At Curcio Law, we are committed advocates for pedestrian safety, and we find the recent collaboration between officials in Hyattsville Maryland and artist Graham Coreil-Allen to be both innovative and inspiring. This project represents a growing movement to utilize art as a powerful tool to promote pedestrian safety, addressing the alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities across the United States.
The initiative, involving vibrant street art and colorful designs, aims to transform urban spaces into pedestrian-friendly environments. The collaboration demonstrates a novel approach that goes beyond traditional safety measures. The use of aesthetically pleasing designs, including bright blue coffee beans, rainbow blocks, and bands of color, aims to redefine streets as spaces for people to enjoy, rather than mere conduits for vehicular traffic.
While some transportation engineers may initially be skeptical about the efficacy of art in promoting safety, a recent study sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2022 concluded that the projects were linked to a 50 percent decline in crashes involving pedestrians!
A notable aspect of this artistic intervention is its cost-effectiveness and rapid implementation, making it an attractive option for cities seeking immediate solutions. Unlike full-scale street redesigns that may require extensive planning and large budgets, projects like the one in Hyattsville can be completed at a fraction of the cost.
We applaud initiatives like the one in Hyattsville Maryland for their commitment to pedestrian safety through creative means.
This post references a Washington Post piece titled “This artist paints on streets to make them safer places to walk,” published on Dec. 27, 2023.
