PORTLAND, Maine — Sidewalks offer a way to keep people safe while they're out walking on busy roads, but they aren't always available for pedestrians.
Diamond Street in Portland's East Bayside neighborhood is one of those spots where a sidewalk isn't an option, so several local groups are coming together to try to make it safer. They're taking a creative approach to a sidewalk with a series of colorful dots in varying sizes that mark a path for pedestrians.
“It’s really like a trail of breadcrumbs for people to follow,” Jaime Parker, trail and transportation manager for Portland Trails, said. "They're a playful way to create a sidewalk.”
Parker said the dots are a suggested safe place for pedestrians to walk as they move from one end of the street to another.
With breweries, stores, and a coffee shop bringing people to the area, Parker said there is a lot of foot traffic, which becomes dangerous when vehicles speed down the road.
"There's an environment out there that's not always supportive of pedestrians, and it's something we're keenly aware of," he added.
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of vehicle crashes involving pedestrians have continuously increased, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. Within that timeframe, 919 people were hit by a vehicle across the state.
Portland Trails teamed up with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine for the effort. They said the response from the public has been positive.
"The reaction has been extremely positive," Paul Drinan, active transportation director for the coalition, said. "They get it; they love it. It's cool to see people intuitively follow the dots."
Drinan told NEWS CENTER Maine that speed bumps and flexible posts were also installed on the road to help constrain traffic.
Portland Trails said the new road features are temporary. The painted dots will eventually fade, and the posts will be taken out in the winter. But for now, they serve as a safety reminder that the roads are shared.
"We'd love for drivers to know that roads are not just for cars," Drinan said. "Everybody has a right to be in and use the roadway."