Bicycle paths, sidewalks and UA’s campus streets have come back to life as students return for spring classes. When the semester starts and we’re finding our way to classes, purchasing books and trying to fit everything into our schedules, it is easy to get in such a hurry that we can forget about those people around us. I know that it happens to me. I get in a hurry, and my focus becomes one-dimensional towards a certain goal. That focus, if we let it, can affect our judgment about all of the other things around us – including being safe while driving a car or riding safely on a bicycle.

In the coming days and weeks, let’s all be a little extra vigilant in our neighborhoods and on our campus streets to watch out for pedestrians, cars and bicyclists. We are a family here at Alabama, and in a family, we help each other out.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Share the street: As motorists or bicyclists, share the street if a pedestrian is at a crosswalk – it is state law to allow them to cross.

Yield to cars: Drivers aren’t the only ones who should yield at a crosswalk – pedestrians should also yield to cars out of respect.

Dismount in high pedestrian areas: Walk your bike or skateboard in dismount zones.

Wear bright colors at night: Wearing yellow or orange at night helps make you more visible to motorists and to your fellow classmates.

David Hancock is a graduate student in health studies.