Link: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-16/risking-arrest-he-paints-illicit-crosswalks-in-la-we-cant-wait

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/49452624

UCLA law student Jonathan Hale and about 150 volunteers have painted unauthorized crosswalks at dangerous Los Angeles intersections, saying residents cannot wait for city action.

Advocates say traffic deaths rose 56% from 2015 to 2025 as the city’s Vision Zero effort faltered; officials say they maintain or add more than 1,000 crosswalks annually.

Hale, arrested while painting in Westwood before his case was dismissed, wants the city to legalize the work and recommit to Vision Zero. LADOT says it has met its commitments to him.

Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20261016121334/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-16/risking-arrest-he-paints-illicit-crosswalks-in-la-we-cant-wait

Fuck asking permission to make the world a better place, especially this late into collapse, just do it, break the law if (and only if) it means humans or creatures can be treated better, the law has no inherent legitimacy to block your kindness if only the poor have to follow the law.

In California, cars must stop for pedestrians whether or not there’s a crosswalk. Therefore, the pressure for cities to put down some reflective thermoplastic paint down to make it official is non-existent. Perhaps the brick crossing method is better.

Perhaps the brick crossing method is better.

Is this where you carry a brick to throw at cars that don't follow right of way?

Yesh

Just to threaten. They can be foam bricks.

My city recently agreed to improve congestion on residential streets and lots of folks thought new roads and more lanes …. Every residential road was taken down to 1 lane in each direction with traffic calming medians and the rest of the road painted for bike lanes and marked off.

Change is coming in places.

Fucking based. More stuff like this!

I also encourage people that can (terms and conditions unfortunately apply) to use the solution I have seen around the beachtowns I grew up in with back country 30mph (that means 45mph) roads near the beach with zero shoulder and lots of vegetation and visual clutter that obscure corners, I call the solution the Karen Solution.

Just walk in the middle of the road, slowly and confidently, never ever be in a rush while on these walks, you need to do it nearly every day relentlessly at focused times of day like the morning and have a whole posse that does it too (not together as an event, you need to space your Karens out on patrol) so that everybody is forced to expect there to be old white ladies walking in the middle of a winding 45mph road. At any moment you must be prepared to rapid draw a mildly judgemental scowl/stare at anybody who drives too fast by or if necessary your phone which you can use to pretend to be talking to someone important about the drivers behavior with.

In order to do this strategy you must be wealthy and white or wealthy enough to function as white in your community, but if you are this is a decisive blow you can make towards road infrastructure inherently hostile to pedestrians. You also might get hit by a car, so you know, be ready to be a martyr.

Our city has been doing this also since pursuing Vision Zero. It has worked out nicely!

Damn, those neighbourhoods might even be safe for kids to play if we let then continue like this

I sometimes do this. If cars aren't stopping to let me cross. Just confidently walk in front of them. Be ready to jump back if they call your bluff but I've never had to.

We’re already a walkable city, one of the few “suburbia planned right” places … but it’s getting overly commercialified of late :(

Those things limit the amount of profit rich people can make.

Direct action baby! Ya love to see it.

No no no no no