Design-thinking project

Summary

At UMD, many students use e-scooters and e-bikes without helmets and safety awareness, putting both riders and pedestrians at risk. A survey revealed that students lack knowledge of micromobility rules. The proposed solution is a mandatory safety training course via Canvas, covering helmet use, speed limits, and safe riding habits. The course, created by UMD's Department of Transportation with help from engineering and business students, would be cost-effective and easily accessible. The training would also include penalties for reckless behavior, aiming to improve campus safety by educating students and enforcing safety rules.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hundreds of students at UMD ride ecooters and ebikes daily through crowded areas, often without helmets or adherence to safety rules.
• 😀 A lack of enforcement and safe riding habits creates risks for both riders and pedestrians on campus.
• 😀 Many students are unsure about the micromobility rules and safety expectations at UMD.
• 😀 A proposed solution is a mandatory micromobility safety training for all students, offered through Canvas.
• 😀 The safety course would cover helmet use, speed limits, safe riding habits, and penalties for reckless behavior.
• 😀 The course would be designed by UMD's Department of Transportation with input from engineering and business students.
• 😀 The program would be communicated to students via email and ELMS announcements, ensuring broad awareness.
• 😀 Utilizing Canvas for the training is a cost-effective solution since it is a platform already available to UMD students.
• 😀 The goal of the program is to reduce accidents and make the campus safer for both students and pedestrians.
• 😀 Fines would be imposed for reckless riding, promoting responsibility and adherence to safety rules.
• 😀 The initiative emphasizes education and enforcement to improve overall safety on campus, particularly concerning micromobility devices.

Q & A

What is the main issue with micromobility on UMD's campus?

The main issue is that many students ride ecooters and ebikes without helmets and in crowded areas, which increases the risk for both riders and pedestrians. Additionally, there is little enforcement of safety rules, and safe riding habits are not actively encouraged.

Why are students unclear about micromobility rules?

Students are unclear about the micromobility rules because there is uncertainty regarding what is expected when riding ecooters and ebikes. This lack of knowledge contributes to unsafe behavior and confusion on campus.

What is the proposed solution to address the micromobility safety issue at UMD?

The proposed solution is to create a mandatory micromobility safety training course for all students, accessible through Canvas. This course would educate students on helmet use, speed limits, safe riding habits, and the enforcement of fines for reckless behavior.

How would the micromobility safety training be implemented?

The training would be implemented through Canvas, which UMD already uses. It would be designed with input from the Department of Transportation (DOTS), engineering students, and business students, and students would be informed through email and an announcement on ELMS.

What are the key components of the micromobility safety training?

The key components of the safety training include proper helmet use, adherence to speed limits, safe riding habits, and penalties for reckless riding behavior.

Why is the proposed solution cost-effective?

The solution is cost-effective because it leverages Canvas, a platform that UMD already has access to. This eliminates the need for additional infrastructure or resources, making the solution affordable and efficient.

What role would UMD’s Department of Transportation (DOTS) play in the proposed solution?

UMD's Department of Transportation (DOTS) would be responsible for helping design the training course, ensuring that it covers all necessary safety measures, and working with other departments to implement it.

How would the training be communicated to current students?

Current students would be notified about the training through email and an announcement on ELMS, which is the online learning management system used by UMD.

How could this safety training reduce accidents on campus?

By educating students about safe riding habits, enforcing helmet use, and implementing speed limits, the training would help reduce accidents and make campus safer for everyone by ensuring that students understand and follow the rules.

What would be the consequence for reckless riding behavior under the proposed plan?

Reckless riding behavior would result in fines, which would serve as a deterrent and encourage students to follow the safety guidelines outlined in the training.