If you’re headed west on 13th Avenue — as you most certainly should be if you’re in a car — and passing through Cheesman Park into Capitol Hill, you might have noticed a blinking sign outside Thump Coffee lately.

I first noticed it a couple weeks ago. As far as I’ve seen, it’s just been blinking out the words “INSTA MSG,” “PRESS SL FOR MSGS.” Denverite readers have been wondering about it too, and emailing, so I set out to solve the mystery.

After some fruitless social media inquiries, phone calls and text messages following the hunch of a Thump staffer that it’s supposed to be a bit of pedestrian advocacy, I arrived at an answer from the Denver Police Department.

It’s a DPD sign used for traffic and safety messaging. Director of Communications Sonny Jackson said this particular sign, while not activated yet, will be used for reminders to lock your car, buckle up and obey the speed limit. Such signs are already in use elsewhere in the city — like the one pictured below.

So, sorry, no guerrilla art here. Just law and safety.