When we talk about safer streets, we often jump straight to technical fixes: traffic signals, concrete barriers, speed humps, signage. These tools are important, and they save lives. But what if safety isn’t just about rules and regulations—what if it’s also about how a street feels? What if the design of a space—the colors, the shapes, the sense of play—can change the way people move through it? That’s the question we ask ourselves at Chalk Riot every day. And it’s why we believe that joy isn’t just a byproduct of our work. It’s the strategy.
Why Joy Belongs in Street Design
When most people think about joy, they don’t think about traffic engineering. But in our experience, these two things are more connected than they appear. Joy—when thoughtfully embedded into the design of a city—can shift how people interact with space. It can calm chaos. It can encourage care. It can create pause.
That’s the heart of traffic calming: creating a moment where a driver slows down, becomes more alert, and shares the road more respectfully. Traditional infrastructure achieves this through physical measures. But colorful, playful design can accomplish the same goal by engaging a different part of the brain. A painted intersection doesn’t need to block a car to make a driver think twice—it just needs to disrupt their expectations. That moment of surprise can be powerful.
We’ve seen it happen in real time. When we finish a mural on a busy street or at an intersection, the energy shifts. Kids start dancing across it. Cyclists pause for selfies. Cars slow down—not because they have to, but because they want to. Something about that burst of color commands respect. It reminds everyone that they’re in a shared space.
Color as a Safety Tool
Color is more than decoration. It can signal, instruct, and protect. In the natural world, bright colors are a warning—think of a red berry or a yellow wasp. On the street, the same concept applies. But instead of fear, our use of color invites curiosity, joy, and attention.
That attention is a form of safety. In high-risk intersections where visibility is poor, color can help highlight pedestrian zones or make crosswalks more noticeable. In fast-moving traffic corridors, street murals can psychologically “narrow” the road and cause drivers to reduce speed.
More cities are beginning to catch on. In Washington D.C., where we’re based, we’ve collaborated with city planners and local organizations to implement traffic calming murals in neighborhoods with a history of traffic violence. These aren’t just art projects—they’re safety interventions. And they’re working.
Designing With, Not For, the Community
One of the most important parts of our work at Chalk Riot is collaboration. We don’t just show up with paint and a plan. We work with communities from the very beginning—listening to their stories, learning their histories, and understanding how they move through space.
Designing for joy means different things to different people. In one neighborhood, it might look like bright flowers and pollinators. In another, it might be bold geometric patterns or tributes to local heroes. When people see themselves reflected in their streets, they’re more likely to take care of them. That investment fosters a culture of mutual respect and safety.
We’ve also learned that when residents—especially youth—are invited to help create the artwork, the impact goes deeper. They become advocates for their space. They tell their friends and family to slow down. They become ambassadors of the design. And that community pride becomes part of the safety equation.
Ephemeral Art, Lasting Impact
Many of our murals are temporary. Chalk fades. Paint wears down. The street eventually gets resurfaced. And that’s okay. Ephemeral art still makes a lasting impact.
First, it gives cities a chance to pilot ideas without long-term infrastructure changes. A mural can act as a proof of concept: if a painted plaza slows traffic and increases foot traffic, it may be worth investing in permanent changes.
Second, temporary art keeps the conversation going. It reminds people that the street is a living space. It can change. It can be responsive. It can be joyful.
And finally, it gives us room to experiment. Not every design has to last forever. In fact, some of the most impactful projects are the ones that respond to a specific moment—a local event, a community need, or a cultural celebration.
Safety Shouldn’t Be Boring
There’s a misconception that safety design has to be dull—grey concrete, steel railings, rigid signage. But that’s not the only way to build a secure city. In fact, when spaces feel cold or impersonal, people may disengage. They may ignore signs. They may drive faster just to move through the space quicker.
But when safety is designed with joy in mind—when it feels welcoming, warm, and full of life—people engage. They take notice. They slow down. They treat the space and each other with care.
We believe in a city where safe streets are also beautiful ones. Where public safety and public art go hand in hand. Where the crosswalk is not just a place to pass through but a place to connect. And where every resident, no matter their age, ability, or background, can feel seen and safe on the streets they call home.
Building a Joyful Future
We often say that we build from the ground up. That doesn’t just mean working on pavement. It means starting with the people. Starting with what brings them joy, what makes them feel safe, what makes them feel connected to where they live.
That’s the foundation for the kind of future we want to help create: one where art and safety are not separate conversations, but part of the same vision.
At Chalk Riot, we’ll keep painting, keep collaborating, and keep advocating for joy—not as an afterthought, but as a vital part of urban design. Because we’ve learned that when you put joy in the streets, you make space for something even bigger: a city that truly cares for the people who move through it.
And that kind of city? That’s a place worth slowing down for.
