By: University Apartments Community Officer Jeff Kirchman
Madison – and the UW-Madison campus in particular – is a very safe and walkable place. One advantage to cramming a whole bunch of people and places onto a narrow strip of land between two big lakes (an ‘isthmus’, according to our Department of Geography friends) is that what you want or want to do probably isn’t too far away.
But what happens when you outstay your friends at that social gathering, work to the wee hours, or – heaven forbid! – study late into the night at the library? You may not have far to walk, but you want to do it safely.
Luckily, UW-Madison offers a wide variety of options to make sure you get where you want to go by foot without problems, regardless of the hour.
Here are a few options:
- SAFEwalk: Run by UW-Madison’s Transportation Services, SAFEwalk provides access to a vetted group of volunteers who will meet you and escort you to your destination. With their bright orange clothing emblazoned with the SAFE Walk logo, they’re hard to miss. They operate in the main campus area and focus their services on night-time hours. Call or text 608-262-5000 for more information or to set up an escort in advance.
- Friend Walk: A feature of UWPD’s own BadgerSAFE app (available from your app store) and found in the Safety Toolbox, Friend Walk allows you to share your location with anyone from your contacts, and that person can virtually walk with you. In an emergency, one button click will notify your friend you need help and will simultaneously initiate a 911 call. BadgerSAFE has lots of helpful features — click here to learn more about the app.
- Night buses: Remember that UW-Madison students are eligible for free bus passes, and employees receive highly discounted passes. Many bus routes in the campus area run until 3:00 a.m., with extended service on weekends. You can eliminate, or at least shorten, your walk by using Madison Metro.
- The Lightway: This network of well-lit walking paths extends from N. Lake Street on the east all the way to University Hospital on the west. Along the Lightway, you’ll also find strategically placed Emergency Phones, that provide one-button emergency access to UWPD.
- Audio/video calls: Whether it’s with a regular telephone call or via video chat, everyone’s cell phone offers the ability to improve safety while walking. Call that friend you know is always up late, and use your walk to catch up, dish the hot goss’, or tell each other dumb jokes. Occasionally update them on your location and, if needed, they can coordinate getting you help.
Remember, the best safety practice is to walk in groups in well-lit areas with awareness of what’s around you at night. But if you find yourself alone and need to walk to a nighttime destination, utilizing one (or many) of these resources can help ensure you arrive trouble-free.