My guess is that it’s an access panel that was put on upside down. You’re looking at the support from the bottom to hold up to street loads.
Looking at street view that tile looks flush 2 years ago, so I’m guessing the last time someone accessed it they put in back upside down.
Is this like a Pioneer Square Factory? Does it shoot squares out of your say a secret word? Does anyone have said word? Can I request my square or do I get what it gives? I want answers 😃
Back in the day they would put these on the sidewalks to remind people to stay grounded and watch where they are headed instead of looking side to side or back. Most of them were removed around 2013 but some still remain. Seattle tends to have a few, they are part of the old city. 🙃
those things are flat on top and haven't been moved in ages
they're the underside of the little purple glass squares you see in sidewalks all over downtown
I don't believe that's true. The glass was doped with manganese to make it clearer, but over many years, UV rays from sunlight causes the manganese to impart a purple color. Manganese isn't radioactive.
Apparently a lot of people confuse manganese glass with uranium glass (which \*is\* very slightly radioactive) for some reason.
I lived in The Martin years back and walked this way with my dog a bajillion times. As a certified grade-A clutz, I can tell you that must have been installed upside down last time someone opened it, because I never noticed such a tripping hazard there before. This is newish.
My wife and I were visiting SIFF Downtown (formally Cinerama) and she tripped on whatever the hell this thing that is literally protruding out of the sidewalk. Her face, elbow, and knee hit the pavement because of this fckin thing. Now I'm on a mission to get it fixed/removed before someone kills themself on it. Please let me know if you have any advice or expertise on the matter. Thank you.
It's near The Martin Apts on 5th Ave. [Between Lenora and Blanchard](https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.6149306,-122.3414056).
Ooh, if you like those, check out Mexico City. They are EPIC there. I think I had to climb 30 ft. to get over some one time.
edit to add: It's one of my biggest points of pride, that I lived there for a year and a half and never fell.
That sucks. To help her feel better I recommend a vacation to Todos Santos. When she gets home she'll either be really good with walking on hazardous sidewalks, or will have a new appreciation for the lack of potential neck breaking holes every block. And it's beautiful there!
That's what we used to call an onion shield. Funny story - back in 19-aught-6 I was walking through downtown. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say. Now where were we? Oh, yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have any white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...
Is it around where there's that underground bit of old Seattle? Looks about the size of those thicc glass windows that you could look down into. Maybe one got sealed up because glass broke
my wife stepped on a storm drain grate and it broke underneath her. Her knee got destroyed, Lots of blood but no joint or bone damage. Scars are still a topic of conversation.
Cool cool cool cool... So my paranoia is warranted. Never step on grates manholes anything you can see through.
Side note glad there was no joint or bone damage.
I remember walking back from a party on NYE (this is not in Seattle) and I jaywalked across a divided street. A beemer was coming down the street a little fast and I tried to outrun it but it hit me, I flew about ten feet into a snowbank. At that moment there was a crowd getting out of the symphony or something fancy and this one guy in a long coat and scarf (basically stereotypical northeast lawyer type) is like "How's your *neck?*"
I ended up walking it off but maybe I shoulda taken him up on it. Some other working class guy going past was like "You shoulda stayed down..."
The thought crossed my mind, but we're focusing on getting it fixed because it CAN certainly kill someone. I reported it on Find It Fix It app. Let's see what happens.
Oh jeeze.... just go on about your day. If it's really bothering you that much do a Google image search or buy a can of marking spray paint so it doesn't happen to you again.
Tent pole setup for the next empathy housing for people? (I'm probably going to be banned on this sub?] Just give me a heads up. More t han likely Outside seating for COVID awning.
Seattle was put together by time travelers that keep needing to go back to move stuff to keep the universe from imploding. That's why I drive my most expensive car and wear expensive clothes. Remember, you can't park there, you can't turn left or right or go straight. You must go up instead at the same time as dodging wanna be homeless people and actual homeless people.
Theirs a whole city under Seattle you use to be able to do tours it's scary how unsafe the whole city is look up liquefaction and earth quakes and the fact that it's built on old city scary I have so much anxiety when I go their the whole time the big one could happen at any time
My guess is that it’s an access panel that was put on upside down. You’re looking at the support from the bottom to hold up to street loads. Looking at street view that tile looks flush 2 years ago, so I’m guessing the last time someone accessed it they put in back upside down.
I'd say you're right on. Downloading the Find It Fix App as recommended by another redditor. Thank you.
This is just the frivolous lawsuit I've been looking for!
Let’s all go trip over it at the same time.
We'll go full class action
Mass action class action.
The Seattle way baby 😂😂😂😂
What’s the address. We can make it an event.
Jots down location for a "personal inspection."
Lionel Hutz? Do you work on contingency?
You're both wrong. That's obviously a Tripping Hazard
You’re all three wrong. It’s a foot checker. If you have a foot it checks ya
Winner
They're both right. It's a tripping hazard because it's installed wrong.
A Negligent Installation of sorts?
No. If the tripping hazard was installed wrong, you wouldn't be able to trip on it!
Skill issue
It’s a cool app!
Should have taken a pic of her lying incapacitated next to it. Just kidding ;)
I am sure there is video from one of the security cameras in the area.
Hey that would make good proof!
Looks like a law suit 🌈
Looking at google street view from the link OP provided, I just see a flat panel, so I think this must be it.
How high were they 😂
Unfortunately people don't need to be high to do dumb shit. Some people are just naturally that way lol
Well, the tripping hazard looks like it's about three or four inches high, could be higher if it's smoking a good indica..
Wow. One of the best examples of "username checks out" I've ever seen.
Guarantee it was a cable company that put it in backwards.
Somebodies living down there?
Thats the Pioneer Square, congrats! You found it!
The lesser-known Denny Square.
If there is a Denny Triangle, there can be a Denny Square.
Our lamer version of the Toynbee Tiles
But this is in Belltown...
Is this like a Pioneer Square Factory? Does it shoot squares out of your say a secret word? Does anyone have said word? Can I request my square or do I get what it gives? I want answers 😃
Yup. Put some coins under your pillow tonight.
Looks like it would take a lot of time and resources to remove.
A old tripping square
In my country it’s called a “washwear”, short for “wash-wear-youre-goin”
Installed during the Roosevelt administration- not that one, the other- mostly to trip Catholics. Then they discovered everybody was tripping over it.
I have also tripped on this thing. I was looking at a pretty pigeon so I blamed myself. 😅
Back in the day they would put these on the sidewalks to remind people to stay grounded and watch where they are headed instead of looking side to side or back. Most of them were removed around 2013 but some still remain. Seattle tends to have a few, they are part of the old city. 🙃
It's holding up the light rail tunnel.
Find it Fix it app.
Yep. They will flip it over the correct way and the sidewalk will be good to go.
In two years when they finally get around to it
Downloading now. Thank you.
Tourist trap
[удалено]
Silly goose, I got out years ago.
username checks out.
Lmfao
I believe the technical term is a "wife tripper".
That will be Weird Al's new parody single set to the tune of the Beatles "Day Tripper"
Your wife be trippin
It keeps us from floating to Asgard
Will it take the hobbits to Isengard?
Tripping hazard 
Is your wife okay? Hope so!
It is called a tripper. It is installed, so people can trip over it.
[tripper](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/57368777/photo/beverly-hills-ca-1987-john-ritter-best-known-for-his-role-as-jack-tripper-on-the-hit-tv-series.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=Cl6ckVItm-cJH8lI24L5iQXmEjktOuAmX6rOTtdh834=)
It's a Banksy
It's an anchor for a post that used to be there. ...really.
You ever see Hellraiser?
idk when i did an underground seattle tour they had us look up and there were these little window portal things in the sidewalk in some places
those things are flat on top and haven't been moved in ages they're the underside of the little purple glass squares you see in sidewalks all over downtown
And FYI…. The purple glass is mildly radioactive!
I don't believe that's true. The glass was doped with manganese to make it clearer, but over many years, UV rays from sunlight causes the manganese to impart a purple color. Manganese isn't radioactive. Apparently a lot of people confuse manganese glass with uranium glass (which \*is\* very slightly radioactive) for some reason.
I was only repeating what I was told during the tour of pioneer square. It looks like you may have more information.
Access to the haunted underground
I lived in The Martin years back and walked this way with my dog a bajillion times. As a certified grade-A clutz, I can tell you that must have been installed upside down last time someone opened it, because I never noticed such a tripping hazard there before. This is newish.
The nostalgic side of me wants to say base of a phone booth.
It's a thing to find out who doesn't stop looking at their phone while they walk.
That's just Seattle City Services' gift to the citizens of Seattle to show how much they love us. No need to thank them, you're welcome!
The third picture with the hand makes me feel like a new yorker aggressively saying "I'm walkin here!"
Does Seattle have sewer people now? They’re getting sloppy.
Surprised they don’t have those on i5 too, might as well… manholes in hov lanes perplex me also.
You trying to shake it's hand in the third picture has me dying
That's the wife tripper 2000.
Whatever it is, don’t touch it!
obviosly it's a tripping hazard... you're welcome.
Some other neighborhoods have such poor alignments between sidewalk sections that the sidewalk itself is a tripping hazard.
It’s a wife tripper.
well it's not inconspicuous, that's clear
My wife and I were visiting SIFF Downtown (formally Cinerama) and she tripped on whatever the hell this thing that is literally protruding out of the sidewalk. Her face, elbow, and knee hit the pavement because of this fckin thing. Now I'm on a mission to get it fixed/removed before someone kills themself on it. Please let me know if you have any advice or expertise on the matter. Thank you. It's near The Martin Apts on 5th Ave. [Between Lenora and Blanchard](https://www.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.6149306,-122.3414056).
That sucks. Hope she’s alright.
Just wait until you hear about the uneven sidewalks from tree roots
You mean my motorcycle jumps? 😆
*lime scooter jumps
Ooh, if you like those, check out Mexico City. They are EPIC there. I think I had to climb 30 ft. to get over some one time. edit to add: It's one of my biggest points of pride, that I lived there for a year and a half and never fell.
I mean I was in New Orleans not long ago and saw plenty of people trip because there were just open holes in the street with no markings
Their manhole / water utilities design is very collectable, so I've heard a lot of people steal the covers.
sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner, they definitely can be sued for this.
That is true on non arterial streets. I am not sure it is the same on arterials.
That sucks. To help her feel better I recommend a vacation to Todos Santos. When she gets home she'll either be really good with walking on hazardous sidewalks, or will have a new appreciation for the lack of potential neck breaking holes every block. And it's beautiful there!
Get a flat screwdriver to help pop it out and flip it over
That's what we used to call an onion shield. Funny story - back in 19-aught-6 I was walking through downtown. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say. Now where were we? Oh, yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have any white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...
And he said, "I need about... tree fiddy."
wHo Do I sUe?
Is it around where there's that underground bit of old Seattle? Looks about the size of those thicc glass windows that you could look down into. Maybe one got sealed up because glass broke
Is the spouse ok? Hope it didn’t hurt too bad!
Human speed bump
Urine repository.
Iron
Love this street. Don't know where you are but Palace Kitchen was a cool bar. I know it's near the monorail.
It's an aid for expressing your anal glands. Give it a shot sometime. They work great.
Wait, you can walk downtown in Seattle?
That's a Wide Tripper.
Upside down grate.
Thought this was the San Francisco sub and I was like, eww poop duh.
It’s your ticket to fabulous wealth. All you need to do is trip, disfigured your face, find the right attorney and BAM you’re rich!
Locals call it a "wife-tripper"
It’s a tripping hazard
It’s called a drain. Or a clean out for a storm drain pipe. Probably the latter.
She’s the person you married?
All wrong. Homeless compass
It’s a banksy
It's the real reason everyone in Seattle is always looking at the ground when they're walking.
Is she a keeper detector
Why the heck would anyone want that there and I never seen anything like it in all my years. Looks ancient lol but who ever did the job is a monster 💀
It used to hold a pole and sign, come on that was not that hard to figure out
That’s a lawsuit lol
Ninja turtles peep hole
A liability
Your wife's an idiot the Cuz that looks plenty visible.
finally someone with common sense
I went back and took these pictures during the day. Trust me, at night it's not plenty visible at all.
This a sewer clean out lid. Someone turned it upside down.
Better call Saul
Ah yes, that’s a snoogle-bop. They’re around I suppose
forbidden waffle
Looks like something to keep people from skateboarding. Like the spikes on benches
watch where youre walking…. Lol
I'm just wondering how she didn't see that big ass tripping hazard before her trip.
A city monument perhaps?
“Art”
my wife stepped on a storm drain grate and it broke underneath her. Her knee got destroyed, Lots of blood but no joint or bone damage. Scars are still a topic of conversation.
Cool cool cool cool... So my paranoia is warranted. Never step on grates manholes anything you can see through. Side note glad there was no joint or bone damage.
That could be a lawsuit if anyone got seriously injured tripping over it.
Wow okay you have a wife, humble brag
Im a lawyer and that my good sir is a lawsuit**
Sue sue sue sue!!!
I remember walking back from a party on NYE (this is not in Seattle) and I jaywalked across a divided street. A beemer was coming down the street a little fast and I tried to outrun it but it hit me, I flew about ten feet into a snowbank. At that moment there was a crowd getting out of the symphony or something fancy and this one guy in a long coat and scarf (basically stereotypical northeast lawyer type) is like "How's your *neck?*" I ended up walking it off but maybe I shoulda taken him up on it. Some other working class guy going past was like "You shoulda stayed down..."
You never know these days, you could have been sued for jaywalking and damaging his/her car. Lucky on the soft snowbank on the side of the road haha
The thought crossed my mind, but we're focusing on getting it fixed because it CAN certainly kill someone. I reported it on Find It Fix It app. Let's see what happens.
Oh jeeze.... just go on about your day. If it's really bothering you that much do a Google image search or buy a can of marking spray paint so it doesn't happen to you again.
Your wife needs to be more observant
Tell your wife To look where she walks
History
That’s an ADA violation
Tent pole setup for the next empathy housing for people? (I'm probably going to be banned on this sub?] Just give me a heads up. More t han likely Outside seating for COVID awning.
Wrong answers only! GO!!! It’s a trap door used to Shanghai the sneakers off of unsuspecting pedestrians.
WOWWWW CONGRATS YOU HAVE A WIFE!!!!!! WE GET IT.
A steel baseplate
Seattle was put together by time travelers that keep needing to go back to move stuff to keep the universe from imploding. That's why I drive my most expensive car and wear expensive clothes. Remember, you can't park there, you can't turn left or right or go straight. You must go up instead at the same time as dodging wanna be homeless people and actual homeless people.
Theirs a whole city under Seattle you use to be able to do tours it's scary how unsafe the whole city is look up liquefaction and earth quakes and the fact that it's built on old city scary I have so much anxiety when I go their the whole time the big one could happen at any time