Risky bus-iness

Las Vegas Metro officers are riding transit buses this week to educate our populace about pedestrian safety as it relates to bus stops. We’ve had 35 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents this year, some of which were caused by bus riders darting into traffic to get to their stops. While we applaud any action to save lives, we’d still like to see more emphasis on protecting the bus stops themselves. As this city has proven over and over, you can be a responsible pedestrian and still be killed just standing at a bus stop.

Football fail

That was fast. The United Football League, already financially beleaguered before it launched its fourth season, announced this week it is suspending the rest of the season with four games remaining. The league says it plans to return in the spring and resume a fall schedule in 2013, but here’s all you need to know: A recent Las Vegas crowd numbered about 600. At Sam Boyd Stadium. This ain’t working, guys.

Phone-y baloney

A Nevada law banning the use of cell phones while driving has been in place since January, but a recent survey by the University of Nevada, Reno, revealed that 27 percent of our state’s residents still use handheld phones while driving. Oh, and 13 percent still send text messages. It’s frustrating news, but before you get all up in arms, there is some hope: 26 percent of respondents said their usage while driving has declined. Hey, it’s a start, right?