Crime
Los Angeles city removes crosswalks painted by guerilla safety advocates
The secretive Crosswalk Collective LA claimed responsibility for the unauthorized crosswalks that popped up at the busy residential intersection of Romaine St. and N. Serrano Ave. in March
May 25, 2022 9:02am
Updated: May 25, 2022 11:55am
Los Angeles removed four illegal crosswalks painted by mysterious activists for pedestrian safety on Friday, saying they should submit formal requests to the city.
The secretive Crosswalk Collective LA claimed responsibility for the unauthorized crosswalks that popped up at the busy residential intersection of Romaine St. and N. Serrano Ave. in March.
The city of Los Angeles is removing all of the crosswalks we've installed in the past few months. Let it be clear: We will not be deterred or discouraged. We will continue painting crosswalks to save lives.
— Crosswalk Collective LA (@CrosswalksLA) May 21, 2022
If the city doesn't keep us safe, we keep us safe. #CrosswalkCollective pic.twitter.com/oU90vGAdlq
“The city of Los Angeles doesn't keep us safe so we keep us safe,” reads the organization’s website.
The site contains instructions for how to paint your own crosswalks and asks for donations to pay for CCLA members who have been ticketed when caught by police.
Residents can submit requests for CCLA to come paint them in English, Korean and Spanish.
A local resident told NPR he was thrilled when the new crosswalks appeared.
“We wanted it, we needed it, and it's been keeping us safer," said Quam Odunsi.
"Cars just fly through here.”
Odunsi added they had asked the city to install a speedbump, with no response.
The city has a policy of removing all unauthorized installations, reports NPR. The activists said they would not be deterred and will “continue painting crosswalks to save lives.”
CCLA shared picture of Toph, whose owner said hi to activists painting an unmarked intersection. The dog had been hit by a car on one of his daily walks, they claimed.
Lots of neighbors stop to say hi when we’re painting, including this good girl Toph. She was hit by a car on her daily walk through this unmarked intersection; she made a full recovery, but her owners are glad to have a new crosswalk to keep their girl safe. #CrosswalkCollective pic.twitter.com/p4E0GElNYP
— Crosswalk Collective LA (@CrosswalksLA) April 13, 2022
City officials said the crosswalks were cleared Friday to make way for a better intersection.
"This location is also the site of a planned traffic circle as part of [Los Angeles Department of Transportation's] Slow Streets program which is being installed today," LADOT spokesman Colin Sweeney told NPR.
The spokesman said no requests for improvements for this intersection had been formally submitted to the city, which NPR confirmed, and any requests should be made directly to their city council office or local LADOT district engineering office.
