FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Running, walking, and biking the Razorback Greenway has become a prime amenity for many residents, including University of Arkansas students.
“I use the trails quite a bit just because I love being outdoors— it’s part of the reason I came to this university,” said Karigan Leggett, a freshman at the U of A.
However, after a nursing student at the University of Georgia was killed while exercising on a popular trail, public safety concerns for those who frequent the Greenway are at the top of official's minds.
Fayetteville police said a Parks and Trails Patrol Division monitors large sections of the trail using electric bikes and Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) in response to the rapid growth and expansion.
“Recently procured electric bikes and vehicles have allowed us to increase range and mobility, respond to calls, and patrol more miles and more trails,” said Stephen Mauk with the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD).
Mauk stated that a few years ago, officers used to patrol the trails as a part of their shift, but now, full-time employees exist in the department with the sole purpose of monitoring trail-goers.
Captain Matt Mills with the University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) says that the University is also doing its part.
"The focus is always on the safety of our campus, our students, faculty, and staff,” Mills said. “We make sure that our officers are patrolling. They are out of the car and they're on foot in the area, especially in the evening and night hours where we might have students walking in groups or even by themselves. We want to be visible."
The University also encourages students to download its free SafeZone app and to participate in various self-defense classes.
"One of the things we do specifically for our female students is offer a class called Rape, Aggression and Defense, or RAD, every eight weeks taught by our police officers,” Mills said. "It is for female students only and it teaches how to defend yourself in situations where you have to verbally de-escalate a situation up to using force."
Even with constant monitoring from public safety officials, students say they still feel a need to be prepared.
"I carry pepper spray with me everywhere,” Eva Turner, a freshman at the University of Arkansas said. “I also have a pretty big dog. I also have Life360, and all of my friends have it. We all get notified when we go out and we check in on each other."
Some students think a little more can be done to help increase student safety.
“Something that I saw whenever I was touring other college campuses was a blue light emergency tower,” sophomore Alexa Long said. “They could probably have more of those around the trails because if something were to happen, there's just nobody around."
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