We, the undersigned citizens and business owners of University City, as well as students, faculty, and staff of UNC Charlotte, draw the attention of the Council to the following:
THAT UNC Charlotte contributes to the economic and cultural growth and diversity of the City of Charlotte.
THAT the University is no longer an commuter school, and therefore needs and safe and effective system of non-motorized vehicle transportation (i.e. pedestrian and bicycle transport.)
THAT recent incidents, in which one student was killed and another was severely injured crossing University City Boulevard, highlight the need for this system.
THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon City Council to develop and implement measures that would make University City Boulevard and Mallard Creek Church Road safer for pedestrians and bicycles, which are outlined below:
- A system of safe, marked, and signaled street crossings along the fore-mentioned streets that would connect current pedestrian and bike routes, both paved and unpaved, from the UNCC campus to the communities on the opposite side of the street.
- Sidewalks on both sides of the fore mentioned streets where these streets run adjacent to the university.
- Pedestrian scale street lighting, at the very least, were the crossings are located, and optimally, along the entire length of the sidewalks.
- Legislation that would lower the speed limit along University City Boulevard to 35 miles per hour in the areas where this street is adjacent to the university
UDI held its kickoff petition signing on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at the Belk Tower on campus. An article was published about our efforts in the University Times - UDI Pushes for Sidewalks in University City
2.3.04 - During the Charlotte City Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 27, 2003, UDI President Joe Martinez present the sidewalks petition. Although no immediate action was taken, Charlotte Mayor Pat Mcrory indicated that he would have our district representative find out where the university area stood on getting sidewalks.
2.6.04 - Since presenting the petition, a call from city council has indicated that beginning in the summer of 2004, construction of 9 stretches of sidewalk around the University will commence.
