Last Spring when Steetfilms came to town, we talked with Urban Planner Deborah Murphy about some of the challenges pedestrians and pedestrian advocates face in Los Angeles.  Today, we wanted to highlight one of the innovative things that LADOT is doing to make pedestrians lives safer and easier in Los Angeles.

Clarence Eckerson explains:

In an effort to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, the City of Los Angeles recently installed
ten diagonal crosswalks/pedestrian scrambles/Barnes dances (just pick
one, they all mean the same) around the metro area. We were able to
check one out with Glenn Ogura of LADOT near the USC campus to learn a
little bit about them. Golly Jeepers! During some light phases, we saw well over 100 people taking over the intersection – just take a gander at the video.

Also, at the end of the film you’ll see the Streetfilms’ debut of one of Los Angeles’ hardest-working, dashing young bloggers.  I, of course, am referring to Eric Richardson, of Blogdowntown, who explains that the Scramble Crosswalk actually came to Los Angeles in the 1950’s before being ripped out because they slowed down car traffic.