Forming an opportunity Belief
I believe there is a dilemma with poor lighting in the city of Gainesville. Many of my friends and people that come to my house state that they were a bit scared coming to my house because it was very dark outside and they didn't know where they were going.
Many people tend to avoid walking through the northeast of campus as well because it is poorly lit and does not create a welcoming atmosphere.
Prototypical customer: Anyone, old or young, who is traveling through dim lit areas and need to see well in order to be familiar with their surroundings and stay safe
Interviews:
#1 Young college student biking home from work late:
How often do you work late?
- "I only usually work night shifts, so when I get off it is always dark outside."
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared biking home at night?
- "Mostly uneasy yes. It's really because my neighborhood and the whole area really does not have any street lamps, and if they do they're very dim and don't work well. I usually carry pepper spray on me though.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you feel uncomfortable/scared biking home?
- "There's a dim street lamp where a few guys meet most nights and I've seen them just lingering around there not really doing anything, and as a result, I've taken a different path most nights. I try to take the path that is most well lit or has the most traffic because those kinds of people tend to prefer darker places where people can't see them very well.
Reflection: this student appears to be a bit uneasy traveling home on the bike from work. Fixing a street lighting issue such as in this case would much facilitate getting to and from work for this student and make it home safe.
#2 Random person on the street I spoke to
How often do you work late?
- "I have two full-time jobs, so one of the jobs requires me to be at work until about 2 in the morning."
How do you commute to and from work?
- "I mainly bike to work, and if not then I am walking.
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared biking home at night?
- "I've seen some weird people out here at night, especially at 2 in the morning. I just try to stay super aware of my surroundings and go straight home, no funny business.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you uncomfortable/scared on your way home?
- "I remember once I was being followed for a good couple of blocks when I was walking home once. It was in a dark neighborhood and I walked out towards the main street where there was some traffic and I lost him.
Reflection: This person most definitely has had unnerving encounters with the dark. There is no funny business; when going home, go straight home and that's it. It helps to tell a friend you are walking home too.
#3 The gate gas station owner
How often do you work late?
- "I am usually the person that works overnight here at the gas station. My wife stays home with the kids at night.
How do you commute to and from work?
- "I drive to and from work. I don't live too far from the gas station so it isn't a bad drive.
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared driving to work at night?
- "It isn't usually bad for me no, I drive and use my headlights. Although there are some dark roads I take to get here.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you uncomfortable/scared on your way home?
- "We have security here at the gas station each night so we don't have any people that lurk around the gas station for no reason. But I have noticed driving home there are a few people that hang out and smoke in dark areas which can be a bit dangerous especially since I can't see them very well sometimes, I don't want to hit them.
Reflection: This person doesn't seem to have many issues with discomfort commuting home or anything. However, he does state that he can't see well sometimes because of the dark roads he takes to get to his job sometimes.
Summary: Most people either feel scared commuting during the dark, which are usually the bikers and walkers. And some people may uncomfortable because they cannot see well and are worried they might hit something or something may be lingering on the side of the street that they cannot see. It is important to have enough light to be able to assess surroundings, and it doesn't have to be super lit. Simple, well-running, efficient lights are more than enough to solve this problem and would make people such as those interviewed feel more at ease commuting home after a workday, or even someone who is just taking a night walk.
Many people tend to avoid walking through the northeast of campus as well because it is poorly lit and does not create a welcoming atmosphere.
Prototypical customer: Anyone, old or young, who is traveling through dim lit areas and need to see well in order to be familiar with their surroundings and stay safe
Interviews:
#1 Young college student biking home from work late:
How often do you work late?
- "I only usually work night shifts, so when I get off it is always dark outside."
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared biking home at night?
- "Mostly uneasy yes. It's really because my neighborhood and the whole area really does not have any street lamps, and if they do they're very dim and don't work well. I usually carry pepper spray on me though.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you feel uncomfortable/scared biking home?
- "There's a dim street lamp where a few guys meet most nights and I've seen them just lingering around there not really doing anything, and as a result, I've taken a different path most nights. I try to take the path that is most well lit or has the most traffic because those kinds of people tend to prefer darker places where people can't see them very well.
Reflection: this student appears to be a bit uneasy traveling home on the bike from work. Fixing a street lighting issue such as in this case would much facilitate getting to and from work for this student and make it home safe.
#2 Random person on the street I spoke to
How often do you work late?
- "I have two full-time jobs, so one of the jobs requires me to be at work until about 2 in the morning."
How do you commute to and from work?
- "I mainly bike to work, and if not then I am walking.
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared biking home at night?
- "I've seen some weird people out here at night, especially at 2 in the morning. I just try to stay super aware of my surroundings and go straight home, no funny business.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you uncomfortable/scared on your way home?
- "I remember once I was being followed for a good couple of blocks when I was walking home once. It was in a dark neighborhood and I walked out towards the main street where there was some traffic and I lost him.
Reflection: This person most definitely has had unnerving encounters with the dark. There is no funny business; when going home, go straight home and that's it. It helps to tell a friend you are walking home too.
#3 The gate gas station owner
How often do you work late?
- "I am usually the person that works overnight here at the gas station. My wife stays home with the kids at night.
How do you commute to and from work?
- "I drive to and from work. I don't live too far from the gas station so it isn't a bad drive.
Do you ever feel uncomfortable/scared driving to work at night?
- "It isn't usually bad for me no, I drive and use my headlights. Although there are some dark roads I take to get here.
Have you experienced any encounters with people that made you uncomfortable/scared on your way home?
- "We have security here at the gas station each night so we don't have any people that lurk around the gas station for no reason. But I have noticed driving home there are a few people that hang out and smoke in dark areas which can be a bit dangerous especially since I can't see them very well sometimes, I don't want to hit them.
Reflection: This person doesn't seem to have many issues with discomfort commuting home or anything. However, he does state that he can't see well sometimes because of the dark roads he takes to get to his job sometimes.
Summary: Most people either feel scared commuting during the dark, which are usually the bikers and walkers. And some people may uncomfortable because they cannot see well and are worried they might hit something or something may be lingering on the side of the street that they cannot see. It is important to have enough light to be able to assess surroundings, and it doesn't have to be super lit. Simple, well-running, efficient lights are more than enough to solve this problem and would make people such as those interviewed feel more at ease commuting home after a workday, or even someone who is just taking a night walk.
I too have been uncomfortable walking home in the dark. While main parts of campus are pretty well lit the farther you get from Turlington and the libraries the darker it gets. Like some of the people you spoke too I have had late night encounters that made me feel extremely uneasy. I agree that better lighting would make traveling at night for people seem much less daunting.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIf I am walking at night, I always feel uncomfortable because I am always worried something will happen to me. Walking through campus is a bit scary because there aren't many people around late at night. I absolutely agree with your post. I think there are a ton of opportunities to fix the lighting in areas that are darker than others. With the amount of money this school generates, they should be able to fix this issue as soon as possible.