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The government says (Capitol Hill’s) rainbow crosswalks (spreading to Iowa) could be unsafe. Are they really? (No. No they are not.)

The New York Times got the media buzzing about something that has been making the rounds since last month when the federal government told the good people of Ames, Iowa to remove the city’s “inclusive” multi-colored crosswalks citing safety concerns.

The Ames City Council voted unanimously to ignore the request, the NYT reports.

They made the right move. In 2015, the City of Seattle installed rainbow crosswalks across Pike/Pine just in time for Pride. Installed at six intersections totaling 11 different crosswalks on E Pine and E Pike from Broadway to 11th Ave, the crosswalks are highly Instagram-able and even got a touch up this summer after some major street work in the area. Inspired by the 2015 installation of the rainbows around Pike/Pine, Community Crosswalks can now be found across the city including the “Poem Dazzle” crossings on Melrose.

Any CHS analysis of safety related to the colorful crossings will have be anecdotal. We’ve never covered a serious collision involving the crosswalks in the four-plus years they have been in place. Meanwhile, we covered more than a few serious injuries to pedestrians at crossings *near* the crosswalks that didn’t get the rainbow treatment. Yes, we’re looking at you, busy probably overly dangerous mid-block crosswalk at 10th and Pine crossing to and from Cal Anderson.

Streetsblog USA, meanwhile, points out that the the Federal Highway Administration has never produced a study to back up its criticism of anything but white markings.

Seattle officials, meanwhile, could be pushing to change the federal stance, the NYT reports. City traffic engineer Dongho Chang tells the NYT there have been fewer “collisions and conflicts” thanks to the colorful crossings.

 

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Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor
4 years ago

One might be concerned by other crosswalks (https://goo.gl/maps/dASooH7nMJG2EaEX9) but their black stripe is flanked by very visible red, green and white stripes.

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Taylor

We need more Pan-African crosswalks. Not less.

Especially in the CD. They are fine.

Mike
Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  James

I agree we need more Pan-African crosswalks (and more Pan-African celebration in general). I believe Andrew was making a point that the black stripe in the Pan-African crosswalk is NOT a problem because it is surrounded on both sides by very visible colors and a white border. I imagine Andrew was being cheeky.

louise
louise
4 years ago

Big world problems being addresses by rainbow crosswalks.

CD Rez
CD Rez
4 years ago
Reply to  louise

Irrelevant

issa
issa
4 years ago

it’s not like drivers stop for peds anymore even at clearly marked totally normal crosswalks anyway. hell yeah more color i say.

Spike
Spike
4 years ago
Reply to  issa

Preach. I have been driving around Seattle more than usual this week, and every single day I have witnessed an incident of someone slamming their brakes to stop at the red, when their original intention was to zoom through the intersection. However, all the people walking into the street, because, y’know, the signal shows they can, those folks got in the driver’s way.

louise
louise
4 years ago

$66,000 (per crosswalk) x 11 (rainbows)=$726,000.00

Some real world problems would be better served with that money.

Whichever
Whichever
4 years ago
Reply to  louise

They’re not paid for by taxpayer’s money, but rather developer fees.

https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2015/06/mayor-murray-set-to-unveil-rainbow-crosswalks-on-capitol-hill/

pete
pete
4 years ago
Reply to  Whichever

lol “developer fees” — aka a tax. And guess what businesses do when they they pay fees and taxes? They pass those onto the consumer.

Whatever. 70K is a relative drop in the bucket but don’t hand waive this shit away. It all adds up.

Come on right now
Come on right now
4 years ago
Reply to  louise

The fact that painting a crosswalk could cost $66K is just insanity in the first place. It’s a bit of paint on a stencil after all.

Beyond this, I’m not so concerned with where the money comes from (taxes vs. fees vs. somewhere else). There are lots of things that $700K could be spent on that would be of higher, longer lasting value then insanely expensive crosswalk painting.

btwn
btwn
4 years ago
Reply to  louise

nope, not 66k per crosswalk. at the time it was reported that all 11 cost a little more than 100k.

OhOkay
OhOkay
4 years ago

Hate, ignorance, and bigotry combined with violence and easy access to weapons = no safety concerns, carry on
Rainbow crosswalks = federal intervention

reft
4 years ago

ed murray’s great moment in seattle politics. derp.