Right in the heart of Davenport lies St. Ambrose University, surrounded by busy streets that students cross every day to get to class. Next to student parking sits Gaines Street where students worry about their safety. Sitting on Gaines Street is two large bus stops with speeding cars and crosswalks on opposite ends.
Senior Dom Neely says, “People do not use them all the time just cause they’re on opposite ends, so people will just walk and cross wherever. I do it, too, all the time. It’s such a straight street and people shoot down that street so fast.”
Not only have students voiced their concerns, but it has also sparked the attention of the Davenport Police Department.
Lieutentient Nicolas Shorten, the Traffic Safety Unit Commander, says, “Safety in the city is our number one priority. We have received some complaints about speeding and stop sign violations up in the St. Ambrose area. Currently, the traffic safety unit and patrol shifts are aware of the problem, and we asked them when available to be up there to do traffic enforcement. To try to stop those violations from happening.”
Speeding was not the only issue surrounding Gaines Street; two bus stops sit on each end of the street blocking students’ views while trying to cross.
Neely says, “You cannot see around the side if a car is coming. So, I will have to kind of step out and make sure that a car is not coming, but it is a total blind spot. People cross that so many times. If someone has headphones on or someone driving is not paying attention. I could totally see it leading to an accident.”
The Davenport Police Department also agrees and advises St. Ambrose students to take precautions when crossing Gaines.
Shorten says, “Everybody to be safe and we want everybody to be able to get to and from where they are going safely and without any issues. But a big part of that is to make sure everyone is safe. We have to make sure that everyone is aware. Stay off your cellphones. Pay attention to what’s going on around you. When you do cross the streets, do not trust that vehicles are going to stop for you.”
Davenport Police plan to send patrol units to monitor speeding concerns and stop sign violations.
