Cow Crossings”, cars, and other animals?
A collection of cows certainly can be a startling sight… When the cows first appeared in Chicago, curious motorists often slowed down to have a good look, causing traffic delays. The Chicago Department of Transportation put up 14 “Cow Crossing” signs in areas with clusters of cows. An unexpected problem arose with the city’s carriage horses. Because they tolerate the traffic and city noises so well, no one gave a thought to how the horses might react to the cows. But horses are often spooked by the unfamiliar – and the cows were definitely unfamiliar. The solution? A bit of supervised socializing. An unpainted cow was sent to spend some time with the horses, and gradually they learned that the cows were just another part of the city landscape. Taking a tip from Chicago, New York City took several unpainted cows to the Police stables for their horses to become familiar with them. As is their custom, the New York City horses were unfazed.
