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

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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 Planner

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