The city of Brussels and 18 other European cities are set to receive a subsidy of $25,000 from the American philanthropic Bloomberg Foundation as part of the Asphalt Art Initiative. The initiative aims to revitalize city centers and improve the safety of pedestrians through the use of street art.
Inspired by efforts made by Michael R. Bloomberg as mayor of New York to improve pedestrian safety and give new life to the city’s streets, the Asphalt Art Initiative was previously tested in 41 American and three European cities (Glasgow, London, and Amsterdam). Following encouraging results, the initiative is now being expanded to 19 additional European cities, including Brussels, Florence, Prato, and Rome (Italy), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Gdynia (Poland), Zagreb (Croatia), Brno (Czech Republic), Helsinki (Finland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Ferizaj (Kosovo), Madrid and León (Spain), Tirana (Albania), Bratislava and Košice (Slovakia), Varna (Bulgaria), Athens (Greece), and Istanbul (Turkey).
The safety of pedestrians will be improved through the use of eye-catching paintings on the road surface, crosswalks, and sidewalks. A study has shown that street art can improve safety, especially when combined with other measures such as the redevelopment of sidewalks. Colorful motifs can stimulate pedestrians and make them more alert, leading to a significant reduction in incidents. Accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists decreased by 50% after the introduction of street art, while conflicts between drivers and pedestrians decreased by 25% and 27% more drivers gave way to pedestrians.