Administration & Finance / News /

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sergeant Dina Padovan
UHPD
713-743-0596
preventcrime@uh.edu

"Walk In The Dark" Takes Steps to Illuminate Pedestrian Experience

Houston, Oct. 5, 2018 —Literally stepping across campus, the annual "Walk in the Dark" event to be held Tuesday, October 9, provides a unique opportunity for immediate "boots on the ground" feedback about the overall pedestrian experience in the twilight hours.

"While we are honored to spearhead this collaborative event, we encourage everyone campus-wide to participate in support of the innovative best practice 'co-producer' philosophy that we are all accountable toward contributing feedback and ongoing suggestions of improvement," said Sergeant Dina Padovan, UHPD, "and that together we are stronger from providing our collective input and expertise."

Held annually by UHPD in partnership with Facilities & Construction Management and Parking & Transportation Services, the campus-wide community is invited to participate in this "visionary" event, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Kiva Room in Farish Hall with a pre-walk "Lighting 101" overview by architectural lighting design experts in an educational effort to inform participants of key improvements to look for as part of the feedback and reporting process.

Potential tripping hazards, such as cracks in the sidewalk, a plant or bush that may be blocking path lighting, or even the need to propose additional lighting design elements---all are potential feedback items for consideration to enhance the pedestrian experience on campus.

In conjunction, the Walk in the Dark event will include an opportunity to learn more about Cougar Ride, a pilot after-hours campus transportation service available to the campus community under way by UH Parking & Transportation Services as part of the multi-faceted approach of the Transportation & Security Work Group. Offered seven days a week from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Cougar Ride, represents a collaborative effort toward on-campus options for after-hours transportation.

Beginning October 5, Cougar Ride service functionality will commence at 10 p.m. and remain active for requests through 4:45 a.m. Regular shuttle service information is available 24 hours a day on an ongoing basis.

"Cougar Ride represents another way we are providing innovative after-hours transportation options for the campus community," said Bob Browand, UH Parking & Transportation Services. "Through this pilot service offering, we will use valuable participant feedback from awareness events with our partners in support of the Walk in the Dark to adequately assess plans going forward."


About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 46,300 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.