The University of Maryland DOTS hosted several events last week to kick off their annual safety month.
Every October, the Department of Transportation Services organizes various educational events and activities aimed at promoting transportation safety at this university. This year, DOTS and several other university and off-campus organizations will hold 10 events throughout the month, including ice cream socials and group bike rides.
“Safety is our top priority … that goal is consistent with how people move about campus,” university president Darryll Pines told The Diamondback.
DOTS began celebrating Safety Month in 2017, according to DOTS spokesperson Emily Cosci. As micromobility vehicle usage increased on campus, it became apparent that more education was necessary for all types of transportation, Cosci said in a statement to The Diamondback.
This year’s safety month theme is “Light up the Night.” The theme emphasizes the importance of having functioning lights on micromobility vehicles when riding in the dark, Cosci said in the statement. DOTS will be distributing free bike lights at every event, according to Cosci’s statement.
[UMD announces new traffic pattern at Campus Drive and Adelphi Road]
At Tuesday’s kick-off in Stamp Student Union, DOTS distributed more than 100 helmets and 100 light sets, said Marta Woldu, the department’s assistant director of sustainability initiatives.
“[The kick-off event] was a great launching pad for the rest of the month… and it really sets the tone for the rest of the year,” Woldu said.
Gabby Angelo, a freshman journalism major, said the DOTS safety month is important because students need to be more mindful when riding micromobility vehicles on campus.
The planned events sound “really fun,” Angelo said.
Like Angelo, Wise Djampa said that safety month is a good idea to help raise awareness about best safety practices while riding micromobility vehicles.
Micromobility vehicles can endanger pedestrians, the sophomore criminology and criminal justice and psychology major said, as some riders often overlook micromobility safety regulations.
[UMD DOTS, student organizations transform parking spaces for sustainability initiative]
Event organizers for the kick-off event encouraged attendees to take a pledge for safe transportation, Woldu said. The pledge helps riders make a “conscious effort” to follow traffic rules, she added.
DOTS also held a campus bike tour event on Thursday. Five people attended the event and joined DOTS employees for a ride across campus to highlight this university’s bike path facilities, according to Woldu.
“It’s a just nice way to connect people to resources and understand how they can share rules of riding on the streets,” Woldu said.
On Oct. 11, the department will also collaborate with this university’s LGBTQ+ Equity Center for a group bike ride to Vigilante Coffee in Hyattsville. The event will take place on National Coming Out Day.
Adam Klager, this university’s LGBTQ+ Equity Center program manager, said the ride will help bring the campus community together and build confidence in new bike riders.
“I hope that just anyone who wants a queer and trans-friendly bike ride will come and meet some new friends,” Klager said.
Woldu emphasized that the DOTS safety month is designed for all students and encouraged new micromobility vehicle users to join them for October’s events.
“We are directly communicating with folks on campus about safe practices,” Woldu said. “We try to do it in a fun way that makes [the] learning process a lot more effective.”
