Far too many near misses-it is as if the crosswalks are just being ignored by the majority of motorists, and it is extremely dangerous to find yourself in the middle of the street, as a vehicle approaches at high speed with no intention whatsoever of slowing down and stopping…Public safety laws that are neither enforced, recognized, or honored by the general public, are a travesty-indifference to one law can signify an indifference to the rule of law…I long ago lost confidence that anything substantive would be done to bring an end to this situation, so how to respond? I believe the answer lies in public education, and a strategy of deeply impressing a message into the collective mind of the populace through multiple encounters until finally it is firmly established…It was with that objective I decided to initiate what I have called the “Message Shirt Project.” Instead of waiting for signs, which seems futile at best, I realized far more might be accomplished, if I chose to wear the sign upon my back every time I was out on the street. “Stop” in bright red-“when we are on the Crosswalk!” In the month and a half since this commenced, quite a large number has already caught a glimpse of my shirt. I ride my bike each day over hundreds of days, there will in fact be thousands of encounters. And maybe, just maybe, that will leave the slightest dent into the consciousness of the multitudes, and yes, they will actually slow down as they come near a crosswalk and allow someone the opportunity to cross without fear-wouldn’t that be extraordinary. Other message shirts to follow-“Your Idling Engine Poisons Our Air” and “Slow Down!…Speed Kills Us and Even YOU! Instead of passive signs that can be easily passed by without a thought, these signs will have to be confronted, and I will do everything within my power to see they are confronted, because I will wear them winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each time I am on my bike and most times I am out in public places-that is a promise I intend to keep!