A Vision Zero program in Los Angeles is memorializing the tragedies of traffic collisions at 100 locations around the city.
Laura J. Nelson reports on a new program in the city of Los Angels that is installing "rainbow halos" at locations where drivers, pedestrians, and people on bikes have been killed in traffic collisions.
The first rainbow halo to be installed will commemorate the death of Conor Lynch, who was killed by a driver in 2010 while crossing the street in the neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.
"Nearly a decade later, the intersection where he died has a new feature: a vivid, multicolored disc, about the size of a dinner plate, that casts a rainbow shadow across the pavement and a green bus bench that bears his photo," writes Nelson.
Nearly 100 memorials are scheduled for installation, reports Nelson, in the hopes of raising awareness about traffic safety in addition to memorializing tragedies.
"After Lynch’s memorial was installed, city crews added halos at crash sites in Sunland, Vermont Square and Del Rey. Others are planned in Frogtown, Shadow Hills, Wilmington, Silver Lake and Carthay. At some intersections that have seen multiple deaths, the halos could honor several people," explains Nelson.
"The public art project is part of Vision Zero, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s initiative to eliminate traffic deaths on Los Angeles streets by 2025," according to Nelson. Vision Zero is under new scrutiny in many cities, where traffic fatalities are still increasing despite the stated goals of Vision Zero efforts. In Los Angeles, fatal car crashes increased between 2018 and 2015, the latter being the year Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti adopted the city's Vision Zero policy. So far this year, fatalities have dropped by 1 percent from this time a year ago.
FULL STORY: 100 rainbow ‘halos’ on Los Angeles street corners will honor people killed in car crashes

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont