Carson High School's Griffin Garman’s design was selected as the grand prize winner in a statewide NDOT student art competition this summer.

The Nevada Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Brewery Arts Center and Visit Carson City, is proud to announce the unveiling of a new community mural featuring the winning transportation safety artwork of a Carson City student.

This summer, NDOT invited Nevada students in grades K-12 to participate in a statewide art contest raising awareness of road safety and the benefits of active transportation. Students were encouraged to submit original, hand-drawn art highlighting safe walking, biking, skating, and other active ways of traveling.

From dozens of entries across the state, tenth-grade Carson High School student Griffin Garman’s design was selected as the grand prize winner. 

During last week’s Carson City Murals and Music Festival, the artwork was transformed into a large-scale mural located outside of the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada at 1870 Russell Way. The mural features safe skateboarding and bicycling.

The mural unveiling celebrates not only the student artist’s achievement, but also the importance of safe, active transportation in Nevada communities. The winning art piece now stands as a public mural to inspire young people, and all Nevadans, to safely share the road.

“This project is about more than art,” NDOT Active Transportation Manager Mat Morris explained. “Griffin’s art is vibrant and engaging, and it will inspire young Nevadans and their families to safely share the road.”

The art contest is part of Nevada’s Safe Routes to School program, which provides training, infrastructure and resources for elementary schoolchildren to safely walk and bicycle to school. Walking and bicycling to school can reduce roadway congestion, and help improve air quality and health.

Additional bicycle and pedestrian safety information is available at BicycleNevada.com.

TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS

  • Drivers are reminded to watch for children walking and bicycling, and to reduce speed in school zones. Children’s awareness and movements can be unpredictable. 
  • Motorists should always be mindful of children as if they were their own family members. Drivers must also stop for school buses stopped to pick up or let students out. 
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists should also be attentive, always crossing legally and safely, and looking for vehicles before and while crossing.