Safety First

Last week a young lady, attempting to cross Massachusetts Avenue in front of Lehman Hall, was knocked down by a car making the turn toward the Law School. Not that such an event is unusual; to most residents in the neighborhood of the Square, it is probably surprising that it does not happen more often.

One spot in the Square, the crossing in front of the Coop, has been made progressively safer. In addition to a traffic light, a policeman with a loud speaker was added last year to the protection force. In fact the foot traveler is now ridiculously safer there then he is on the other side of the subway island, or in from of Phillips Brooks House.

It is now time to turn to these more dangerous areas. A graceful brick overpass in each trouble spot which not pedestrian would use, or a more expensive underpass which would be no more popular, are two possible solutions. Short of portly policemen behind loudspeakers, the most sensible way to reduce the perils seems to be the installation of two sets of traffic lights or officers, one at the junction of Kirkland and Cambridge Streets and another at the corner in front of Lehman Hall. A shift in location of the Lehman Hall taxi stand, or at least a decrease in its size, might also make the pedestrian's lot a happier one.

Cambridge Police are willing to consider suggestions from a student group and possibly in turn make a favorable recommendation to the Installation Department, which handles traffic equipment. Logically, it is up to the Student Council to assume responsibility for proposing new safety measures for pedestrians around the Square.