By Molly Sanchez
When the city of Hayward had a speeding problem, officials fought it with one of the most potent weapon known to mankind: unadulterated sarcasm.
SF Gate reported that the city installed new street signs around a busy intersection that say things like “It’s a speed limit, not a suggestion,” “Downhill, use eyes, brakes, and brains,” and my personal favorite “Heads up, cross the street, then update Facebook.” Snark attack! Everyone out of the pool!
The man behind these signs is the city’s community media relations officer, Frank Holland. “There’s been a problem with speeding ever since there’s been cars,” he told me. “I realized we’d been talking about speeding the same way since then.” Holland says the city felt the need to “do something uncommon to catch people’s attention.”
Since the signs have gone up Holland has noticed anecdotally that instances of speeding have gone down. He acknowledges that “some funny signs” aren’t going to cure the problem entirely but says he hopes they’ve started a conversation about the issue.
Holland says Hayward’s progressive leadership prides itself on being ahead of the curve, a mentality that has really nurtured this project. He’s hopeful that cities with similarly open-minded officials could try similar measures.
I have some suggestions as to how similar signs could be used in our own fair city, feel free to add your own to the comments.
When you push the button at an intersection it should say “Wait, wait. No Indiana Jones, do NOT just run across the street. Ok, you can walk now, damn!”
“Bike Lane: but don’t feel all entitled like you don’t have to stop at red lights.”
“School Zone: Don’t say “fuck” around here, ok? Have a little decency.”
“This train is out of service. HA HA SUCKERS!”
“The Muni agent has no money: In the booth — they have no money in the booth, we don’t know what their real life is like. We don’t mean to put them on blast.”
[Via SF Gate, images via Frank Holland.]
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