Murals are more than just a pretty face in Okotoks.
The town uses eye-catching art to keep people safe while walking and biking on local pathways.
Instead of traditional safety signs, the town has asked local artists to paint colourful safety messages directly on the pathways.
These murals focus on important safety tips, like reminding cyclists to use bike lights and reflectors at night and encouraging them to ring their bells when passing others.
The goal is to make these messages more noticeable and memorable than regular signs, which people often overlook. Nothing screams “Look at me!” quite like a mural.
“A lot of times, regular signs blend into the background, and people don’t notice them. But these pathway murals are bright, colourful, and friendly, so people are more likely to stop and read them,” Allan Boss, an Okotoks town official, told Global News.
To create these murals, the town commissioned 11 artists to paint 19 murals around Okotoks. Jessica Taylor, one of the artists, believes that bold and creative designs catch people’s attention.
“The brighter and more creative the piece is, the more eye-catching it’s going to be. This kind of artwork grabs people’s attention as they walk or bike by,” explained Taylor.
A similar strategy was used in Saanich, British Columbia.
Through the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network, Saanich resident and researcher Teale Phelps Bondaroff introduced murals to reduce traffic, spruce up the area, and highlight local artists.
The Saanich municipality wanted to make busy pedestrian and biking areas safer, and Bondaroff’s plan sounded promising.
Local artists in Saanich were asked to create murals that included safety messages, like encouraging people to use crosswalks, reminding cyclists to yield to pedestrians, and highlighting the importance of being visible at night.
Proof Is In The Pudding
The Saanich murals were placed in areas with lots of foot and bike traffic, like near schools and parks. The results were positive, with people noticing the murals and remembering the safety messages.
There was an increase in the use of crosswalks where the murals were placed, and cyclists were more careful around pedestrians.
The community loved the artwork, making the city feel more connected and involved in safety efforts.
Road murals have also been proven to be a cost-effective way to reduce drivers’ speeds.
The Asphalt Art Safety Study in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, found that city streets became considerably safer for pedestrians after art was incorporated into roadway redesigns.
The study found that across 17 sites, there was a 50 percent drop in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists and an almost 40 percent drop in crashes leading to injuries.
The study also found that the rate of drivers yielding to pedestrians with the right-of-way increased by almost 30 percent. In comparison, potentially dangerous conflicts between drivers and pedestrians dropped by 25 percent.
One challenge both Okotoks and Saanich might face is keeping the murals looking fresh and vibrant over time.
Murals can fade or get damaged, so regular maintenance is essential. However, the success of these projects shows that murals can be a powerful tool in making public spaces safer and more engaging.
The experience in Saanich suggests that using art to promote safety can be more effective than traditional signs, as murals are more likely to catch people’s attention and make a lasting impression.
Okotoks is hopeful that their colourful pathway murals will have a similar impact, helping to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe in a creative and eye-catching way.
