A.K., do you think people would even stop for crosswalk lights, while driving or walking?

Schaefs, I hear ya. I think the important thing with this idea is to let the MPO know exactly what we think, and to keep the individual issues separate, because they all have pros and cons. Emissions, pedestrian safety, and promotion of walking and cycling are the big three I see off the top of my head; do you agree?

– Emissions. This is the one I know least about. If there is support for doing this from an emissions standpoint, the study needs to be released (for the naysayers) and the other factors need to be taken into account, primarily congestion and (“think of the children!”) the amount of traffic diverted along 6th Avenue North by Lake Agassiz (because even if University is open west of and including Stanford, it seems like people would head straight on 6th Avenue North if they weren’t headed to campus anyway.

– Pedestrian safety. On the Herald online comments section, many of the commenters have focused on the personal responsibility angle regarding crossing University Avenue. I completely agree: you shouldn’t step out into traffic without looking and expect everyone to stop. I don’t see pedestrian safety alone as a reason to close the street, but I think creating a mall there might remove a conceptual divide that exists because it can be such a hassle to cross.

– Promotion of cycling and walking. This is my primary interest in this matter. By making it more difficult to drive on campus, UND would be sending a clear message that walking and cycling are viable and encouraged modes of transportation; however there would be a period of chaos while everyone got used to it. There are other ways of promoting alternative transportation that could be approached first.

It’s really exciting that this even came up, just like the bikeshare idea, but you’re right that all users need to be careful in making assumptions and becoming polarized on the issue.