Suzanne's Mom's Blog

Today’s post features a new study showing that public art, in addition to its numerous other benefits, can sometimes increase traffic safety.

Elaine Velie writes at Hyperallergic, “A study conducted by Bloomberg Philanthropies examined 17 sites over two years, before and after they were painted with ‘asphalt art’ (art on surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and underpasses). It found a 17% decrease in total crashes and a decrease in severity of the crashes that did occur: There were 37% fewer crashes that resulted in injury and 50% fewer crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

“ ‘The art itself is often also intended to improve safety by increasing visibility of pedestrian spaces and crosswalks, promoting a more walkable public realm, and encouraging drivers to slow down and be more alert for pedestrians and cyclists, the most vulnerable users of the road,’ the study reads.

“The sites, spread across five states, were intersections or mid-block crosswalks. Around half of the sites were considered ‘urban core,’ defined as areas with a high population density (including two in New York City), a quarter were neighborhood zones, and the last quarter were suburban.

“In addition to reporting the actual crash rate for these sites, the study also tracked the behavior of drivers and pedestrians, noting that both groups performed less risky behavior in areas with artworks — such as pedestrians crossing without the ‘walk’ sign and drivers not yielding to pedestrians until the last moment. …

“As of now, asphalt art is not allowed under the Federal Highway Association’s rules on road signs and signals, a lengthy set of guidelines that dictate the colors required for painting crosswalks, curbs, and lines. The decision to install asphalt art requires local officials to make exceptions.”

The New York Times has more: ” ‘We want to try and help cities do wonderful things to their public realm,’ said Kate D. Levin, who oversees arts programs for Bloomberg Philanthropies and was commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. And especially now, as cities reopen, ‘there’s a social cohesion goal that I think has only gotten more urgent,’ she said. ‘Why not use projects like this to actually let people be involved, create a sense that public space belongs to everyone?’

“The goals are to support local working artists, community groups, businesses and government on collaborative infrastructure projects to make streets safer; to activate public space in ways that are ‘as robust and reflective of local identity and aspirations as possible,’ Ms. Levin said; and to promote community engagement, ‘because a streetscape isn’t theoretical, it runs through people’s lives.’ …

“ ‘When we closed Broadway to cars and opened it to pedestrians in 2009, we saw the potential hidden in 2.5 acres of gray asphalt,’ said Janette Sadik-Khan, a former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation and now transportation principal at Bloomberg Associates … ‘Streets make up more than 80 percent of a city’s public space, so they’re really the front yards for millions of Americans.’

“Three cities began or completed installations in late 2020: Kansas City, Mo; Saginaw, Mich.; and Norfolk, Va. The remaining 13 are expected to finish their projects this year. … Themes range from unity and improving police and community relations to diversity. Sioux Falls, S.D., plans to feature minority artists who will design vinyl wraps for 25 utility boxes throughout downtown. Troy, N.Y. intends to beautify an underpass. …

“Teal Thibaud, director of the Glass House Collective, a nonprofit that works in an underserved neighborhood in East Chattanooga, Tenn., said even small improvements could help spawn others, especially in an area that had received limited infrastructure investment in recent years.

“The Bloomberg-funded mural, completed in April, helped beautify the area. … A new street park next to the asphalt mural that created a safe gathering space, fence art to slow traffic near the elementary school, and painted stencils on sidewalks to encourage school children and other residents to follow the safest local routes were among the projects, said Ms. Thibaud. …

“Last fall, Kansas City, Mo., redesigned a busy, dangerous four-way intersection where cars rarely stopped for pedestrians, said DuRon Netsell, founder and principal of Street Smarts Design + Build, an urban design firm that focuses on walkable communities. ‘People were just flying through the intersection, significantly over the speed limit.’

“Stop signs and traffic-calming measures like bollards and planters to extend the curbs and narrow the driving lanes, and the community-painted mural ‘blended into a unique project that is not only beautiful, but also drastically improved safety,’ said Mr. Netsell.”

More at Hyperallergic, here, and at the New York Times, here.