In Los Angeles, residents have taken street safety into their own hands by painting crosswalks, some of which have become permanent installations. In Sawtelle, near Stoner Park, locals painted crosswalks themselves after feeling the city was too slow to act. Jonathan Hale, a resident, spent $200 on paint and organized neighbors to create crosswalks around the park. The city initially removed these unauthorized crosswalks but later decided to restore them permanently, as announced by the mayor's office last week. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation stated that crosswalks must meet accessibility requirements before permanent installation, but the mayor's office confirmed the crosswalks would be painted before these improvements were completed.
Councilmember Traci Park emphasized the importance of pedestrian safety, especially in community hubs like Stoner Park. Despite the lack of previous requests for crosswalks at this location, the Bureau of Engineering had received multiple accessibility requests between 2017 and 2018. Residents expressed frustration with the slow pace of city action, leading to grassroots efforts to improve safety.
In Koreatown, a similar initiative occurred after a tragic accident where a nine-year-old boy was fatally hit by a car. The Crosswalk Collective LA, a safety advocacy group, painted a crosswalk at the intersection where the accident occurred. Their efforts highlight the community's demand for quicker responses to safety concerns.
The city's Vision Zero plan, aimed at eliminating traffic-related deaths, has faced challenges, with significant delays and budget constraints hindering progress. Residents like Hale believe that community-driven actions can help address these issues, questioning the resistance to citizen-led safety improvements.