After Greyhound stranded me while I was traveling Round America with a Duck, I got to spend what I called my Bonus Day in tiny Ellis, Kansas. Many good — and maybe even life-changing— things happened that day but this simple intersection mural was enough to make the list for 12 Days of Bikemas.
That’s because it made me teary to think the community had come together to paint this and other intersections, which not only beautify the community and increase local pride but also slow down drivers as they see and respect life at those corners a bit more. It reminded me how simple positive change is. And it made clear to me that if this small farming community could do this, anywhere could do this (and many places have).
If you’d like the boost to paint an intersection in your community, consider applying for a $2,000 Community Sparks Grant from the League of America Bicyclists (deadline January 17, 2025). It’s not that hard, folks. Don’t let your City Hall tell you it is, or that small grants like this aren’t worth it (as the paid bike/ped coordinator in my city told me). Art saves lives (maybe even yours or someone you love) in so many ways.
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