Five new three-dimensional illustrations are being painted on sidewalks along Santa Monica Boulevard as part of West Hollywood’s ongoing pedestrian safety campaign.

West Hollywood residents walk by a three-dimensional illustration drawn from the “Alice in WeHoLand” crosswalk safety video. (photo by Edwin Folven)
The project started on March 6 and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The cartoon images were drawn for the city’s “Alice in WeHoLand” crosswalk safety video, and appear in 3-D when viewed at certain angles.
The illustrations have messages urging people to pay more attention to traffic and less attention to cell phones and mobile devices while crossing. Pedestrians are encouraged to snap selfies with the images while standing on the sidewalk and post them with messages on social media sites using the hashtag #winkthenwalk and @wehocity for photographs.
“These drawings are about looking and seeing,” West Hollywood City Councilman John D’Amico said. “[It’s] omething we hope every pedestrian will do before they step into the street.”
The illustrations are being painted on the north side of Santa Monica Boulevard at Westmount Drive, and Hancock and Palm avenues. On the south side of Santa Monica Boulevard, they will be painted at Hancock Avenue and Westbourne Drive. Three of the images have been completed, and two more will be painted between March 29 and 31.
The art is being painted by We Talk Chalk as part of a larger campaign to improve pedestrian safety citywide that includes the installation of stoplights, new signage and raised pavement markings at crosswalks. Electronic message boards on trailers have been parked on Santa Monica Boulevard since late last year alerting motorists they are entering a pedestrian safety zone. The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station is also conducting crosswalk safety operations throughout the city targeting motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians.
The city also added a pedestrian-only phase to the stoplights at Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente and Robertson boulevards on Friday and Saturday nights. Authorities plan to continue to analyze and monitor the effectiveness of safety efforts to determine if additional steps will be taken. New signals are being considered for the uncontrolled crosswalks at Santa Monica Boulevard and Westmount and West Knoll drives, and Hancock and Palm avenues.
“American Idol” contestant and Internet sensation Todrick Hall partnered with the city to create the “Alice in WeHoLand” video, which can be viewed on YouTube and features dancers in the city’s rainbow crosswalks and other recognizable locations around West Hollywood. The video has generated more than 650,000 views since it launched in October.
“It’s all part of the education,” West Hollywood public information officer Joshua Schare said. “We have been getting a lot of positive feedback.”
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