The state department of transportation painted over the landmark overnight.The AdvocateBy Christopher WigginsAugust 21 2025In the predawn hours Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation sent crews to Orlando’s Pulse nightclub memorial and quietly erased one of its most visible tributes: the rainbow crosswalk that had stretched across West Esther Street since 2017. By sunrise, the vibrant symbol of resilience had been replaced with the stark black-and-white lines of a standard crossing.[...]“In the middle of the night, FDOT painted over our rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial,” Florida state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, posted on X. “A tragedy that we have worked so hard to find power in pain. A rainbow crosswalk that sparked joy and showed our love for all people.”
They knew that they were wrong and changed it when no one was looking! An in another Advocate article;
As Americans crowd highways and airports for the peak summer travel season, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a sweeping national initiative that could put rainbow-painted crosswalks and broader debates over how cities express identity and inclusion squarely in the federal spotlight.
In a letter on Tuesday, Duffy urged governors nationwide to comply with SAFE ROADS, a new Trump administration program aiming to eliminate “distractions” from non-freeway arterial roads. “Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork,” Duffy wrote.
Although he conceded that, under the Biden administration, estimated traffic fatalities declined by 3.8 percent in 2024 compared to 2023 levels, Duffy emphasized that the estimated toll of 39,345 deaths remains “unacceptable,” and pressed states to identify hazardous roads within 60 days, with fixes expected by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
As usual with the Republicans they have absolutely zero data that any of that is true! To the contrary, here is what Gemini AI said about this...
Studies on the relationship between decorative crosswalks, including rainbow crosswalks, and traffic accidents have generally found that these installations either have a neutral effect or, more often, are associated with a reduction in accidents.Here's a breakdown of the key findings from various sources:Improved Safety and Pedestrian Behavior: A 2022 study by Bloomberg Philanthropies found that "asphalt art" projects (including creative crosswalks) were correlated with improved safety benefits. The study found a:
- 50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving pedestrians or other vulnerable road users.
- 37% decrease in the rate of crashes leading to injuries.
- 17% decrease in the total crash rate.
- 27% increase in the frequency of drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians.
Traffic Calming: Research from Florida State University and other sources indicates that creative crosswalks can have a "traffic calming" effect. The visual novelty of the designs can cause drivers to slow down and be more alert. One study noted a 22% decrease in speed in one location and a 10% decrease in drivers running intersection stop signs.Controversy and Regulatory Hurdles: Despite the positive data, decorative crosswalks often face regulatory opposition from state and federal transportation agencies. The main argument from these agencies is that non-standard markings could distract drivers or not conform to uniform traffic control manuals (like the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD). However, advocates for decorative crosswalks argue that this position is not supported by evidence and that the visual interest of the designs actually improves safety by increasing driver and pedestrian awareness.Aesthetics vs. Safety: While some jurisdictions, like the Florida Department of Transportation, have ordered the removal of rainbow crosswalks, local officials often counter that there have been no accidents linked to the crosswalks and that they improve safety and visibility, particularly in high-pedestrian areas
This is the most corrupt, and lying administration ever! They lie about everything!
Update 8/22 @ 2:30AM
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