NYC announced a new traffic safety initiative yesterday. Investing in the conscious traversing of traffic, the new safety campaign draws on the work of Atlanta artist John Morse. As a poet, Morse has created Curbside Haiku (poems that follow the 5-syllable, 7 syllable, 5 syllable Japanese verse form) that will be posted on 8 inch square signs accompanied by graphics.
"We are looking for ways to get through to the public so they pay more attention," said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan at the unveiling at the Studio Museum in Harlem. "New Yorkers are innoculated from messages. What we've learned is something more innovative or with a bit of humor is more eye-catching," added Sadik-Khan.
200 signs in total will be posted in high traffic incident zones, near cultural institutions and schools throughout the city. Here are some examples:
A sudden car doorCyclist’s story rewritten.Fractured narrative
If you spot a poem, take a picture and post it on our Facebook page!Too averse to riskTo chance the lottery, yetSteps into traffic.
