What is it?
Walk Raleigh is a simple, guerrilla wayfinding system intended to help people discover how easy it is to get around downtown Raleigh by walking. "It's an 18 minute walk to Seaboard Station" reads one of the signs, accompanied by a white arrow pointing in the direction of the destination. In addition to the text, a QR code is integrated that links to a pre-routed path on Google Maps.
The simple signs are very basic, signs get people thinking in minutes by foot rather than miles by car.
Who is behind it?
Matt Tomasulo of CityFabric instigated this guerilla project with the crafty planning help of Darryl Jones and Nicole Alvarez. Nik Shah and Erin White helped install the 27 signs on January 18, 2012 at 9pm (under the cover of darkness.)
City Council Accepts ‘Walk Raleigh’ Signs, Approves Pilot Program for Initiative
The City of Raleigh News posted the following article on March 6, 2012:
The creator of the “Walk Raleigh” signs posted at up to three intersections in the Capital City has agreed to donate the signs to the City of Raleigh. The City Council voted unanimously today to accept the signs as a gift from Matt Tomasulo, a local college graduate student who launched the initiative to promote walking and healthy living in the Capital City.
Council members also agreed to authorize a pilot program regarding the signs as part of a formal public education campaign. The “Walk Raleigh” signs list walk times to various destinations. The pilot program will focus on three locations where the signs will be posted and cover a period of 90 days beginning this month through May. Additional details about the pilot program, including the start-up date and the locations of the signs, are being worked out.
The City Council will evaluate the pilot program following the conclusion of the 90-day period.