- A new study from Bloomberg Philanthropies found that roads with “asphalt art” changed driver behavior.
- The result was safer streets when art projects were installed in places like crosswalks or intersections.
- The analysis from the 17 sites found a 50 percent decrease in crashes involving pedestrians or other vulnerable road users.
We all know that art is amazingly beneficial for both the artist and the viewer, but it turns out that it can also improve road safety. A new study from Bloomberg Philanthropies, based on the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative, showed that roads with “asphalt art” changed driver behavior and resulted in safer streets.
The study tracked urban art installations created by painting directly on asphalt. From murals in the middle of intersections, art painted on crosswalks, and painted sidewalk extensions and bike lanes, these asphalt art projects are becoming more popular around the world. And in addition to sourcing up a downtown district, they can also serve to calm traffic and create a more inclusive community. Researchers noted that even the installation process itself can bring government and community residents closer together.
The research conducted by Bloomberg specifically tracked traffic safety in 2021 in five areas with new asphalt art, in addition to two years of data pulled from 17 older asphalt art installations in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. The installations were typically done in intersections and included more prominent crosswalk stripes being added, in addition to some artistic renderings on corners. For instance, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, intersection went from a few white stop lines to full white crosswalks with floral motifs painted in each corner, creating the illusion of a rounded edge on the corner around bike lanes, which likely helped drivers making righthand turns stay out of the bike lane naturally.
The results from observing these intersections were clear: While art may not replace protected bike lanes, it makes a distinct difference when it comes to protecting vulnerable road users. And now more than ever, pedestrians and cyclists need as much protection as possible, considering the shocking 21 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities from 2019 to 2020.
The analysis from the 17 sites found a 50 percent decrease in crashes involving pedestrians or other vulnerable road users (a.k.a. “cyclists”). Additionally, there was a 37 percent decrease in the rate of crashes leading to injuries. The assessment of the new art installations found a 25 percent decrease in pedestrian crossings involving a conflict with drivers and a 27 percent increase in the frequency of drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians with the right of way. (A pedestrian/vehicle conflict doesn’t mean a fight, by the way. It simply refers to any “observable situation in which two or more road users approach each other in space and time to such an extent that there is a risk of collision if their movements remain unchanged, and at least one of the road users then takes action to avoid a crash.”)
Pedestrian behavior also improved, with a significant dip in the number of pedestrians that crossed the street outside of the crosswalk. For cyclists riding through towns and cities, this can be a significant benefit, since pedestrians stepping out onto the road can be hazardous for cyclists as well.
Overall, that’s not a bad return on investment for a bit of paint and some artistic flair! The only problem, researchers noted, is the continued maintenance and touch-ups required, especially in areas where the installations are regularly driven over.
In addition to simply being eye-catching, these brightly colored crosswalks and mid-road murals help remind road users that pedestrians may be present. Consider the colorful rainbow-striped crosswalks that have popped up in many cities in recent years, compared to the plain white crosswalks. Which catches your eye when driving or riding down Main Street?
Drivers are likely more prone to noticing these bright colors, and because of that, noticing if a pedestrian or cyclist is trying to cross. The same is true for bike lanes that are fully painted in a bright color: It creates a more prominent separation from the road, essentially creating a sidewalk effect compared to the less obvious white markings.
The researchers behind this study are hoping that it will create more conversation about the creation of street art and a change in how roadways are engineered to protect vulnerable road users. Considering how cheap, easy, and community-friendly it is to create asphalt art, hopefully, more towns will consider implementing projects like this.
Want to learn more? Bloomberg also released this video explaining the benefits of asphalt art so you can see it in action.
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