Image by DDOT.

A Barnes Dance intersection, where people can walk through in any direction when traffic is stopped, is coming to 14th and Irving streets in Columbia Heights. DDOT started putting the paint down on Monday, and it officially opens on Thursday.

You may recognize this concept, as there's a similar (though more festively decorated) intersection at 7th and H streets, in Chinatown.

The Barnes Dance at 7th and H ain Chinatown. Image by Google Maps.

The new Barnes Dance aligns with Mayor Muriel Bowser's Vision Zero goals, which aim to cut pedestrian deaths in the District down to zero. The new crosswalk design will hopefully give more priority to pedestrians at what is one of the busiest areas for foot traffic in the city.

You can read the full DDOT press release here (and there's a Spanish version here!).

What do you think of the intersection?

Stephen Hudson resides in Southwest DC — the fourth quadrant he has lived in. He works for a government relations firm and has previous experience with transportation policy at a trade association. His professional interests include transportation and infrastructure, foreign languages, and comparative international politics. The views expressed are his own.