Beam Me Across the Street, Scotty
By
Brad Aaron
12:15 PM EDT on May 9, 2008

From online mag Yanko Design comes a wacked out concept in pedestrian safety:
The Virtual Wall provides a barrier made up of plasma laser beams depicting pedestrians doing what they do best and any car that crosses that barrier suffers the consequences. Okay so maybe those lasers aren’t powerful enough to do any harm but the effect is enough to make drivers and pedestrians alike follow crosswalk rules to the tee.
Not that these should ever be necessary in a civilized urban environment, but we can almost hear Richard Brodsky spouting off about the high-falutin’ walled-off elitist pedestrian class.

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Feds Characterize Trump As Mercurial King In Latest Bid to End Congestion Pricing
The federal government insists that you can't count on the federal government to keep its word.
November 11, 2026
Cycle of Rage: DOT Issues Placards But Claims It Can’t Revoke Them For Reckless Driving
The city issues placards. The placard holder drives recklessly in school zones. The city claims it can't revoke the placard. Come on, people!
November 11, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines: The Phantom Menin Edition
What will happen with the Council's "Delivery Protection Act"? It's up to the Phantom Menin. Plus other news.
November 11, 2026
Lower Manhattanites Call for Parking Placard Purge
"Such a system cannot be repaired — it must be replaced": Lower Manhattan won't get safe streets until Mayor Mamdani confronts the placard class, locals say.
November 10, 2026
‘Sociopaths’ Illegally Blow Safety Redesign Outside Greenpoint School
The newly redesigned low-traffic intersection is mostly successful — except for some "sociopaths," as one local calls them.
November 10, 2026