Haiku Safety Art Contest

Help the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) spread the word on pedestrian and bike safety, by submitting a safety-related haiku art piece. Selected winners will receive a Safe Routes to School and Move Forward PGH gift pack, and the grand prize winner will receive a copy of their haiku street sign and have it displayed on signs around the city! The deadline has been extended to Friday, July 16th.

Write a haiku that draws attention to the shared responsibility pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists have in keeping Pittsburgh’s streets safe.  Find inspiration in one of many Department programs including:

• Pittsburgh Safety Driving Pledge
• Bike(+) Plan
• Move Forward PGH
• Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
• Safe Routes to School

What is a haiku?

A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry made of short, unrhymed lines that can evoke colorful imagery and short stories. Haiku can come in a variety of different formats of short verses, but the most common is a three-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.

• The first line is 5 syllables
• The second line is 7 syllables
• The third line is 5 syllables

Example of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety haiku:

• To adverse to risk (5 syllables)
• To chance the lottery, yet (7 syllables)
• Steps into traffic (5 syllables)

Haiku Winners!

1. Mark Flaherty
2. Jacob Patalive
3. Kali Wentling
4. Patricia Tsagaris
5. Mary Weidner
6. Angelo Ross
7. Emily Persico
8. Lori Kantor
9. Evonne & Adrianne Henry
10. Valarie Sullivan

Top Haiku Winner: Mark Flaherty

City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure Haiku Sign Reveal Ceremony.
The haiku safety signs will be displayed around the City of Pittsburgh along safe routes students take to and from school. Be on the look out of the haiku safety signs on poles in your community.

For more information or questions, please contact: Harriet Jackson at harriet.jackson@pittsburghpa.gov or Cassandra Leopold at cassandra.leopold@pittsburghpa.gov.