Pedestrian crossings in Mexico City have become a one-sided race between cars and people, but a move has been made to shift the odds.

A new diagonal crosswalk has been installed on the busiest crossing in all of Latin America, located in the capital’s historic center.

The Latino crossing is where Madero and Eje Central streets meet and was the site chosen by two non-governmental organizations determined to make pedestrians the principal actors in terms of urban mobility.

The traditional white-bar crossing has been decorated with 300 colorful triangles that not only gave it a new look but expanded the area designated for pedestrians.

Traffic signals are set to provide a crossing time exclusively for pedestrians, stopping all vehicle traffic from entering the intersection and allowing people to walk straight across the street or diagonally, saving time and effort.

The two NGOs, Camina and Espacio Vital MX, explained that large gatherings of people like those on the Latino crossing are easy prey for muggers. Giving pedestrians the extra space guarantees that there’s more distance between them, discouraging the crime.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the city and the paint manufacturer Comex.

Espacio Vital MX said the triangle shape was chosen as a representation of the joint work of civil society and authorities in favor of pedestrians.

“The design emerged from a triangle-based framework; each of its sides represents the strength of the citizens, the government and the private sector, all pillars of the development of cities,” said the NGO.

The success of the temporary project has led organizers and authorities to analyze the possibility of implementing the modified Latino crossing permanently.

Source: Milenio (sp)