New Traffic Haikus Aim to Reduce Accidents on New York City Streets

[WMDogma]

New Traffic Haikus Aim to Reduce Accidents on New York City Streets

Oh New York, New York.
It's a heck of a town, but
likes traffic haikus.

New York DOT
introduces traffic signs
that use poetry.

Signs have colorful
artwork and helpful haikus
on traffic safety.
[image src='http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/75/75687.jpg' width='426' height='295' align='center']
The DOT hopes
these "Curbside Haikus" will help
prevent accidents.

Written by poet
John Morse, each sign draws notice
to common problems

Cyclists, drivers and
pedestrians have on streets.
Here's an example:

"A sudden car door,
Cyclist's story rewritten.
Fractured narrative"

Reminds drivers to
be careful when exiting
their cars near bike lanes.

[gallery=558]

Two hundred sixteen
of the signs will go up in
high-risk areas.

They will be displayed
until next fall. Each also
has a QR code

So smartphone users
can get more information
on safe commuting.

​

Source: Gothamist [http://gothamist.com/2011/11/29/new_haiku_signs_will_make_nyc_stree.php#photo-3]


Permalink

 

[coldfrog]

Man, what is with these sassy new traffic signs [http://achewood.com/index.php?date=01292007] they got poppin' up everywhere?

I mean, are you expected to read these while driving? It seems like it could cause more harm than it prevents, in that case. Or are they more like the bus stop billboards that you read as a pedestrian and are expected to retain later? It's a cool idea, but I'm not sure if it's not dangerous, or even all that helpful, really.

Although, I guess if it raises the awareness of even one driver, it'd be worth it.

 

[2xDouble]

Oh New York, New York.
It's a heck of a town,
but likes traffic haikus.
​

In the first haiku,
the "but" should be on line 2.
Though this is quite cool.

 

[Marshall Honorof]

As a New Yorker,
I can approve of this plan.
Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

And I thought government organizations had no room in bureaucracy for wit and humor...

 

[Saulkar]

I think back to this when looking at those.

 

[WMDogma]

Oh New York, New York.
It's a heck of a town,
but likes traffic haikus.
​

In the first haiku,
the "but" should be on line 2.
Though this is quite cool.

Thank you for catching
that haiku mix up! I will
correct it post haste.

 

[coldfrog]

Watch as people get
into accidents trying
to read the haikus...

Isn't that better?
You were very close but you
missed it by one word.

 

[Something Amyss]

Saw this on Maddow
Seriously El-Oh-Elled.
This line is vacant.

>.>

 

[Lancer873]

And yet it seems
It's done before
With shaving creams
in groups of four
Burma-shave.

(okay, so it's not four if you count the Burma-shave sign, but that wasn't part of the poem)