I basically never, ever have to take that particular turn, but I do take the one going the opposite direction -- where westbound Burnside traffic has to decide whether to continue west on Couch or head back east on Sandy -- and I'm often confused, although maybe not in the same way. In that case, you have two lanes going left onto a one-way and one going right onto Sandy. Obviously, Sandy drivers can take the right against the red if it's clear -- but the left on red gets complicated for me if there are TWO turn lanes. In the one farthest left, I feel comfortable turning against the red light... but in the middle lane, I tend to wait (maybe because I cannot be sure if the douche in the left-most lane is going to swerve right into the right-most lane on Couch when making his own dubious turn).

Anyway, long story short, I think you CAN turn on red light, but you are not obligated to. If you feel safer waiting to turn until the green light, it is within your right. I imagine they would have just made them blinking yellow lights, but then i'd be more dangerous for pedestrians at the same intersection.

Your ultimate conclusion is correct, but the rationale is a bit off, I think.

The exception allows you to "Make a right or left turn into a one-way street in the direction of traffic upon the one-way street."

Thus, I don't think it matters whether Burnside is one way, rather, the key is whether 14th is one way. If there is a red arrow at the intersection, you can go if it is clear because you are making a left turn INTO 14th in the direction of traffic upon 14th.

Correct conclusion, but the rationale is reversed. You can turn left (north) on red onto 14th because 14th is at that point a one way street, not because Burnside is a one way. If Burnside were full two way at that point, it would still be permissible to turn left on red.

I've always turned, after stopping, on the red arrow there. Turning left onto a one-way street from a one-way street is a pretty universal driving trick. This one's a little bit weird, though, because Burnside's a one-way street that turns into a two-way street—meaning this intersection transcends most one-way-left-turn situations by adding right-turners off Burnside. That's given me pause, but I'd always justified it by figuring everyone had a marked lane to turn into. Having grown up in Illinois, I really miss "first available lane" laws. They add sanity and predictability, and, thus, efficiency.

Yeah, Denis, it's the predictability thing that gets me. If I could trust that everyone would turn into their marked lane, then it'd be fine to turn left on that red. But if oncoming traffic going west on Burnside turns wide, then I'm going to get sideswiped.

It's fun to watch S&TB and try to catch all the screw-ups. Good movie, though. Best one of the 3, IMO.

You sir are no Joseph Rose.

This article is an amazing example of the phenomenon known as "projection". What Erik believes to be a universal experience is clearly just the fact that he doesn't know how to drive his car.

Yeah, Joseph Rose did this article back in April, and he actually interpreted the rule correctly.

http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.…

I walk through this intersection (the sandy/14th side anyway) twice a day. Cars nearly clipping me in the crosswalk while I have the right-of-way is a weekly occurrence. So personally, I"m more concerned about people 1) ignoring the red entirely and 2) not even checking whether there's a pedestrian in the cross-walk when the "walk" light is lit, both of which happen frequently. It will not kill you to stop at the red arrow, check for 1) cars, 2) pedestrians and THEN go. And 3), bicyclists should they be insane enough to try to navigate that intersection with cars.

CARS!!!!!

I'll turn on red and brandish both birds in the air in utter defiance. I steer with my teeth clamped securely on the wheel, btw.

"It should be noted that east of NE 14th, Burnside functions as a one-way, four-lane, eastbound street; west of NE 14th, Burnside functions as a two-way street, with both eastbound and westbound traffic having two lanes."

Or vice versa, actually.

"It should be noted that east of NE 14th, Burnside functions as a one-way, four-lane, eastbound street; west of NE 14th, Burnside functions as a two-way street, with both eastbound and westbound traffic having two lanes."

Wrong.

Portland drivers are growing to be the worst, even worse than fucking New Mexicans, which previously held the title. Between the PA bullshit on the freeways (you CAN'T BE FASTER THAN ME!!!) to the rampant passivity (you go, no YOU go, NO YOU GO!), it's a wonder anyone makes it anywhere.
All that is to say stop at the red light, then go if it's clear. Or if there is a sign prohibiting turns on red. Period.
And that's why I ride my bike.
Straight to Blabby's house.

When I worked over there we contacted PDOT and the city about the cluster fuck that is the wrong way up Burnside. Long story short, no1curred.