Pedestrian and skateboard safety

Getting around campus the easy way

Moving about the Flagstaff Mountain Campus is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other! Because many members of the university community walk, bicycle, and skate to class and other activities, the safety of pedestrians is important. Pedestrians and skateboarders are strongly encouraged to stay alert, and obey Arizona traffic laws. As our campus becomes more crowded and as the demands of academia and other matters in our lives drive us to rush through life, please be responsible in maintaining your safety, preventing accidents, and avoiding needless injuries. Pedestrians and skateboarders can work to keep themselves safe by following Arizona State Law and a few simple tips:

• Before stepping off the curb into a crosswalk, stop and look both ways to be sure that approaching cars and bicycles see you and stop for you. Make eye contact!
• Do not suddenly leave the curb or other place of safety, even if at a crosswalk, and walk, run, or skate into the path of an on-coming vehicle. Motorists retain the right-of-way if it’s impossible for them to yield.
• Obey the directions of police personnel directing traffic during class change. Disobeying the employee’s direction is a violation of state and university traffic laws, and could earn you a citation!
• When crossing the street in a crosswalk, pedestrians shall move expeditiously on the right half of crosswalks. Don’t loiter or cause undue delay crossing the roadway.
• Obey the “walk” and “don’t walk” symbols at the traffic lights. Do not start to cross when the “don’t walk” symbol is lit for the direction that you are traveling

Special notice to skateboarders

According to Arizona State law, skateboards are not vehicles. Skateboarders are reminded that they are required to obey all pedestrian laws.

• Dismount skateboards before crossing the street
• Do not proceed into the roadway without stopping AT ANY TIME
• Dismount skateboards when pedestrian paths and sidewalks become crowded
• Riding a skateboard in the roadway and recklessly interfering with the passage of traffic, or causing a hazard in the roadway, may  be arrested for Obstructing a Public Thoroughfare which is a class three misdemeanor (up to thirty days of incarceration in the county jail)
• Skateboarders riding in the roadway on campus can also be fined $15 under the university traffic code

Read more skateboard safety tips on the NAUPD Skateboard Safety Card