Rogue Paint Line

Status: Undetermined
image What is the meaning of a two-mile line of paint that stretches through central London? No one knows who put it there or why. The BBC reports:

It begins on the pavement at a bus stop in Euston and only stops for roads, starting again on the pavement on the other side... Camden Council, Transport for London and electricity suppliers say they did not put it there. Theories include it being a drunken prank or street art.

Maybe it's a message from aliens. But seriously, how could someone paint a two-mile line of paint through a major city without anyone noticing who did it?

Places Pranks

Posted on Mon Jan 16, 2006


Comments

I'd guess Banksy. There is probably an amazing stencil near each end...
Posted by davetolomy  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  08:21 AM
It looks similar to the line that they drew across the city for a marathon, except that one was along the road. I have always been curious as to whether that line led anyone to follow it across the median.
Posted by Fawkes  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  10:01 AM
Rouge paint line, surely ?
Posted by Gareth  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  11:03 AM
Maybe someone was carrying a bucket of paint with a leak in the bottom.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  03:26 PM
looks like someone can't find their (drunken) way home from the bus stop so marked out their route on the pavement
Posted by KT  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  04:26 PM
It looks like a spray paint line; there are spray cans designed to work upside down, it's what gas companies and such use to mark pavement. They're sometimes mounted on a stick or other long trigger for ease of use.

It's possible that you could use it without attracting attention; you wouldn't be doing anything particularly odd-looking unless someone looked at you closely. And who looks at other pedestrians closely, in a city?
Posted by cvirtue  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  06:59 PM
Two years ago University students did this in my town. It marked a route for their student association initiates.
Posted by LaMa  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  07:15 AM
Oh, and hardly anyone noticed them doing it, as they did it by night. I did see them however when they were painting in my alley.
Posted by LaMa  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  07:17 AM
Even in London, it's possible (in the middle of the night, usually) to be alone on the streets from time to time. All you'd have to do is wait around, smoking or something, until nobody was around and then paint your line until you ran into someone again.

Also, we don't know that nobody saw them doing it. It's possible that many people saw them painting the line and just aren't saying anything about it.
Posted by Oberon  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  03:07 PM
:coolsmile: Looks like a Banksy idea to me, but a bit plain, long live Banksy.
Posted by patrick  on  Fri Jan 20, 2006  at  06:03 AM
Seems a little too boring for banksy but you never know... until you do, in which case you do know. I think. where am I.
Posted by Geekmafia  on  Sat Jan 21, 2006  at  01:45 PM
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