Listen to the article
Lubbock’s iconic Buddy Holly glasses crosswalk will soon vanish from the West Texas city’s streets, as local officials reluctantly comply with federal and state directives banning artistic or political displays on public roadways.
The distinctive crosswalk, installed in 2020 near the downtown Buddy Holly Center, features a painted depiction of the rock legend’s trademark glasses. It has become a popular attraction honoring the city’s most famous native son.
“It’s such a tasteful cross section and people like it. But what do you do?” lamented City Council Member Christy Martinez-Garcia during this week’s council meeting where the decision was announced.
The removal comes after Lubbock received a strongly worded letter from the Texas Department of Transportation threatening potential loss of state or federal funding for road projects if such artwork remained. David Bragg, Lubbock’s interim division director of public works, explained the predicament to council members.
“This was a very broad letter. I don’t think it was intended to go after, say, the Buddy Holly glasses. Unfortunately it did,” Bragg told the council. The removal will occur during routine maintenance next year.
Mayor Mark McBrayer acknowledged widespread public support for preserving the crosswalk but said the city had little recourse. “Probably everybody here got some communication from people wanting that not to be the case,” McBrayer said. “But I don’t really feel like we have the wherewithal to do anything about that without trying to litigate it, and I don’t think there’s any appetite here anyway.”
The directive stems from Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s October 8 instruction to the transportation department requiring all cities and counties to comply with federal and state guidelines on roadway safety. Abbott’s order explicitly prohibits symbols, flags and markings conveying social or political messages, as well as any signage not directly supporting traffic control or safety.
“Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” Abbott stated when issuing the directive.
Abbott’s action followed a July letter from Trump administration Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to all U.S. governors, declaring that “roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork” and insisting that intersections and crosswalks remain free from distractions.
Lubbock joins other Texas communities forced to remove distinctive roadway art. In October, Laredo removed a mural protesting the border wall along the southern border with Mexico. Similarly, Florida officials in August removed a rainbow-colored crosswalk outside Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed in a 2016 mass shooting.
The crackdown represents a significant shift in how communities can memorialize local cultural icons or express community values in public spaces. For Lubbock, the loss is particularly poignant given Holly’s significance to the city’s identity and cultural heritage.
Charles Hardin “Buddy” Holly emerged as a pioneering figure in rock and roll after seeing Elvis Presley perform in 1955. His innovative sound, characterized by distinctive vocal hiccups and infectious energy, produced classics like “That’ll Be the Day,” “Rave On,” and “Peggy Sue.”
Holly’s promising career was tragically cut short at age 22 when he died in a February 3, 1959, plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The accident, which also claimed the lives of musicians Ritchie Valens and J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson, became immortalized in American culture as “the day the music died” through Don McLean’s 1971 hit “American Pie.”
For many Lubbock residents and music enthusiasts, the crosswalk represented more than decorative street art—it symbolized the city’s enduring connection to one of rock music’s most influential pioneers. Now, as the painted glasses prepare to fade from the streets of Holly’s hometown, fans will need to find other ways to celebrate the bespectacled rocker’s enduring legacy.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
The Buddy Holly crosswalk was a fun and creative way to honor Lubbock’s musical history. Even if it had to be removed for safety reasons, it’s a shame to see that local landmark disappear. Hopefully the city can find another way to celebrate Buddy Holly’s legacy.
The Buddy Holly crosswalk was a creative and fun way to honor Lubbock’s musical heritage. It’s too bad that it has to be removed, even if it’s for legitimate safety reasons. I hope the city can find another fitting way to celebrate Buddy Holly’s legacy.
While I understand the need for consistent road safety standards, the removal of the Buddy Holly crosswalk is still disappointing. That was a distinctive and beloved part of Lubbock’s identity. Hopefully the city can come up with another way to pay tribute to its most famous native son.
It’s a shame to see the iconic Buddy Holly crosswalk go. That was a unique and beloved tribute to Lubbock’s most famous native son. I understand the need for road safety, but surely there could have been a way to keep that artistic display.
The Buddy Holly crosswalk was a clever and fun way to honor the city’s musical heritage. Sad to see it go, even if it was required under state road safety rules. Hopefully Lubbock can find another way to celebrate Buddy Holly’s legacy.
Removing the Buddy Holly crosswalk seems a bit heavy-handed. While road safety is important, that crosswalk had become an iconic part of Lubbock’s identity. I wonder if there were any compromise solutions that could have kept it in place.
It’s a shame that the Buddy Holly crosswalk has to be removed. That was a unique and iconic piece of Lubbock’s identity. I get the need for uniform road safety standards, but it’s still a loss for the city and its residents. Hopefully they can come up with another way to pay tribute to their famous native son.
What a shame to see the Buddy Holly crosswalk go. That was a really cool and unique way to pay tribute to Lubbock’s most famous resident. I get the need for uniform road safety standards, but it’s still a loss for the city and its heritage.