Rainbow Crossing in Sydney, Australia © Steven Cateris
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Like the rainbows that appear in the sky, Sydney’s Rainbow Crossing proved equally elusive. The rainbow striped pedestrian crossing was installed in the Australian city’s gay district in February to kick off the popular gay and lesbian Mardi Gras and in commemoration of the event’s 35th anniversary.
The crossing was a bright addition to the neighbourhood, but its popularity may have contributed to its undoing. Despite having cost $110,000 to install, officials swooped in with an emergency work order to remove the rainbow overnight, at a further cost of $30,000 for its removal. Authorities claimed that the crossing posed a safety hazard because people were stopping to take photos, and chose to demolish it rather than adopt other measures to mitigate safety concerns.
Find out more about this in the Herald Sun