In an effort to infuse some vibrancy into their cityscape, Raleigh is revving up to lay down a visual treat right under the feet of its urban commuters. The Raleigh Arts and the city's Shared Micromobility Program are collaborating on a project that will have local artists channel their creativity onto downtown Raleigh's concrete. This project isn't just a giant leap for local art; it's a practical step towards organizing the chaos that e-scooters and e-bikes can sometimes spread across a busy city sidewalk.
The concrete canvas will come to life at various e-scooter and e-bike corrals thanks to the artistic prowess of seven Raleigh artists. These aren't just splashy works of public art — the designs serve an obvious utilitarian purpose, marking shared micromobility corrals so that you, me, and that guy over there know exactly where to park our rides. Per the City of Raleigh's announcement, these special road-safe paintings not only enhance the city's charm, but also aim to improve sidewalk safety and accessibility, making it less of a pedestrian hurdle and more of a smooth commute.
Zac Bender, Lauren Crawford, Max Dowdle, Gina Franco, Mayanthi Jayawardena, Kat Kuhn and Brittany Thomas, Kelly Schrader — these are the artists selected to bring their vision to the streets in a blend of utility and aesthetics. Each will use durable, road-worthy paint to splash down designs that can stand up to the, scuffs, and scrapes of daily scooter traffic. While there's no concrete (pun intended) timeline divulged for this artistic endeavor, the buzz amongst locals is clearly audible.
For those eager to give their two cents on the concept designs, the city has opened a (presumably virtual) door for public input. It's a chance to peek at the future look of downtown Raleigh and yes, help guide the artistic direction of your commuting landscapes. With a nod to the communal spirit behind the undertaking, citizens can submit their feedback through the city's dedicated public input page and honestly, it's shaping up to be a colorful conversation. To stay clued in to the corralling and coloring happening in downtown Raleigh, or to dive a bit deeper into the artistic minds behind the upcoming murals, don't hesitate to visit their micromobility murals page.
