to the left of this line unless you need to get around something in your way, and don’t let your drunk friends do it, either.

Second, even if you are walking by yourself, stay to the right, much as you would when driving a car on the street. This gives me room to pass you without hurting you, as it does for other motorists when driving a car on a two-lane street. (Crazy how that works, isn’t it?)

And some tips for drivers: first, for the love of all that is holy, use your freaking turn signal. If I am trying to cross the road with the light, but can’t tell whether you intend to go straight and leave me alone or turn and run over me, it can result in frustration for both of us and possibly injury to me. Your job as a motorist is to give the right of way to those using nonmotorized transportation and to give us the information we need to interact with you safely. If you haven’t used the turn signal since passing your driver’s test and have thus forgotten its location, it is generally to the left of the steering wheel, on the steering column. Push up to indicate a right turn, and down for left.

Second, do not stop in crosswalks. Ever. If I am having to swing out into oncoming traffic because the nose of your vehicle is occupying my path of travel, there is a problem. You should be stopped at or behind the white line, which is usually several feet behind the crosswalk. If you pull up to check for a turn, you should be ready to commit to that turn and go once you have space to do so. (Don’t pull up if it is obvious that you won’t have adequate space for a while. Use your turn signal – that again! – to indicate that you need to be let in, instead of trying to physically force your way through.)

Third, be aware. Most traffic accidents involving a bicycle also involve a driver who didn’t even see the cyclist. This is a college campus; there will be bikers. Watch out for us. (And try not to splash us when it rains.)

I do not own a car, and probably will not for at least the remainder of this year. I choose biking over walking for several reasons: There are distances that would require more than 10 minutes walking between many of my classes, I can use my bike to get to places off campus as well, the gears make hills a bit more tolerable, it helps me stay fit, and I can get home and out of the cold, heat or rain faster at the end of the day.

I don’t intend to give it up simply because some people on this campus don’t understand how to safely interact with cyclists. Everyone should not suffer from the stupidity of a few. If you follow the simple guidelines I’ve outlined in this letter, you shouldn’t have a problem with me or most of the other cyclists around. As a final note, it isn’t fair to assume that simply because something (walking to class) works for you, it will work just fine for everyone. (I quote: “If you… are too afraid to ride your bike in traffic, join the rest of us in walking to class.”)

Danelle M. Pecht is a junior majoring in chemical engineering and chemistry.