European Cities Get Funds to Transform Streets from Asphalt to Art

Traffic-calming street murals are coming to 19 cities across Europe in a bid to improve pedestrian safety.

A group of European cities will soon have the chance to add a dose of artistic flair to their roadways. The Asphalt Art Initiative, which aims to improve pedestrian safety by painting eye-grabbing murals on the pavement in crosswalks and along curbs, will dole out grants of $25,000 to 19 European cities. The project is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and was announced on Monday in Amsterdam at CityLab, a summit for urban leaders hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Aspen Institute.

Cities in Belgium, Italy and Kosovo are among those that have been selected for the program, with the three posed to receive improved pedestrian spaces. Istanbul and Varna, Bulgaria, will get murals at intersections and crosswalks. The initiative has already supported more than three dozen grants in the US and pilot projects in Europe.

Injecting street art into public spaces isn’t purely for aesthetic purposes: Results from recent US projects show that the artistic interventions can improve pedestrian safety, especially when combined with other street-calming measures like bollards and redesigned curbs. In Kansas City, Missouri, a redesign of a crash-prone intersection saw speeds drop by 45% following the art installation. Meanwhile, adding color to curbs in Baltimore, Maryland, prompted drivers to yield to pedestrians with the right of way 41% more often.

Read the full article on CityLab

Author: Amelia Pollard

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