Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
Cooperatively created by neighbors in lieu of a raised traffic circle, this painted ladybug in a busy Wallingford neighborhood intersection catches people's attention in a big way, and that hopefully slows their speed. A neighbor told me it was an idea his former housemate suggested after seeing something similar in Portland. The neighbors organized and formed a plan, got Seattle Department of Transportation review, permits, and funding to create their whimsical reminder to slow down. They get together for a fun block party each year to refresh the paint. Fun coincidences happen when you are creating a blog entry: Bruce Cockburn's "Slow Down Fast" was streaming while I worked on this, suggesting the perfect title :-).
7 comments:
Oh, too cute. I would love to participate in something like this.
I wonder if the painted asphalt makes the road super slippery on the painted part when it is wet?
I know it is a beautiful thing to see and I think all of us could do something like this where we live.
This is a great idea, but the drivers could not sidetrack the drawing, and causing an accident? In Spain, it was stripped and posters of highways and motorways because they said that caused accidents, as drivers gets lost stored.
BTW, this can be seen in Google Earth. 47°39'51.60"N, 122°20'06.49"W
Now that has character!
Kim this is fantastic. I love it when neighborhoods come together and think creatively. Nice find!
This is certainly unique! I've never seen anything like this. However, I do wonder how effective it is. Does anyone know if it's worked? It seems the regulars on this street would only slow down one or two times...after that they wouldn't really notice aside from, "Oh yeah, the ladybug intersection again." But the yearly block party is a cool idea!
Post a Comment