Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to enforce the removal of “any and all political ideologies” from Texas streets, warning that cities who do not comply will “face consequences.” Non-standard surface markings, signage and signals that “do not directly support traffic control or safety” are prohibited, according to a Wednesday news release from Abbott’s office.
It’s just black and white thinking in a department where any moderately capable human in a crosswalk context would understand that it’s still a crosswalk regardless of if it’s plain white paint or if it’s a rainbow. It’s not difficult to understand or know which is the point of signage like this, to convey that is a place to walk.
Going from “it’s okay to paint a crosswalk a rainbow, it still makes sense to people” to “all regulation doesn’t matter and it’s pointless” for their argument IS a strawman, that is not what they’re arguing.
The situation is black and white. Either the regulations matter or they don’t.