"Last year the government spent less on the ministry of silly walks than it did on national defense."
"And now for something completely different: A Monty Python-inspired crosswalk in the middle of an East Texas town."
That's the lede from an article by Michael Merschel, who reports on the crosswalk located at main and Gilmer streets in Sulphur Springs. Texas.
The joke: "A pair of traffic signs featuring the silhouette of a slouching, high-stepping, bowler-wearing John Cleese figure doing a silly walk."
As Monty Python proved unequivocally, silly walks are funny, and the decision to add the signs to the crosswalks in Sulphur Springs is all in good fun. Merschel reports that Shane Shepard, former Sulphur Springs community development director, was inspired by a similar sign in Ørje, Norway.
The Silly Walks sign is not the only whimsical element to be found in Downtown Sulphur Springs, as detailed in the article.
FULL STORY: What's this Monty Python sign doing in the middle of Sulphur Springs, Texas?
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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