Trump Administration Removes Rainbow Crosswalk Honoring Pulse Nightclub Victims
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
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A rainbow crosswalk outside Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.Credit :
Todd Stewart/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A rainbow crosswalk outside of the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, was painted over in the middle of the night on Aug. 21
- Governor Ron DeSantis' Department of Transportation carried out the covert cover-up thanks to a directive from the Trump administration, reportedly aimed at eliminating road distractions
- However, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called it a 'cruel political act'
A rainbow crosswalk honoring the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre was removed overnight on Wednesday, following a new directive from President Donald Trump's administration.
The crosswalk is on Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida, right next to the abandoned club that still stands as a memorial to the lives lost.
In a statement on X, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the covert update a "cruel political act."
"We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue," he said. "This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation's largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data, or discussion is a cruel political act."
Governor Ron DeSantis, whose Florida Department of Transportation was responsible for painting over the memorial, defended the action on X, writing, "We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes."
The true directive, however, came from the Trump administration. On July 1, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy sent a letter to the governors of all 50 U.S. States and Puerto Rico, uring them to comply with his "SAFE ROADS Initiative," aimed at eliminating "distractions" on non-freeway roads.
While the letter didn't explicitly name rainbow crosswalks as a direct target of the initiative, Duffy made it clear when he reposted it on X.
"Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks," he wrote. "Political banners have no place on public roads. I'm reminding recipients of @USDOT roadway funding that it's limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else. It's that simple."
Jose Luis, a close friend of Pulse nightclub shooting victim Edward Sotomayor, Jr., wipes away tears while visiting the memorial on Jun 11, 2025.
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty
However, local Democratic politicians say it isn't about safety.
"That's a totally ridiculous and absurd excuse for what is very clearly an attempt to erase LGBTQ identities and just be anti queer," state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith said of the policy.
Dyer said the Pulse memorial in his city was "installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards."
"In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state," he added of the installation, sometimes called "Rainbow Crossing," that was completed in October 2017.
"This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando's commitment to honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016," Dyer continued. "While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community's commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver."
Within hours, volunteers had taken sidewalk chalk to the new black and white crosswalk, coloring in the spaces until it was a rainbow once again.
Related Stories
I Survived the Pulse Nightclub Shooting. How I'm Honoring My Late Friend's Memory 8 Years Later (Exclusive) Pulse Nightclub Mass Shooting: Remembering the 49 Victims, 7 Years Later
Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the deadly shooting, which happened in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.
A man armed with two semi-automatic guns walked past a uniformed police officer working as a security guard and into the club, where he fired at random, leaving 49 dead, 58 injured, and many more trapped for hours in the terrifying onslaught.
The Pulse massacre was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history until the 2017 Las Vegas Shooting. It remains the deadliest attack against LGBTQ+ people in U.S. History.
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Cruelty is the point. This was hurting no one and nothing.
This was a memorial to crime victims, enhanced safety, and was installed legally by the state.
Apparently, it was causing discomfort for those religious bigots who just can't stand seeing those they have already judged "sinners" being validated and treated as "normal". They believe equality means "separate but equal", perhaps a holdover from their days supporting Jim Crow, where as long as people keep their lgtbq selves separate from society and in the closet where religious conservatives believe it belongs, then we're all equal.
They hate us—all of us that are not "MAGA." Call it what it is. MAGA supporters hate us. They despise us. They wish we would volunteer to leave the country. Call it what it is.
No more tap-dancing around this.
These people have made any individual or group that is not MAGA supporting 'dispensable.' They no longer talk to us. . . they talk AT us! They hate us.
nevermind the mad scramble by trump sycophants to name everything they can to memorialize their cult leader while he still lives ...
It is interesting that this article doesn't even mention the name of the shooter or who he was. The shooter, Omar Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to an Islamic State group, was eventually killed by the police.
Has it ever been established that he targeted the people in the club for being gay or was it simply a terrorist attack?
None of that appears to be relevant to the story about the crosswalk. The memorial is for remembering the victims, not to shine a light on the killer.
And yes, I remember the news account about the shooting and the shooter. He came; sat down; ordered a 'drink'; drank it; and eventually got up and masqueraded people.
But, as you point out, this is not about that!
Specifically targeting gays … or was there primarily some other motive? Because the crowd that night was predominantly gay, many people assume that the motive of the perp was specifically about the victims’ sexual orientation (only). Seems obvious, eh?
But that’s not true. The perp’s motive was not specifically (and solely) about the sexual orientation of the victims. The fact is: the perp’s motive was based upon religion— his extremist RELIGIOUS views!!!
The state initiated the memorial, correct? Now the state decided to go back to standard crosswalks.
This is kind of a dead issue.
All of it still an open question.
If you recall the FBI investigation at the time it was very secretive & very slow.
No. The community circulated a petition, and the state then granted a permit for the special crosswalk. It was all very open and public. Then it was removed in the dark of night without notice or discussion.
Why do you think any of that matters to this story?
Except people 'bonded' with the crosswalk. Thus, it is a 'cold tonic' to just 'blacken' the crosswalk (turn it off) after letting it stream so brightly. The gesture by the city/state may have even caught the local community by surprise. . . just imagine the 'gesture' shock of watching tje crosswalk blink out dark the following 'morning after' can feel to those feeling the reflection and love radiating from that spot on the ground. Really, imagine.
The state as you put it initiated the memorial. . . but, then it became something significant to the 'locals' who accepted the gesture. It is wrong to pull it away without a warning or notice or even better proper (decent and reasonable) explanation of WHY!
Krishna, we have to look at what this man did and whom he did it too. What does it mean that he has 'extreme religious views' if he does not act on those views no one would notice any difference or cause and effect.
Of course, he had his 'teeth set on edge' by whatsoever he internally believes/believed (if he is still living), but he chose to take it out on a group of people who apparently he though deserved his 'outrage.'
If not the case, he would have drank his chosen drink, complimented the bartender, 'blessed' the crowd and Pulse disco, and when somewhere else extremist choose to raze!
This man was clear: Pulse was to be his 'Statement.'
Maybe the state will go back to slavery, too...
This is the epitome of a "beside-the-point" argument.
No, the state would then be in violation of the constitution.
The state does have the right to determine local laws on such things as crosswalks.
Tell us why the "community" supersedes both state and federal law?
We still haven't defined this particular "community" which made this request. Are they resident citizens who voted for it or are they gay activist groups? Who are they?
Please give us an example
Elsewhere in the comments, I have posted links to stories about the crosswalk that were published at the time it was created. According to those stories, thousands of people living in the city of Orlando signed a petition asking the city government for the crosswalk memorial. In turn, the city government sought and received a special permit from the state department of transportation.
So “community” in this case would seem to be in line with the ordinary usage of the word. I.e., the people who live there.
No examples are needed. Just invest some thought into it.
Activists are (community) resident citizens too, as far as that goes. Why are you seeking to divide this community? It is not helpful!
It’s a memorial . 49 people were murdered here. Whether they were straight, gay, or whatever, they were murdered and this was a memorial to them. What is political about that?
Is this the party that doesn’t want to erase history?
Yes. They fear loss if Others and minorities 'get too far away their respective 'boxes' - so here comes "White Jesus" in the embodiment of Donald J. Trump to save Whiteness from what he/they consider "Savages."
Guess Florida needs to tighten up their laws then. From Google AI :
For the record this was stupid and cruel. There was really no reason for it other than to remove a memorial to those whom the people in power don't care for.
... laying the both sides groundwork for the dixie defense?
What the hell does this mean?
please ask somebody else to explain it to you ...
A Google search brings up nothing for 'dixie defense'. You typed it so I'm asking you what it means. If not you, then perhaps one of the three who voted your comments up would care to explain. One would hope that you know the meaning of what you post.
It's ok if it's the right political sign
It wasn’t political. The perp was not a “MAGA”. Rather he was a RELIGIOUS extremist.
No, it is not just cruelty. It is suppression. Trump, in his aging and declining years wants to be what he imagines to be "the White Hope." I will guess that he is imagining he is saving the white race place ("great replacement theory"?) by putting those. . . (pejorative, sexist, and racists words for Others) back in the box(es) they came out of. That would be a 'proper' America. . . before any of "them" got looses and sought a plain and normal existence in the country.
Trump is a racist. (Watch what he does - not what he says.)
No it's not. It's not either. FFS it's not even Trump.
From the seed:
Yup - have looked all through the "seed" and have yet to find anything that states the Trump Administration gave orders to the State of Florida to PAINT OVER that crosswalk.
Could you show us???
It’s a directive from the federal DoT. What about this would need to change before you considered it an order from the Trump Administration?
Are you trying to say the Trump administrative has nothing whatsoever to do with this?
Key word, "administration". But somehow, they always think that Trump is a micro-manager and administration means Trump established, reviewed, thought "how can I make heads explode" and then did it. That is plain "but orange man" bullshit.
1. NOT Trump.
2. It makes sense.
You all are going to cry about them anyway.
It's the guilt by association. I don't recall a policy change that allowed stuff like this or the BLM crap to be painted on the roads distracting people. So, in reality, it's an enforcement of already existing policy / regulations that they are all crying about.
You do realize that the tune of every conservative here would have a 180 degree change if this were a sidewalk in a conservative town painted with crosses or a scripture to memorialize a location where conservative Christians had been gunned down and was the Biden administration cracking down on "safe roads". The story of a covert overnight removal of that crosswalk would be running non-stop on Fox as an outrageous attack on Christians and every single conservative here knows it.
Why play the whataboutism game?
Distracting people? Which people? In what way?
Unauthorized markings is a distraction.
This was authorized by the state Department of Transportation.
And you still haven’t explained how it’s a distraction.
Not according to the link in 7.1.4.
Because some folk here seem to want to play the intentionally obtuse "What? But this is all about safety!" game.
Care to comment on how you believe conservatives would be reacting to the news that the Biden administration encouraged a liberal State to go out and paint over a crosswalk memorial to dead Christians under the guise of "Safety"? Anyone? Anyone?
they should outlaw all those roadside memorials for xtians that can't drive ...
MAGA supporters have their own selective facts, figures, and truths that they delude themselves with. . .it's as old as the country. Did you know that back in the day, . . .they, conservatives, ran this country so 'smoothly' that minorities, homosexuals, women, and others did not even know they were being suppressed by the conservative majority?
Don't hold your breath for reasonability from MAGA supporters. They are trained to respond with aggression, deflection, and silence. . . so if you (and I) are not getting one or all of the three responses. . . then, it is not a MAGA supporter replying to a comment.
It is clear. Nobody is allowed to touch the 'sacred cow' that is Trump—except MAGA supporters who guard his 'essence' 24/7 online and offline. They are 'running interference' on his behalf "all day" apparently it does not get exhausting. (Trump keeps manufacturing new 'inroads' into deconstructing libs and it makes MAGA supporters eyes and ears perk up 'fresh.')
Trump is a micro-manager. . .watch closely. . .be a winner. . . or Trump will reach out and touch those who fail him-individually. No 'lowly' employee of Trump Gov. can escape his "all-knowing" eye.
Trained?.... lol
If the Biden administration were still "running" things I would. But since they aren't....I don't care what they encouraged.
you are so transparent
[deleted][✘]
Sorry - am confused here - DeSantis's government is NOT the Trump Administration - learn the difference.
Where is the hub-bub from the other 49 states or is this just going to be another "We gott'm" thing?????
There is a link to the federal directive in the story. This will take you directly to it.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Urges Governors to Join National Initiative to Make Streets Safer, More Efficient
While this directive appears neutral on its face, Mr. Duffy also posted this on X :
So, yeah, this does come from the Trump administration and the specific agenda was made quite clear by the Secretary himself. But, unsurprisingly, DeSantis was only too happy to comply. He lacked the courage, however, to do it in broad daylight.
Have you seen the daytime traffic in Florida? Hell, they start construction/any highway work at 8:00 p.m. and stop at 5:00 a.m. due to the congestion.
I moved to Florida in '93 when construction was somewhat "initiated" on the expansion/improvement of I-95 from Daytona Beach up to and including Jacksonville. When I left in '05, the construction was till on-going (with no end in sight). Many a time I had to travel from Patrick AFB through JAX and was CONSTANTLY pushed into one lane driving for many miles 'cause the other lanes were "under construction" - at 2:00 a.m.
And, yeah, there was a lot of traffic on the roads, even at that time of the morning.
“Daytime traffic in Florida”?
If we’re talking Florida, we have to mention the season! Traffic in Florida in Winter is very different than their daytime traffic in Summer.
another case of not really reading the article
Trump gets to define what is "unAmerican". That is where we are now.
Show us the/a link that sez Trump gets to make that definition. I haven't found that reference.
I hope you see now - because it has appeared in a couple of replies now - that the information you seek is in the seed.
If this is allowed what else does it open the door for?
the public display of monuments, street names, or statues celebrating traitors to the USA involved in losing a past civil war over equality?
oh wait, ... /s
I hope it opens the door to removing all those cross/flower memorials on the sides of roads where people died in an accident. Now those are a distraction
It looks like a distraction to drivers and we keep hearing about distracted drivers
Crosswalks are supposed to distract drivers.
We can't have crosswalks that stand out to drivers! That would be dangerous! All road signs and crosswalks and any warning signs for drivers should be demure and understated so they don't stand out much, that's how Florida likes it's roadways. /s
They should be standard and are for safety only.
What is a standard crosswalk? I have seen many non-rainbow crosswalks that look different from other crosswalks.
They are supposed to draw the attention of pedestrians so they know where to cross, and the attention of drivers so they know to be on the lookout for pedestrians. How does this crosswalk fail to do either of those things?
There is a standard:
Now, apparently that standard doesn't fit with what certain people want and they are throwing a tantrum.
This crosswalk was approved by the Florida State Department of Transportation in 2018.
I give you the actual standard from the DOT you give me the news. Really?
So do you dispute that this was a government approved crosswalk?
Reading the link in 7.1.4 it wasn't government approved.
Is there something in that link that covers the paint job on that particular crosswalk?
Here is a second link to a news story on how the government approved the crosswalk.
Crews finish rainbow crosswalk near Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, where 49 died
Here is another:
Orlando mayor says rainbow crosswalk will be installed near Pulse
Why do you insist on ignoring multiple news stories of the Florida State Department of Transportation approving the crosswalk? You have zero evidence that it was not approved, and ample evidence that it was. But you keep declaring that it was not approved, with zero evidence.
Standard pretext. A pretense to not understand. How about this: MAGA supporters you have libs' permission to paint an image of White Blue-eyed Jesus on the pavement to drive across at a church of your choice. How about it?!
Because MAGA supporters do not care about what liberals, secularists, homosexuals, girls and women, and Others wish. It is all smoke, mirrors, and pretexts to deny u our fair treatment and respect as fellow citizens. They want us to realize one thing: That we 'serve' them. We are inferior to them.
That it doesn't meet requirements.
So again, I provide the regulatory standard, you all give a news story. Sorry, a news story doesn't make anything a regulatory standard.
Because they are news STORIES and not the regulatory standard set by the FEDERAL DOT.
Some people want to go by the 'book' and only the 'book' when it does not involve them, their love ones, family, and tribal associations. Such people are not stupid or what is being expressed here. They simply don't want other to have any 'say' or any public action that their 'associations' disapprove. (Even though they bent or break the rules anytime they deem appropriate-whether so or not.)
Perhaps this is a liberal city with a freedom-loving city council and community. . . MAGA supporters don't care about them one iota anyway. It's a political game similar to Whack-a-mole: When a liberal does something against the (conservative) status quo: raise hell about rules and regulations (which can be modified, set aside, or removed).' Of course, let them tell it rules matter more than people. Or the pretense we are all the same and be treated the same. How stupid is that?! Variances and exceptions occur in every area of life.
But now I am lecturing to the choir, for you know this about MAGA supporters. It is a shame that the shameless won't (ever) relent.
I didn’t claim it did. But if you were willing to learn something about this story that might disrupt your bias, those news stories would tell you that the crosswalk was legal. The standard is thus irrelevant.
You also claimed it was not government approved. That is factually not true. You would learn that in the news stories.
Your website link is irrelevant to this story.
The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is not a law that is binding on states or cities. It is an ideal that the federal government has created as a guideline. The states have all officially adopted the guidelines to keep federal money flowing, but they have not all adopted them fully nor converted every part of them into actual law. The MUTCD guidelines still need to be turned into state law, and each state does so in their own way.
I repeat: They need to be state law, not federal law. State and local authorities do not have jurisdiction to enforce federal traffic laws. Federal traffic laws are for roads that exist on federal property. When the federal government wants certain conditions enforced on state property, they have to do it through the spending power. That’s how we got the nationwide 55mph speed limit in the 70s.
Florida law doesn’t have a legal standard for what a crosswalk should look like, as near as I can tell. In fact, the Florida Statutes speak of both “marked” and “unmarked” crosswalks. If the rainbow crosswalk violates Florida law, I cannot find that law. If you can, by all means produce it, but federal guidelines ain’t it.
And again, the state approved this crosswalk - legally. You have been given evidence to prove this, but you refuse to look at it.
It's irrelevant to your narrative.
Then why put it up there?
Not according to the link in 7.1.4.
Maybe this is a case of not really reading the article.
Again, your link is not the law.
Actually....it is.
Then what is the US Code statute number? What is the penalty for breaking this law? Who has jurisdiction to enforce it?
15 CFR § 265.15
Google is your friend.
That’s not it.
You’re citing a traffic regulation for REGULATIONS GOVERNING TRAFFIC AND CONDUCT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS & TECHNOLOGY, GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND, AND BOULDER AND FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.
That doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not Orlando can put colors in its crosswalks.
Seriously? How far will MAGAs go to justify their erasure (sometimes literally) of minorities?
Who puts a memorial on a roadway? Seems disrespectful. Build a proper one people aren't driving/walking over
I think a crosswalk was chosen because it would be something everyone would see.
Is it one sidewalk crossing? What driver worth his or her license can not navigate a car across a single 'art-decor' crossing? Next, somebody will be lying. . . that people can't ambulate across the 'passage' because of color-play in their eyes. How dangerous! /s
MAGA supporters are 'everywhere at once' MEDDLING in the affairs, activities, and conduct of liberals. . . but, now if we reach out and strike back!
Who destroys a state approved memorial dedicated to murder victims, without warning or discussion in the middle of the night?
Who puts a memorial on a roadway?
Here’s one :
Here’s another one .
I guess memorials in the road aren’t “disrespectful” or distracting when it’s a big ass statue of a confederate “hero.” Only when it’s a rainbow crosswalk.
those confederate roadblocks need to be removed because they're a distraction to safety on the roads ...
that trash also violates litter laws ...
I'd be okay with perhaps just erecting a large bronze American Eagle over the confederate generals head depicting the Eagle shitting on their head and in their face (use plenty of white paint dripping) to show how true American patriots feel about the confederacy. That way the conservative's argument about not forgetting history by taking down the monuments (which is of course the ONLY problem conservatives will admit to having with the removal, they claim they're not in any way descended from or have any warm feelings towards the confederacy) would be solved while at the same time show what patriotic Americans think of racist confederate slave owners.
it should be legal to destroy anything displaying the dixie swastika, outside of a museum ...
Those are not highway makings
Nor are they distractions. . . btw, where is the evidence that painting an individual crosswalk multi-colors in a specific part of town, as a city-sanctioned commitment to remember its citizens killed violently is causing injuries or deaths at that intersection? Do you have any evidence of accidents/wrecks/curb toe-stubbings? If not, why are you so concerned about structure and form in this case? The rest of the crosswalks in the whole city are 'yours.'
Correct. Is there a point to this observation? I was responding to the assertion that a memorial in the roadway was disrespectful. It was not limited to markings.
Y’all are really twisting yourselves in knots to defend the indefensible.
I was responding the non standard highway marking. Highway markings are supposed to be uniform to convey the same meaning everywhere.
If special paint on public highways is allowed, will paid advertisements be next?
Religious symbols painted on the streets?
I agree with you. The purpose of crosswalk markings is to promote pedestrian safety. If non-standard crosswalk markings have even the slightest possiblility of creating confusion, that would defeat their purpose. It is important to remember that drivers often have only a split second to take in, process and react to a multiplicity of visual stimuli. Why make that more burdensome than it already is?
Do you have reason to believe someone was confused by this crosswalk? That they inferred some other meaning in it that negated its purpose as a crosswalk?
(I can’t believe I’m treating these comments seriously.)
You think even a single driver was confused by this crosswalk? How do you cope when traveling by car? There are different styles of crosswalk - and other markings or signs - all across the country.
Billboards and bus advertisements must be brutal for you.
If you pass by a church, do you just stop driving to figure out what’s going on?
Do you want every special interest group to get special crossings? Do you want to open that door?
Paid advertisements on private property are different than special paint on a public road.
Paid advertisement does not have a legal connotation, highway markings convey a legal meaning and instruction from the government. .
Should a church get to paint the 10 Commandants as a crosswalk?
I have no idea, but all it would take is one time to result in a catastrophy. Why take the risk? What evidence can you produce to prove that no one wasn't?
Very well, thanks. How about you?
Do you dispute that their purpose is to promote pedestrian safety?
You know that you're taking the losing position on this one. You should quit before you find yourself even further behind.
My position is NOT political or in any way related to the Republicans' war on the LGBT community. I just don't see any reason to potentially adversely affect pedestrian safety. I've seen too many serious pedestrian accidents. Based on your arguments, you're acting like you do not have the same concern.
I can't believe you're not. I have always had a much higher opinion of you than that.
49 people were murdered on that site…in one night. You consider that a “special interest group?”
The crosswalk was approved by the state Department of Transportation. They obviously didn’t consider it a risk. In fact, because the colors drew attention, it was considered to enhance public safety. It was not removed because of risk. It was removed because of politics.
Im here to express my opinion, not to impress you or “win” the internet. How we treat the memory of 49 murder victims is not a game to me.
49. Human beings. 1 night.
The meaning and instruction for this symbolic gesture is to look in the direction of the former building which a great tragedy occurred. It's a small gesture from a city that is moved to recognize its dead constituents in a respectful and public way.
BTW, that crosswalk is painted in bright colors. . . it still remains a legal crosswalk with all the parameters of law associated with any crosswalk. I am willing to bet that (just go find the city code associated with it).
Such would be the case with any other specially granted 'walk' in public spaces.
Let's be honest here: Obviously your stated position goes something like this: Change is bad. Let's just not change anything.
If the Church can get it stamped and approved by City Hall, yes! Now then . . . where they put it (in the city) should be closely connected to them! With that said I feel pretty sure some church will get on it! (Probably should watch the font size, of course. Keep it tasteful.)
You're not.
You're making it one.
OK. Well, they're never wrong. It was also removed by the state Department of Transportation.
So they took the right action for the wrong reason.
I have absolutely no respect for DeSantis or his minions, but that's not the point.
Didn't know anything about it.
How is remembering the murder of 49 people political?
Please do not troll here. You came on here talking about losing, quitting, and falling behind, as if it were a game. That was not me. That was you.
You only needed to read the first couple of sentences in the seed to find out about it.
Not everyone considers "those people" to be... people. Murdering them is OK for some "people".
Examples of trolling:
So, should they paint the road where an illegal alien truck driver made an illegal U Turn that killed several people?
Should New York City paint crosswalks for victims murdered in the 911 attacks?
Maybe you need to look the word up. When you want to discuss the topic for real, I welcome that.
That all sounds lovely. I would have no objection.
Hypotheticals are not needed on this. This crosswalk stands on its own merit. New York determined its memorial to (murdered) victims of 911 attacks: A fountain and celebration annually. It was the city's call. Of course, the nation approved.
We should allow the city to do this here for the Pulse nightclub victims of domestic terrorism.
I don’t know whether or not NYC has painted crosswalks remembering 9/11 victims. But they might not feel the need to do so.
Why? Because near the site of the former WTC there’s already a very prominent monument. And in addition to that IIRC there’s also a museum solely about 9/11!
Apparently in the area of the 9/11 monument & museum there’s also mention of the first (unsuccessful) attack on the WTC.
That was several years before the second attack (9/11).
Sorry but you ignored the third sentence of his post… to wit…
’Build a proper one people aren't driving/walking over ’
To me it seems disrespectful to put some form of memorial on a place that will be constantly drove/walked over.
It should be somewhere that people can see it without trampling all over it.
Says who? You? The people in that community wanted it where it was. Who are you to say otherwise?
Reading comprehension s essential.
I clearly stated "To me it seems disrespectful to put some form of memorial on a place that will be constantly drove/walked over."
My opinion is what it is...my opinion.
Who cares what the people want? MAGA will tell them what to do.
Your opinion reflects an ignorance of - or disregard for - the facts, and is wrong. In fact, the memorial was conceived out of respect for the victims, not disrespect.
Some people cannot understand "respect for 'those people' ".
Where did I say it was conceived out of disrespect.
You are really reaching now.
The hypocrisy of your statement is fkng hilarious. Sad part is you don't even understand it.
8.3.38 and 8.3.40
If that maniac had shot up a VFW, no one would object to a red, white, and blue crosswalk. I know I wouldn’t.
Well, that was another fail.
I specifically said my opinion is that putting a memorial in a place where it would be constantly walked/driven on, is disrespectful.
Nowhere did I say that the idea of a crosswalk was conceived out of disrespect.
Keep digging that hole towards complete failure.
... and what to say...
That makes no sense. The crosswalk on the ground was conceived in respect for the victims, but you say putting it on the ground to be walked on and driven on is disrespectful. I don’t know how anyone would conceive of a crosswalk other than having it be on the ground, where it will be walked on and driven on. Were they supposed to put the crosswalk on the side of a building?
Do you know what an opinion is?
What I stated was my opinion, my belief. I did not say everyone believes the same.
Your arguments are weaker and weaker each post.
Hiding behind “opinion” doesn’t change anything. Everything here is opinion.
I'm not hiding behind anything, but it's nice to see you are finally getting it.
That you're blind to your own hypocrisy. You cry that "MAGA will tell them what to do." Yet here you are doing THAT EXACT THING.
Are you "MAGA"?
Man alive they trigger easily, poor little snowflakes.
However, local Democratic politicians say it isn't about safety.
"That's a totally ridiculous and absurd excuse for what is very clearly an attempt to erase LGBTQ identities and just be anti queer," state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith said of the policy.
Dyer said the Pulse memorial in his city was "installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards."
"In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state," he added of the installation, sometimes called "Rainbow Crossing," that was completed in October 2017.
"This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando's commitment to honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016," Dyer continued. "While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community's commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver."
Within hours, volunteers had taken sidewalk chalk to the new black and white crosswalk, coloring in the spaces until it was a rainbow once again.
Rainbow Crossings: Symbols of LGBTQ+ Visibility and Inclusion
Main Takeaway: Rainbow crossings—pedestrian crosswalks painted in Pride-flag colors—serve both as functional street markings and powerful civic statements of solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Definition and Purpose
A rainbow crossing is a pedestrian crosswalk marked with the colors of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag (often the classic six-stripe rainbow or the Progress Pride variant). Beyond enhancing crosswalk visibility, these installations:
Visibly signal support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality.
Enhance civic identity and tourism in LGBTQ+ neighborhoods.
Can employ durable materials (e.g., thermoplastic) to ensure longevity.
Material Choices and Durability
Thermoplastic : Melt-on polymer used in Philadelphia offers durability of 2–5 years under heavy traffic, preserving vibrancy longer than conventional paint.
Traffic paint : Common for first installations (e.g., Castro 2014), but prone to fading and requires regular maintenance.
MMA resin : Industrial-grade option in the UK, lasting up to five years with high slip resistance.
Social and Cultural Impact
Community Pride & Tourism
Philadelphia’s Gayborhood crossing attracts visitors year-round, reinforcing the area’s identity as an LGBTQ+ hub.
San Francisco’s Castro crossing complements the Rainbow Honor Walk, enhancing the streetscape’s heritage value.
Visibility and Safety
By combining safety improvements with cultural symbolism, rainbow crossings increase pedestrian visibility and foster a sense of belonging.
Civic Engagement
Projects often involve community surveys (e.g., 4,500 participants in Castro’s design selection) and partnerships between municipalities and LGBTQ+ organizations.
Design Variants
Classic Rainbow (six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet).
Progress Pride (adds black, brown, light blue, pink, white to center, representing marginalized and trans communities).
Alternative Flags (trans, non-binary, or other community flags for specialized installations).
Considerations for Installation
Regulatory Approval : Must comply with local traffic‐control guidelines (contrast, non‐slip surface), e.g., UK Department for Transport permissions.
Maintenance Planning : Determine material and maintenance schedule to preserve color and safety.
Community Involvement : Engage local stakeholders in design and location choices to maximize impact.
Notable Examples
City, Country Intersection / Location Flag Design Material Dedicated / Installed
Philadelphia, USA 13th & Locust Streets (Gayborhood) Progress Pride (11 stripes) Thermoplastic June 2023
San Francisco, USA 18th & Castro Streets (Castro District) Classic six-stripe rainbow Traffic paint (2014) December 2013
Herne Hill, London, UK Dulwich Rd & Norwood Rd (outside Brockwell Park) Classic six-stripe rainbow Permanent road markings August 2019
Sausalito, USA Various intersections along downtown streets Progress Pride Traffic paint (2023) 2023
Davis, California, USA Multiple downtown crosswalks Classic six-stripe rainbow Paint (2023, re-installed 2025) 2023, 2025
West Hollywood, USA Santa Monica Boulevard Classic six-stripe rainbow Permanent paint Year-round since 2014
Monterey, California, USA Alvarado Street Classic six-stripe rainbow Paint June 2025
So now we see a wider perspective on this. It's been done before in numerous cities for extended periods of time.
This implies conservatives don't want this. Plain and simple. And so they pick at it. Also, it appears it was done disrespectful to the city officials. . . by not letting them know it would be removed (in the night).
that opens a door to other symbols on roads. If one group gets special crossing markings all groups can have them. Just like religious displays on town square or the courthouse lawn.
No it does not. This is a memorial. And we see them pervasive where tragedies occur. It is not celebratory. People see these brilliant colors and it makes them reflective and possibly full of great sadness.
Stop. Now ask your heart why do you wish to see these particular people not honored by their city government in a manner they (the City) chooses. So much so that you would speak out against it based on a general crosswalk standard. Give the city the benefit of doubt to know its purpose for granting this honor. Also, keep in mind, the City could have retracted this crosswalk 'designation' any time it decides the honor has been provided. Now, it is a 'mess' with politicians across the country chiming in and acting out against a memorial 'matter.'
put up a regular historical marker, put up a monument, build a shrine at the side of the road but if painting the road is allowed then every special intrest group will think they can get the road painted for them.
It baffles me that you can equate the murder of 49 people with a “special interest group.”
This crosswalk was painted not to advance the political agenda of the likes of labor unions or the Sierra Club.
If it is allowed for one thing it opens the door for other people to want to paint the roads to remember things. Just like Christmas displays on the courthouse lawn.
I think you are missing the point. It was a community decision to paint ITS road. A local response to a tragedy. Now a question for you:
In rare cases, should a community be allowed to grieve in the manner it chooses?
It is a misnomer to call this "special interest." It's a M-E-M-O-R-I-A-L to the dead. Not a celebration of L-I-F-E.
A "Special Interest" would have to D-I-E to compare with this tragedy for similar treatment. How many 'interests' are willing to that?
Granted. The township bent its rules to do this. But, it is permissible if the city's 'Fathers and Mothers' choose to honor its dead in some way it determines is fitting, in my opinion.
As long as it doesn't violate laws.
So take it to court! We can play this game (of not understanding) for as long as conservatives wish. After all, we obviously know that conservatives repeatedly bend the law and ignore the will of the(ir) public to make their ideological wishes happen.
Perhaps the city will have to pass an ordinance to permit this street memorial to continue. In any case, I am an observer of something which is occurring on the other side of the country. I do not have a proper voice in it, beyond this.
This is not a 'sliding' scale! Stop it. Indeed, communities can and do stipulate "one-offs" when and where necessary. You know this. Why are you being so hard on a set of lines on the street near a spot where homosexuals were slaughtered? Why care so much about a crosswalk that is still a crosswalk at the end of the day subject to all ramifications of a (legal) crosswalk?
In this case it seems that what the state of Florida giveth, the state of Florida can take away.
It was the state that did all of this.
And thus, it landeth on a NT discussion board for discussion. But let's not kid ourselves, it is obvious why it was 'taketh away' - The Trump administration and MAGA supporters (Florida leadership is under heavy MAGA influenced) are in an egregious 'frontal' fight against what it pejoratively label 'woke' and liberals as a people category. The victims of Pulse fall under the liberal 'banner' and so they must be given the back of MAGAs' figurative hand.
It was done in the most insulting manner possible: in the dead of night- eh? The best of purposes for doing so: So that there would be no protest UPFRONT of the action. The worst of doing so: The governor knew it would demoralize Others in that city and did not care.
Most likely because 1) IT WAS A DISTRACTION & 2) IT WAS POLITICAL.
What is your evidence that it was most likely a distraction, and therefore needed to be removed?
Why is it most likely political to repaint a crosswalk as a memorial to murder victims? Are all memorials to murder victims political? Or only when someone shoots gay people? Or is it only political because it’s paint on the street?
You can stop spinning 'wildly' everything that is stated. It only lengthens and otherwhile reasonable discussion. I await you assenting to something heartfelt rather just telling us the status quo. The city, and 'us,' know what the status quo is. . . but people decided to make a 'simple' crosswalk Memorial. Speak to the community wishes and stop trying to 'blind' us with the rules, because we know and we often see: Rules can be changed by the proper authorities-as were permitted in this case.
What special interest group has claimed the rainbow as it's symbol?
I have challenged you multiple times with this and you keep ignoring it. Are 49 murder victims a special interest group? If you can’t muster the humanity to see the difference, we have nothing to talk about.
I don't need evidence nor does the state. The state once allowed it and now they are going back to traditional cross walks.
Why is it most likely political to repaint a crosswalk as a memorial to murder victims?
Are all memorials to murder victims political? Or only when someone shoots gay people? Or is it only political because it’s paint on the street?
I think you might be answering your own questions. As I pointed out in post 1.3 the FBI was never able to find the motive for the attack, yet the type of memorial chosen was to splash gay pride colors onto a crosswalk in view of everyone as if it was a hate crime against gay people. That is extremely political. A reasonable memorial would have been a simple plaque at the site of the nightclub which simply stated: "In remembrance to all those killed in the Pulse Nightclub attack."
But you aren't treating them as murder victims. You are implying that they were murdered because they were gay. That has never been proven.
What group had taken the rainbow as it's symbol?
No. He cannot.
Seriously?? You do not associate the rainbow with any particular group of people? Empathy!!
Asking that question about taking rainbows as a symbol is to show they are a special interest group
WTF??
I'm in the 99th percentile by height, so I have an interest in tall cars. Are tall people a special interest group?
I'm a Timberwolves fan. Are Timberwolves fans a special interest group?
What the fuck are you talking about??
What is the designation of the Pulse Nightclub, Vic? It does not matter all the reasons for why this man killed homosexuals (whether he was one himself or not), he most definitely KNOWINGLY killed homosexuals!
People do not kill what they love, eh?
Now this:
Forty-nine people died in the incident, plus Mateen, and another 58 were injured, 53 by gunfire and five by other causes. Some survivors were critically injured.
Wikipedia.
Of course you don’t. Today. Tomorrow, if I say something, you’ll be demanding evidence.
Yeah. That’s how memorials work. They’re in public view. Got a problem with that, now?
Thats your interpretation, which is more about your bias than what is presented. The victims happened to gay, or lgbt supporters, and it happened at a popular place for those people. Thus, the rainbow.
It doesn’t say anything about why they were murdered - just that they were. You’re the only one hung up on the killer’s motivation. The memorial is to remember the victims, not the killer.
I have never implied that. I don’t even think that. The best evidence is that the shooter was looking to shoot up a nightclub, and chose the one with the least security.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Pulse was an iconic location for the lgbt community and most of the victims were lgbt or supporters. The memorial is for them, not the murderer.
No he didn't. He picked it at random after being spooked by the security at Disney Springs. There's no evidence he knew it was a gay nightclub when he chose it.
I remember the case. The 'fool' sat down at the bar and had a drink and then got up to shoot and kill. How would he not know from the entry into the place what kind of club it is?
Please open your mind and learn about a subject matter you may not clearly understand. If you have never been to a homosexual disco/nightclub. . .it is not a place one needs to 'guess' at what the 'topic' is inside.
And, for the record, as I wrote in another comment. Once he became aware of his surrounding—he massacred those people anyway. That is all I care about. They are just as dead as the 'fool' who killed Sandy Hook Elementary kids. . . no matter what other thought was in his mind. . . them being preschoolers and 'graders' did not make one iota of difference to his cause or effect.
If the guy was looking for a heavily populated bar to shoot people in, if it was that crowded, he found his target. Doubt it had anything to do with who, just how many he could kill/mame.
Does'nt matter. Homosexuals were in the bar. He sat and had an alcoholic beverage. Realized they were homosexuals-assuming he did not know it before, and persisted in massacring and injuring nearly a hundred patrons. It's all the same to the injured and dead-whom are just as dead. . .and injured.
His dad (look it up) stated that his son 'was angry about seeing two homosexuals kissing and it could have set him off. - Wikipedia.
We may not ever know 'all' that went into his choice. But, we have the EVIDENCE that being homosexual was not a reason to not shoot, maim, injure, and kill those in the "gay bar."
Just Jim, if you have something more by the way of insight to add, please do.
We shouldn't be surprised if Trump were to order God to remove the colours from rainbows and make them shades of grey only.
I have never driven over the road in question but if I ever did I doubt it would make me want to rear end the car in front of me. S/
LOL, Florida it's your move now.
Only real problem is they used chalk so a simple street sweeper can remove it. They need to come in with actual paint next time.
This "controversy" is silly IMO. It seems the state is in charge of crosswalks and decided what they decided. If people don't like it that strongly there is an election coming up. I don't have a major opinion on this since I don't live in Florida but without any more information my gut tells me there was no real need to paint over it. I have seen crosses on the side of highways where people have died. Seems to me that would be more of a distraction than colorful crosswalks
I see crosses on the side of freeways and intersections and they are something of a distraction for sure (as one tries to process who/what/why/how of what occurred) and I do not gripe, complain, or mumble. . .I understand that somebody or somebodies was lost there and though the sentiment does not mean much to me, to someone/some family it matters a great deal and may even provide comfort and most significantly CLOSURE.
I see them and have no problem with them.
For those trying to make the bullshit claim that the crosswalk was some kind of safety hazard, the evidence shows that colored pavement and crosswalks actually improve safety.
Asphalt Art Safety Study
…
…
In digging deeper, there is something 'sweeping' the country in cities called: " Creative Crosswalks ."
Rainbow Crosswalk Inspires City to Approve Crosswalk Program for Other Neighborhoods
June 21, 2019 | By Sam Sanchez
(Photo by Sam Sanchez)
The City of San Antonio announced on June 20 that the City Council authorized the creation of a Community Crosswalk Program that will allow decorative elements at crosswalks across the city.
The rainbow crosswalk that was installed last year at the corner of Evergreen and North Main served as the inspiration for “artistic” crosswalks in other parts of the city. In that instance, Pride San Antonio, community activists and District 1 Councilman Roberto C. Treviño worked together to raise $19,832.24 to install the artistic crosswalk.
“The Pride Crosswalk has proven it is possible to include more artwork on streets throughout San Antonio that is safe and representative of the surrounding community,” Treviño said in a statement. “Artistic crosswalks can also help give residents and visitors a sense of place as they travel across this beautiful and diverse city.”
The Department of Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) has been working with City Council Transportation Committee since February to develop the final guidelines for the program.
According to TCI, which will oversee the program:
“The primary purpose of a crosswalk is to help and guide pedestrians along city streets,” said Art Reinhardt, interim deputy director for the city’s Transportation and Capital Improvements Department. “However, we look forward to the opportunity to engage residents through this creative use of infrastructure. ”
The plot thickens!
NOTE : The date of the article. Note the verbiage: "community crosswalk; community crosswalks," - plural.
This explains why the Department of Transportation is inserting itself. Apparently, community and local officials are expressing themselves too much for (let's call it what it is) conservative MAGA 'elites' who do not have a proper say in what they do (and pay for). . . so what does MEDDLERS and MALCONTENTS do? They threaten to take away federal funding for transportation projects if they can't get their way.
If there was an accident at a non standard crosswalk, a good lawyer with a copy of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices should be able to get charges dismissed.
How so? Keep in mind, cities APPROVE these community crosswalks, they are not just art done without consideration for the intelligence (or lack thereof) of the public. . .and no consideration for safety and law. So any individual intent on exploiting the 'art deco' better come 'strong.'
Also, I read that the art deco is done INSIDE the official lines and forms designating a crosswalk. That is, the lines are encountered first and then comes the colors. (The projects meet legal and safety guidelines as expressed by officials.)
There is no way around it: The community crosswalks are not a problem for those communities they are done. . . it is a problem for MAGA supporters' ideology that liberals ought not be able to 'move' and act independently in the country. MAGA supporters and Trump do not approve of any municipality making decisions for themselves.
Independence used to be something conservatives championed until they realized that it would mean EVERYBODY gets to make decisions which buck their worldview.
Shame on the Shameless!
the manual takes precedence. Uniformity and clear instructions are needed for safety. A lot of effort has gone it making signs uniform and the same across the country. Local deviation causes problems.
Any confusion in signage should make a defense attorney's job easy.
Maybe they could name the road after them or put up a standard point of interest sign or make a small park
If this is allowed, where does it stop?
"If"? It stops when MAGA supporters leave well enough alone. MAGA supporters do not like it when liberals mess with them! After all, the city of Orlando is fine with its community crosswalks. . . the complaint is coming from the alleged, "lovers of all things freedom and deregulated. . . unless liberals wish it.
As for this discussion, I have explained the position of the community sufficiently. So, for me, it's about to STOP!
Now other places will now want something special. That is human nature, they got something special, so we want special too.
This opens the door
Some things that deserve a special crosswalk:
At Stadiums to recognize Championships tell a football fan winning the Super Bowel shouldn't get special painted crossing
In front of museums and historical sites
Across the Road in Dallas where President Kenedy was killed Can't deny Kennedy
In front of Cemeteries, Arlington and little towns respect for veterans and all decreased
In front of hospitals to show support for patients They deserve support
In front of Graceland, Elvis still has lots of fans
At the Alamo Remember the Alamo
Where movies were made The Yellow Brick Road deserves a special crossing
Just about any place that gets an idea they want some special thing
even where "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer"
ECT ECT
Open a door and things will come in
There is a Kennedy memorial in Dallas, and there are red crosswalks nearby, which are mismatched to the white line crosswalks, also nearby. Ask Google Earth how I know.
I don't care about trivialities and frivolities, Charger. I am surprised that you are going on and on about this. It's apples and oranges. Lives were lost. Lives are being honored. City of Orlando is honoring its dead "its way." They want it. I do not live there so what is it (really) going to do to me? Put another way: I do not have 'standing' in Orlando, Florida since I have never been there and may never go there. Thus, I do not have to gaze upon any of it personally.
Put it up. Let it stand a while (short-term/long-term) and in the passage of time take it down.
For me, all it has to be is clean. BTW, I do not particularly like the colors chosen for the 'project' - they appear, at least, in pictures too light in color and not rich and deep colors. But, this is not about me. It is FOR the survivors and the people whom live there.
Why can't Trump and MAGA supporters leave them alone for once?!!
What is it going to take for the Trump Administration and MAGA supporters to leave liberals to their freedom/s? A local strike? A nation-wide STRIKE? Call in Sick? Walking off the "job'?
You have case law on that?
A good lawyer could raise issue of government approved distraction. If a cell phone is a distraction, gaudy lines across the road is a distraction and could cause a driver to loose awareness long enough to cause an accident.
A pedestrian accident could bring the death count in that area to 50!
Not likely. Read @17. The evidence is that crosswalks like this improve safety by every metric.
[deleted][✘]
Florida Department of Transportation
RON DESANTIS
GOVERNOR
719 S. Woodland Boulevard
DeLand, FL 32720-6800
JARED W. PERDUE, P.E.
SECRETARY
August 21, 2025
Francis "FJ" Flynn, Chief Administrative Officer
City of Orlando
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Re: Traffic Control Device Noncompliance
Dear Mr. Francis “FJ” Flynn:
You were previously notified via Engineering and Operations Memorandum No. 25-01 regarding the need to comply with the Florida Department of Transportation’s Design Manual (FDM), FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways (2023 Greenbook) on all public roads.
The Department’s Memorandum served as official notification to remedy all noncompliance across the State. However, the Department is providing you an additional notification by location that the pavement markings listed below are in violation of FDOT’s traffic control device standards, which include the FHWA’s MUTCD, the 2025 FDOT Design Manual and the 2023 Florida Greenbook. Section 316.0745, Florida Statutes requires removal of these pavement markings immediately.
The Department has identified an initial list of the following noncompliant locations in your area:
S. Rosalind Ave at E. Jackson St – (Crosswalk) Church St at S. Rosalind Ave – (Crosswalk) Magnolia Ave at E. Concord St – (Crosswalk) Orange Ave at Concord St – (Crosswalk) N. Orange Ave at E. Central Blvd – (Paver intersection) S. Orange Ave at E. Pine St – (Paver intersection) S. Orange Ave at Church St – (Paver intersection Summerlin Ave at Washington St – (Crosswalk) Amelia St at N. Hughey Ave – (Crosswalk) Amelia St at Ronald Blocker Ave – (Crosswalk) Amelia St at Chatham Ave – (Crosswalk) Amelia St at Putnam Ave – (Crosswalk) Livingston St at N. Hughey Ave – (Crosswalk) Central Blvd at N. Eola Dr – (Crosswalk) W. Kaley Ave at S. Division Ave – (Crosswalk) Corrine Dr at East End Ave – (Crosswalk) Laureate Blvd at Benavente Ave – (Bike Symbol) Laureate Blvd at Kellog Ave – (Bike Symbol)
We appreciate that we have been able to confirm with you that the City of Orlando has agreed to work expeditiously to remove the noncompliant pavement markings listed above. The Department appreciates your cooperation and commitments made to remedy the noncompliance. If not already remedied, the noncompliant markings must be removed by September 4, 2025.
Please reply to this email immediately thereafter so that we may update our records and reflect the City of Orlando’s compliance. If we do not hear from you, the pavement markings referenced above will be removed by the Department of Transportation without further notice. You are further notified that if the markings are removed by the Department, all costs associated with the removal will be assessed against City of Orlando. You may avoid these costs by removing the pavement markings and then notifying the Department of compliance immediately.
Please note that the Department will pursue withholding of state funds as permitted by the law should City of Orlando reverse course and decide not to comply.
You are further notified that you may file a request for an administrative proceeding pursuant to Chapter 120, Florida Statutes as set forth in the enclosed Notice of Administrative Hearing Rights within 14 days. More details will be provided should you elect to proceed with a hearing. Please be advised that the hearing will not involve a request for an exception or waiver to permit the nonconforming pavement markings to remain in place. The Department has already reviewed the pavement markings at the location(s) mentioned above and determined that the pavement markings will not be allowed.
We appreciate your anticipated cooperation and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
John E. Tyler, P.E. District 5 Secretary
Enclosure cc: Buddy Dyer, Mayor – City of Orlando
Jim Stroz, P.E., Director of Transportation Development – FDO
Wow, 156 comments on the usual back and forth of 'tastes great / less filling'.
Removing the color crosswalk was IMO a stupid action by the state. It really wasn't hurting anybody by leaving it there anymore than the BLM artwork on the street in Washington DC was hurting anybody. Damn people, there are more important things that we should be working on rather than expending all this energy on something like this.
And some studies do show that a colored crosswalk can be safer. From Google AI :
A concern for safety or the rules is fake. They don’t actually care about that. They want to be cruel to people they think are strange. Citing the rules or safety functions as both a dishonest excuse and a distraction.
I hope you're not accusing me of having fake concern here. I already said I thought the actions to remove the crosswalk was stupid. I would like you to be clearer as your comment can be read as if you are calling me an asshole.
Not at all. I don’t know why you would think that. What you wrote was the opposite of that.
Thank you for being clear. As I said, you copied that one line from my post and then your statement read like an attack on having a concern for safety or the rules as being fake. Wanted to be sure.