Friday Funny: Crossing the Street? Good Luck!

The Onion says the quiet part out loud to illustrate the real philosophy behind many road safety strategies.

1 minute read

October 21, 2022, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Mother and two young children waiting to cross street at busy crosswalk

Pavel L Photo and Video / Pedestrians crossing the street

The satirical news site The Onion once again skewers transportation officials, poking fun at our nation’s inadequate efforts to protect pedestrians and eliminate traffic violence. The fictionalized news article imagines a new type of pedestrian crossing signals, fictionally installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation, that simply read “Good Luck!”

“The signal will illuminate for 20 seconds, and within that time span hopefully walkers will make it across the street, but if not, oh well,” the article fictionally “quotes” a GDOT official as saying.

The same fictional official “also noted that the stop signs used by school crossing guards would be exchanged for double-sided paddles reading ‘Go for it.’” The article continues, “At press time, Rowcliff clarified the signals did not mean that cars should stop, but rather speed up.”

Monday, October 17, 2022 in The Onion

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

7 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

September 16 - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

September 16 - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.