A question recently sent to me: “As a walking, person what does this ad mean to you?”
I looked at the ad, thought about it for a moment, and nothing came to me. The black Converse sneakers? The yellow strip you find at the edge of T-link platforms? The English words: “Walk Safe”? What’s this about? Who is Metro addressing? Pedestrians? I wasn’t the only one in the dark. Transportation activist Ryan Packer tweeted this:
I would really like to know specifically what @kcmetrobus is telling me to do here. pic.twitter.com/KKGGKDvLzz
— Ryan Packer (@typewriteralley) February 2, 2018
Metro responded to his tweet: “Our goal is to reduce the number of pedestrian collisions we have each year, and prevent the number of incidents from rising.” Metro’s people also offered a link to a webpage that contained tips, not so much for pedestrians, but those who are trying to catch a bus, or trying to exit one.
Our goal is to reduce the number of pedestrian collisions we have each year, and prevent the number of incidents from rising. Our tips are online at https://t.co/IzvweWyKXM
— King County Metro🚌 (@kcmetrobus) February 2, 2018
The webpage also has tips about wheelchair and bike safety. But what does all of this have to with safe walking? This language seems directed to all pedestrians who face intersections that make them wait forever, sidewalks that are rarely tended, and cars that are almost never punished for speeding within the city (fast cars only exist on highways outside of or leading into cities). Metro’s message looks like it’s a complete mess or waste of time.
