On 10th Street, where Midtown meets the BeltLine, thousands of cyclists ride daily—commuters heading downtown, families visiting Piedmont Park, and weekend riders out for fresh air. Until now, only slim plastic posts separated bikes from cars on this busy corridor. Those posts are being replaced by more than 300 sturdy, hand-painted concrete barriers—each one part of a mural that tells a story of safety, connection, and community pride.
The project is a collaboration between the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT), the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), and the Office of Strategy and Planning through its Safety & Mobility Fund. Together, they’re bringing art to infrastructure while advancing Atlanta’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Why It Matters
“10th Street is a straight shot from the BeltLine to Midtown,” said Atlanta artist Krista “Jonesy” Jones, who led the design. “That makes it one of the city’s most popular routes for cyclists—but also one of the most vulnerable. These barriers are about safety, but they’re also about joy.”
Jonesy recruited volunteers of all ages to paint the barriers—some as young as seven. “It’s nice to engage with the community on a project where people can physically help,” she said. “They get to see it firsthand and know they made the street safer.”
For many, it’s more than a public art project; it’s a transformation. Along Piedmont Park, where traffic can be chaotic, the bright geometric designs and playful patterns stand as both a visual cue for drivers and a protective shield for riders.
By the Numbers
- 300 concrete barriers replacing plastic posts
- Dozens of volunteers participated in community paint days
- Supported through the Safety & Mobility Fund and Vision Zero initiative
What’s Next
The 10th Street mural is one of several creative infrastructure projects leading Atlanta’s Road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, showing how safety, art, and innovation can coexist on city streets. It’s also a model for future corridors, where transportation meets imagination.
