(Photo © J. Maus)
In response to bike congestion on the Hawthorne Bridge — which was flung into the spotlight back in May when two bikes collided resulting in a crash on the steel deck — the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition will be on the bridge for this evening’s commute to offer a gentle reminder to slow down.
To make the message stick, organizers plan to appeal to all five senses. The BTA’s Steph Noll says the event will be “half street theater, half BurmaShave sign campaign with messages promoting calm, safe, considerate behavior on the bridge’s shared bike/ped path.”
Here’s what you’ll see on the signs as you pedal east over the bridge tonight:
Sign #1: Use all 5 senses for a Calm Commute.
#2 LISTEN and Relax
#3 FEEL good and Relax
#4 Slow and SMELL the Flowers
#5 The calming TASTE of Chamomile
#6 SEE Eye to Eye
In addition to smiling sign holders, there will also be people playing various roles to complete the visuals. Plans are for someone to play relaxing harp music, practice yoga, place flowers along the bridge, drink fancy tea, and so on.
The event is part of the BTA’s ongoing “Eye to Eye” campaign and is slated to go from 5:00 until 6:15. Chime in with a comment if you ride by it tonight.
UPDATE: I rolled by the event and snapped some photos of the advocates in action (and of the amazing bike traffic!).