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Umbrellas Spread the Word about Holiday Pedestrian Safety
You might have noticed the brightly colored umbrellas SDOT is placing with merchants in downtown and Pioneer Square. They are part of our Holiday Pedestrian Safety Campaign, which aims to remind drivers and pedestrians to slow down and be more aware of each other.
Collisions involving pedestrians and cars increase significantly during Seattle’s dark and rainy winter months. Through this public awareness campaign SDOT seeks to prevent collisions, especially severe ones, during a time of year when everyone is in a hurry.
Our campaign’s tag line is, “See You in the Crosswalk.” As everyone uses that shared roadway space, we want drivers and pedestrians to be more aware of their environment during the holiday season and beyond. Our umbrellas, which are to be used between participating merchants and returned, have the two-fold benefit of increasing campaign awareness and making users more visible to drivers.
As part of this campaign, you will also see Metro bus ads, posters, stickers on pay stations, window displays and publicity events. Our overall budget is approximately $47,000, with umbrellas costing about $5,000, funded through Bridging the Gap as part of Pedestrian Master Plan implementation. That is a small amount of money to spend on safety, especially if it prevents just one collision or saves one life.
See You in the Crosswalk!
Posted: December 1st, 2010 under SDOT.
yeah, like Katherine said they very cute. would love one
Your umbrellas are so beautiful. Share fun and very rewarding.
and the next time any politician tells the taxpayers that they need to layoff police because they are broke you will cancel this program and give that $50k to keep cops on the job correct?
The $47,000 cost of this campaign is a small amount to prevent one collision or save one life. Take a look at this map of collisions and you’ll see that pedestrian/car crashes do occur in downtown. This awareness campaign is paid for via the Bridging the Gap transportation levy. Those funds can’t be used for law enforcement officers.
You’ve got to be kidding, you’re wasting our tax dollars on this???!!!
I heard the songs on the Dori Monson show and must say they are super lame; they don’t eve make sense. And the dancing, simply an embarrassment to us all.
This is a total waste of money. Stop It. Does no one in government have common sense?
Sorry you feel that way. Collisions between cars and pedestrians occur on city streets. Awareness campaigns, as highlighted in our Pedestrian Master Plan, are a proven tools for preventing them.
How bout people just look both ways before they cross the street like their taught in kindergarten. What a waste of money I mean do we seriously live in a time where people cant even cross the street without the governments help. This is ridiculous.
Not everyone remembers to look both ways when they cross. And not all drivers are attentive when they drive city streets. Awareness campaigns are a way of reminding drivers and pedestrians to be aware of each other. They are proven tools for preventing collisions and making streets safer for everyone.
“have the two-fold benefit” You forgot the third: keeping pedestrians dry! (and I suppose a 4th: keeping customers comfortably shopping)
Great idea.
Glad you like the idea. And you are right, they keep pedestrians dry!
Please consider the local company, StrideLite, for the next round of umbrella purchases. StrideLite umbrellas use both passive (color, reflective) and active (Kryton lightbulb) safety features and are made by a local company.
We will certainly do so.
how can i get one there are soooooo cute
We want people to use them between merchants but not take them. So enjoy them and help promote pedestrian safety, but remember that they need to be returned.