Residents Take Safety into Their Own Hands in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, frustrated residents are reclaiming their streets by painting their own crosswalks. Jonathan Hale, a resident of Sawtel, spent roughly $200 on paint and rallied neighbors to create a makeshift intersection near Stoner Park, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. However, about two months later, city workers removed this guerrilla crossing, citing federal accessibility regulations that stipulate crossings must meet specific standards.
City Councilor Traci Park has responded to this issue, calling on transportation officials to officially mark the crosswalk. She remarked, “What is the worst possible situation? This intersection is at least a little safer while we try to figure out what we’re going to do next.” It’s a pragmatic approach, though perhaps temporary.
The city’s Department of Transport indicated that they had not received any formal requests for a crosswalk near Stoner Park, despite the mayor’s office noting multiple requests for sidewalk accessibility in that specific area from 2017 to 2018. StreetsLA’s spokesman Dan Halden explained that the bureau primarily relies on its annual resurfacing program to determine where accessibility features are installed, rather than responding to individual requests.
In 2019, the city launched the Vision Zero Initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, as over 75 fatalities were recorded annually on unintegrated county roads. Yet, since its inception, efforts have faltered; Los Angeles faced 303 traffic-related deaths in 2024, a troubling trend as reported by Laist.
Crosswalk Request: “We’ve been asking for crosswalks here for years. I have a 311 service request to prove it. There’s no mark on the pavement. We’re a block away from elementary school!”
Two crosswalks depicted at N. Ave. 56 & Meridian in Highland Park.
– Crosswalk Collective Bra (@crosswalksla) August 16, 2024
Hale voiced his frustrations, stating, “We don’t need years of research to say that there should be a street or a slow street in the parks, a school, or a daily hustle. These are obvious.” He noted that standing at those corners often reveals children darting across the street, making the absence of crosswalks feel even more alarming.
Tragically, a recent incident highlighted the urgency of this issue when a 9-year-old boy was struck and killed by a driver near South New Hampshire Avenue and 4th Avenue. The Ministry of Transport previously flagged that intersection in 2021, promising a roundabout as part of safety measures, yet it has yet to be built.
As residents turn to DIY solutions out of necessity, many express a feeling of void in national leadership regarding these safety concerns. A recent survey suggests that over half of Californians believe Governor Gavin Newsom is more focused on his presidential run in 2028 than on addressing state issues. The disconnect is palpable, leaving many to wonder what the next steps will be.
