A rainbow pedestrian crossing is one step closer to reality in Thames after a petition received more than 1000 signatures in less than three months.
The petition, titled Let’s give Grahamstown A Rainbow Crossing, was presented to the Thames Community Board at its November 27 meeting.
It asked the council to paint a rainbow on the existing crossing near the Salvation Army store at the northern end of Pollen St.
Petition organiser Linda Davidson said a rainbow crossing would promote inclusion, equity, diversity, belonging and progression in the town. It would also have a significant benefit for local businesses, she said.
Twenty eight Grahamstown businesses surveyed had offered their support to the petition, with one business objecting to the idea.
“I’m passionate about Thames, and I want to see particularly Grahamstown really thrive,” Linda said.
“This would be a very cost effective way of driving visitor numbers up and promoting Thames, and a way to [make] it even more unique.”
Linda said the crossing could also attract the “pink dollar”, people in the gay community who often had dual incomes and no dependents.
She said Grahamstown was the obvious choice for a rainbow crossing, as the area was already tourist-oriented and “quirky”.
“People like to come to an area where they’re safe and they feel welcome,” she said.
“Grahamstown has its own diversity and is a real draw card for the queer visitor.”
Sharon Sole from the Hauraki Supported Lifestyle Trust told The Profile there were a significant number of diverse people in Thames and within the trust.
“Thames is a vibrant town, [and] the acceptance of diversity is really good,” Sharon said.
“It’s not just about queer people. It’s for everyone – feeling pride for Thames.”
Linda and Sharon said the proposed crossing would have a similar design to existing crossings in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne, Taupo, New Plymouth and now Tauranga.
The design would also tie in nicely with the many rainbow-themed artworks around Thames.
However, not everyone was happy about the proposal. At the community board meeting, Thames resident Ruth Efford told community board members she opposed a rainbow on the pedestrian crossing, questioning the legality and safety of the design and saying it could be confusing for road users to remove the existing white reflective lines.
“They are not respecting the other people in our community,” she told the council.
“I have no problems with people dressing or having a symbol that they like to have but when it comes to having it in the face of all and sundry, we can’t just go around and put paintings where we like.
“Look at what’s happened with the red lines at Mary St and Pollen St.”
Board member Holly McKenzie also raised concerns over the crossing potentially attracting graffiti from those who disagreed with the ideals it represented, while district councillor Robyn Sinclair noted the signatures and support appeared to come from a “very broad range of people across the whole community”.
The community board voted to receive the petition, which will now be passed to the roading manager at Thames Coromandel District Council for consideration.
