`Safety comes first,' says de Brouwer. `In consultation with the municipality of Enschede, campus policeman Laurens Goossen and the executing company have decided to make three crossings where bicycles have the right-of-way. The functionality of these crossings needs to be made clear, according to the road traffic act. The extended red cycling lanes, which have yield signs alongside, should speak for themselves.'
Still, motorists need some time to get used to the new situation. Maarten Vrijland, pensioned university professor at the UT, drove on campus last week. `I really wasn't driving that fast, but I got quite a scare when a student cycling at full speed crossed the road without braking or looking around. I had to do an emergency stop.' That was at the crossing near the Faculty Club on the Boerderijweg. `I had seen the yield signs and was paying attention, but I just couldn't really see if someone was coming because of all the trees and bushes. The students usually cycle pretty fast and often cycle around campus without proper lights. And they don't have full view of the oncoming traffic either. A badly lit cyclist crossing with a right-of-way that comes from a wooded path is dangerous. At the Drienerlolaan crossing, the lighting is sufficient, but not at the other spot.'
According to de Brouwer there is nothing wrong with the lighting on campus. `We make sure the lights are in working order and the lighting company that is responsible for maintenance regularly sends people round to check lights and to control situations. During the winter months, we plan to take a closer look at the lighting plan. We will look at how to make the lighting situation better due to all the new buildings and construction areas. We will make a distinction between main routes and short-cuts. During maintenance on campus, we place enough warning signs, but students don't really bother to adhere to their message. They speed by and nearly knock you over. We have three red paved cyclist crossings that extend to the road crossing with obvious yield signs. We can't do anything more.'
