Boston Properties Introduces Pedestrian Flags At RTC: Report

RESTON, VA -- Reston Town Center manager Boston Properties apparently has come up with an innovative way to slow down drivers and allow pedestrians to cross: put the power in pedestrians' hands.

Local blog Restonian posted a picture taken by a reader on the edge of Reston Town Center that show a collection of bright yellow flags with a pedestrian symbol on them, and a sign with instructions on how to use them.

The sign instructs the user to remove a flag from the holder, wave it to signal to oncoming drivers that you intend to cross, "make eye contact" with the driver, and then make your way across when the vehicles comes to a complete stop. Once you get to the other side of the street, you return the flag to the other holder.

No infrastructure, no problem! Reston Town Center may just have found a solution to all our growing pains: https://t.co/8XuWAkdyad pic.twitter.com/u7cEoMFiAC
— Restonian (@Restonian) April 13, 2018

Reston Town Center isn't the first to try this, as noted by one reader. Salt Lake City also has "crosswalk flags" that pedestrians can pick out from a container of flags on either end of the crosswalk to increase visibility when crossing the street.

"The simple act of holding a flag alerts drivers that the pedestrian has a desire and intent to cross the street," reads the Salt Lake City government website. "Some drivers have commented that simply having brightly colored flags at both ends of a crosswalk makes noticing the crosswalk easier."

Image: Patch staff