The Barnes Dance diagonal street crossing

Sidewalk plaque marking the creation by traffic engineer Henry Barnes of the first traffic lights that included a pedestrian “Walk” signal. The arrangement triggered diagonal crossings that conjured visions of a square dance. Hence, the “Barnes Dance."

THE BARNES DANCE
The first traffic signal with
a pedestrian "walk" component
was installed here by Henry Barnes
in 1952. The resultant diagonal crossing
was reminiscent of a square
dance and was colloquially known
as "the Barnes Dance."

Barnes stated, "the time has come
to give the pedestrian a 30 to 70%
chance of getting across
the street alive."

Wall Street Of The Rockies |  Seventeenth Street  |  Denver, Colorado

submitted by JEB John Bradley