The Department of D.I.Y Uses Guerilla Techniques to Save Lives

Over the past month, these signs have been popping up around the city. A group of anonymous renegade do gooders, calling themselves the Department of D.I.Y., are taking credit for the work, adding to the public dialogue about safer streets. Do-it-yourself campaigns are nothing new. In recent months Los Angeles has seen citizen illegal sign enforcement and sharrows. On the internet, the L.A. Bike Working group has made its own citywide bicycle plan and is collecting data for public mapping of bicycle crashes on city streets. LAist asked the Department of D.I.Y. for a statement and this is what they had to say:

Who?
The Department of D.I.Y. is a vast group of concerned cyclists and commuters living in Los Angeles some of whom are victims of road rage, hit and runs and / or harassment, many of whom feel that motorists do not fully respect their rights to use our common streets, all of whom wish for a safer more amicable relationship with motor vehicle traffic.

Why?
Because this beloved city of Los Angeles can't, won't or doesn't care about the safety of vulnerable road users, the Department of D.I.Y. aims to make a broad appeal to drivers via the campaign. The message "Please Pass With Care" is not intended to be political, nor is it intended to criticize the driver's choice of transportation mode, it is a simple message of empathy. It is an honest straight forward appeal to drivers to give bicycle riders a brake, some room on the road, and some common human respect. The lives of cyclists are literally in their hands.

Where?
Everywhere people drive cars.

When?
The sooner that the message gets out the better. A lot of blood has been spilled in the streets. Every week that goes by, another hit and run, or another close call, or another chilling case of harassment occurs. This can not be tolerated.

How?
This public appeal is to be spread in a respectful manner in the public space with maximum visibility to drivers.