With pedestrian safety becoming a hot topic in Coconut Grove, one local activist isn’t waiting for the grown-ups to solve it. Miami’s streets have become a battlefield for pedestrians, and leading the charge to curb this issue is a fifth grader armed with nothing but a bright orange flag and a mission. Lucas Kwiatkowski, a 10-year-old student from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School, is already sparking change by tackling safety issues on Main Highway.

While most elementary school kids spend their afternoons playing sports, Kwiatkowski dedicates his time to his passion project to benefit the Grove. After his family moved from California, he immediately noticed an issue with Miami drivers: they wouldn’t stop for pedestrians.

“[They’re] always on their phones,” he said. This was true even in the moments before he was interviewed for this story, when, he said, he “had to wait for five cars because none of them stopped.”

This observation led him to implement a safety system on Main Highway to help people cross the street more safely: See Me Flags.

See Me Flags are large neon flags, provided on opposite sides of the crosswalk, that allow pedestrians to cross from one side to the other in a more visible way.

Kwiatkowski believes it is crucial, especially near schools, for there to be a distinct marker that allows drivers to see smaller pedestrians crossing the streets.

According to Kwiatkowski, the city approval process for his idea was “pretty fast.”

He brought the proposal to Miami District 2 Commissioner Damien Pardo, who chairs the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, and “in about a week we were putting them in.”

The BID, eager to find solutions to the Grove’s never-ending problems of pedestrian safety, agreed to pay for the first flags. “Currently there are four sets, and we have requests for more,” Kwiatkowski said.

Henry Berler ’25 opts to drive to school rather than walk due to significant safety concerns when navigating major roadways. “When you try to cross Douglas Road, it’s just so busy. A crosswalk would be really good,” he remarked.

Although the law states that drivers must yield to pedestrians, that is not always the case. Distracted driving, high traffic volumes, and insufficient signage contribute to a dangerous environment for those walking in the Grove.

A comprehensive study conducted by Safe Roads USA in 2022 revealed that Miami-Dade County alone was responsible for a staggering 42,022 collisions. The cause of these accidents was identified as distracted driving, especially due to the use of electronic devices.

In the past, Grove residents have expressed a desire for more stoplights along Main Highway. But it is a crucial street, and any alteration to its traffic flow would inevitably impact thousands of commuters. “That would hold up traffic a lot,” Kwiatkowski explained.

Coconut Grove resident and Ransom Everglades English teacher Mr. Adam Schachner concurred. “It’s so difficult for pedestrians because drivers get impatient. Creating more obstructions for drivers or causing more delays with stoplights, especially in an area with heavy traffic, poses a challenge.”

Kwiatkowski believes that the safety of pedestrians in the Grove is a significant issue that requires ongoing attention and action from both the community and local authorities. He pointed out that despite Coconut Grove’s reputation for being a picturesque and lively neighborhood, the reality of crossing the streets can be frightening.

In a city where drivers can’t seem to keep their eyes off their phones, however, he hopes See Me Flags will keep them in check.

This story was originally published on The Catalyst on October 31, 2024.