The Ultimate Pedestrian Weapon

A little orange flag may give pedestrians in Washington, DC the safety they need from oncoming cars.

1 minute read

April 14, 2005, 7:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


That's right, pick up a flag on one side of a six-lane street and run, march, saunter, or dance your way to the other side while waving it at oncoming cars. Does the strategy, in use at only two DC intersections, actually work? Many think so. "If you are a besieged pedestrian, tired of feeling trapped by the revving vehicular world, the flags are transformative. You are the matador, and that idiot behind the wheel is a bull to be slain! You are a grumpy old lady, liberated by age to pretend to rap your cane against a windshield!"

Thanks to David Gest

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 in The Washington Post

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.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A construction crew working on SunZia.

How a Chicago-sized wind farm beat the odds and powered on

The project spanned five presidential administrations and a standoff with a U.S. military base.

6 seconds ago - Grist

A rendering of the basketball court, a green court under a blue sky.

MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court

The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.

1 hour ago - Gothamist

A crowd of people bathed in pink light in front of a stage.

Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds

A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.

2 hours ago - Block Club Chicago