Sneakers on Kitsilano hydro wires: what’s up with that?
Right at the corner of Vine and West 6th Avenue, hang a pair of sneakers high up on the hydro wire under the street lamp.
I’ve noticed sneakers tossed up on the power lines before. I never gave them a second thought until our street was “sneakered.”
Someone said the sneakers were a sign of gangs marking territory.
My immediate HMmmm? Blue sneakers on my hydro lines — must be the Crips because the Bloods would have thrown a red pair to dangle on the wire.
Someone else said it was a ritual of adolescent passage. Some young fella had just made his first “score.”
So why didn’t he throw the used condom over the wire? Do you know how expensive sneakers are? I shook my head. NO! Not in my neighbourhood, I said to myself loudly — score or no score.
I Googled “sneakers over hydro wires.” Here’s what I found.
Sneakers over hydro lines are a well documented urban myth! just a folk belief about gang activity? A well worn myth of lost virginity? My 6th Avenue and Vine sneakers lost their luster.
Straight Dope gives about a dozen possible theories for the pair of sneakers dangling from city power lines all over North America — all urban legends again.
GO HERE for more info on urban legends.
Walking the dog last night, I looked up at the soft street lamp glow illuminating my corner’s my blue sneakers. One shoe sat on top of the other like a young boy with his legs crossed.
The sneakers annoyed me now. What to do now with that urban legend dangling on the hydro wire?
A Floridian artist, Steve Smith took action when he first saw a dangling set of sneakers on a power line. He designed 20 art pieces he called soles in limbo. Drat, someone had already created art from the dangly bits of rubber.
So just because I was obsessed with these sneakers, here is but another tidbit for your trivia file.
The Glossary of Sneakers gives this advice about the “secret language of shoes.”
Canvas Sneaker
- When located on a wire in a city setting, this sneaker indicates the presence of children in need of Ritalin ™ or other psychotropic drug.
- When found in a rural setting, indicates a request for migratory workers.
- Contrary to popular belief, this does not indicate prostitution.
- High heels strung over a power wire actually indicates the presence of a VFW, Ballroom or other “Older American” establishment with dancing and alchohol.
- It seems to be a holdover from prohibition.
High Heel Shoes
I know as soon as my neighbour Tony finds out about the sneakers he won’t stare and wonder. Tony will have those suckers down and in the trash within the hour.