BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A new campaign kicks off in downtown Burlington and it aims to change dangerous behavior. It's called ‘The Stencil Campaign.' It looks like graffiti but don't worry it's completely legal and the images can be seen on sidewalks throughout downtown Burlington. It aims to not only keep drivers safe, but bikers, pedestrians and kids.
Downtown Burlington is packed, constantly crowded with vehicles, bikers, and lots of pedestrians.
With so many people sharing the city streets local motion the group that promotes biking and walking has created this.
"You might kind of see it and scratch your head and think ‘what's that about?'
and it pops and you think, ‘ok that's what it's about," said Jason Van Driesche, with Local Motion.
The messages also help enforce what seems to be a growing problem for both drivers and pedestrians, texting.
"You know those chains on Church Street? I've heard of some people taking some falls from texting and walking and not seeing them," said pedestrian, Molly Lynch.
Molly Lynch often bikes through downtown and feels more knowledge about sharing the road would help clear confusion, "Getting the word out to drivers that bikers are actually supposed to act like they are out in a car when they are out biking around town would be a really great thing."
But the stencils are aimed for bikers and walkers, so what about drivers? Kids and schools around the city demonstrate why slowing down is important.
"They'll be out on the street with these big signs at rush hour, with the message right on the spot where people can see it," said Van Driesche.
Local Motion hopes one day the city will be able to accommodate the 8/ 80 rule, "If an 8 year old is safe biking and an 80 year old is safe biking, you've done your job," said Van Driesche.
The group says they did get permission from the city to draw on the images and since the images are not permanent they plan to re-do the campaign again in the spring.
