With recent events that have taken place, pedestrian safety is something people are working on to improve campus, including the ISU Police Department.

From the orange and yellow trees of Central Campus in the fall to the noon bells of the Campanile to the classical architecture of Beardshear and Curtiss, it’s clear that Iowa State has a penchant for being easy on the eyes.

This is easily recognized by anyone who has wandered the campus of Iowa State, but for some of the 36,001 students who cram like sardines into a CyRide just in time to make their 8 a.m. — the day’s first class — it’s a scene that is often overlooked. 

It’s easy to wonder why students often miss out on the beauty that surrounds them, but with the rush to class or work, the landscape can be overlooked.

However, there is one answer that may pop up in some minds: students are looking down instead of up.

Snapchat, Instagram, Spotify: the works.

Its been argued that most millennials on the sidewalk either have headphones in their ears or their eyes glued to a smart phone. In fact, 37 percent of people you pass in the street are on their phones, according to a survey by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

And with this percentage of people engaged in “distracted walking,” those who do so put greater risk upon themselves and others.

The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau has reported 406 pedestrian-related traffic accidents over the past five years, 10 of which resulted in fatalities. 

“With continuous advancements in technology, distractions from such devices may be a factor in pedestrian fatalities,” the Iowa Department of Public Safety website states.

However, many argue the burden of making the roadways a safer place rests on the shoulders of all parties involved — motorists, cyclists and pedestrians equally should take precaution when traveling. 

“It’s important to remember that pedestrian safety is not just a pedestrian issue,“ said Anthony Greiter, community outreach officer with the ISU Police Department. “It concerns all modes of transportation.”

The ISU Police Department is heading a campaign with the Ames Police Department and the Campustown Action Association to promote safety across all modes of transportation. The campaign is being called the Bike/Walk/Drive SMART campaign.

SMART, an acronym the campaign is using to spread its message, stands for the following: Share the road, Make yourself visible, Always be aware, Respect each other, Take your time.

ISU police officers promoted the campaign Jan. 11 on the corner of Lincoln Way and Welch Avenue. There, they handed out pamphlets and spoke to people about safety, including sharing the road, being aware and making yourself visible.

The purpose of the campaign is to increase roadway safety and remind bikers, walkers and drivers to be cautious of others when traveling, Greiter said. 

Sheri Kyras, director of transit for CyRide, said the city’s bus system safety protocol keeps in line with the SMART campaign.

In light of the recent arrest of a CyRide driver in connection with the death of Emmalee Jacobs, an ISU student killed in a hit-and-run accident in December, Kyras said safety has been a main topic of concern at the city’s bus system.

At this point, however, Kyras said she does not know if CyRide’s current procedures will be reviewed or revised.

“We don’t know what happened, it is an ongoing investigation and information hasn’t been provided to us yet,” she said. “Once we know more information, we can begin to take a look at our program and we will do that to learn from this situation to make everyone as safe as possible.” 

Michaela Ramm contributed to this article.