WHEN TO STOP
DEAR MERCURY—This is addressed to the twit last week who was bitching about drivers stopping for pedestrians [“Stop and Go,” I, Anonymous, Sept 2]. I would like to remind this person that he lives in Oregon, and that there’s a STATE LAW that dictates all corners are potential crosswalks, even if not officially marked as such. Please refer to Oregon law, ORS 811.028.
-Kimberly Felipe, Law-Abiding Academic Adviser
WHEN TO GO
Why do so many people think that the laws regarding pedestrians and cyclists are the same, or even close [“Green Means Go,” Letters, Sept 9]? The stupidest and ugliest manifestation of this view is when people think that, like pedestrians, bikes belong on the sidewalk, not on the road, thus inspiring them to bray insipid orders at me to get on the sidewalk as they drive by.
posted by geyser on portlandmercury.com
HUSH MONEY
Now that TriMet gets an extra 50 cents outta my weekly bus passes, barring total economic calamity I don’t want to hear any more bitching from TriMet about how fucking broke they are for a long time [“Nickel and Dimed,” News, Sept 9].
-posted by DamosA on portlandmercury.com
RESCUE REMEDY
I’d like to see the repercussions of legalization from where I am standing now (Arizona), since border violence is fueled by a drug trade that is mainly marijuana (even though its crappy, seedy, and schwaggy) [“The Green Economy,” Feature, Sept 9]. I could also imagine Ole Joe Arpaio, the only sheriff in America that can’t carry a gun due to a previous felony, [having] an embolism right then and there on November 5 if California passes this referendum into law. LEGALIZE AND TAX IT! Get us out of our fucked-up economy!
-posted by @theGrandCanyonNao on portlandmercury.com
THE ACID TEST
I’ve been following [blogger Marcus] Griffith’s work, and am deeply intrigued by the questions he raises [“Acid-Attack Victim Cancels on Oprah!” Blogtown, Sept 10]. Here are two more speculative observations to add to the pile of already speculative evidence, and it involves [Bethany Storro’s] Facebook profile pictures. Her pre-attack picture showed building blocks that spelled “DEAF.” Now, her picture on Facebook is the very same one that the media has most prominently shown of her. The picture change strikes me as somewhat opportunistic. Experience tells us that when people are trying to hide something—and when people who feel loyal to that person are trying to defend—they usually retort with ad hominem attacks and vitriol. That is one way for these people to handle the situation; the other way is to simply realize that they would do more good by clearing up some discrepancies and answering the questions. The fact that Storro hasn’t done that amid rising scrutiny is both selfish and compelling.
-posted by glp on portlandmercury.com
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Okay, don’t worry about what it says [“BREAKING: Deal in Place for Made in Oregon Sign,” Blogtown, Sept 9]. Really. This thing has advertised White Satin Sugar, White Stag Sportswear, and Made in Oregon. Each time it’s changed people have freaked out and whined and worried about it. This is just another change, like the others. What’s important is that they finally get the damn thing to light up. I’ve been missing that bit of neon.
-posted by Joe Streckert on portlandmercury.com
DON’T FRET JOE, they’re sure to have you bathing in neon glow in no time. In the meanwhile, enjoy two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish! where the soft, flattering lighting should tide you over.
THANK YOU Kimberly Felipe!!! That’s exactly what i was trying to get across to [some] of these very twits!
That law that Ms Felipe cites gives the right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing the road. It does not require drivers to stop in front of pedestrians who are not yet crossing and gesticulate at them to cross. If a driver is worried about a pedestrian jumping into the path of their vehicle at the last second, there is a law that covers that (§ 814.040) and the pedestrian does not have the right of way in such cases.
I Anon already explained how this type of “politeness” can create a dangerous situation, and many commenters have agreed. There is also the entire issue of this type of behavior toward cyclists, which you conveniently neglect to mention. If you’re not willing to consider such relevant points that motivated the discussion in the first place, then stay out of it.
it is a pleasure to stop for pedestrians. PDX is the only town where everybody gives you a thank-you wave.
as a driver/cyclist, the horribly polite drivers are another story. random acts of kindness i.e. waving me through a stop sign when you have the right of way/are in a through traffic lane, are just that, RANDOM. nobody else knows what you’re doing. you are going to get someone killed. follow the rules of the road and we’ll all get along just fine.
Were you reading a different I Anon? I wholly support the fact that people who stop for pedestrians that AREN’T CROSSING are tards. If I have a stop sign, red light, or I’m just standing there…DON’T BACK UP TRAFFIC BY STOPPING. I don’t want to get hit by any cars that think you’re an idiot, and go to pass you, and I don’t want the hate stares from people that think your moronic actions are caused by me. I will cross when it’s SAFE.
Okay guys, its been a few weeks. As terribly dangerous as it is (I know you’ve all probably lost loved ones because of overly-polite driver’s making stops), its time to move on with your lives. Focus on something else important. Find something commonplace that gives lab rats cancer, or start a campaign to take aluminum out of deodorant. Maybe bubble-wrap your children’s bedrooms, round the corners on your kitchen counters, or join the PTA. Let this one go.
Ovidius:
It IS terribly dangerous, as anyone who has nearly been ran over because of it can attest to.
It would be nice see people being proactive for a change with this ongoing REAL issue, or do people need to start dying before it’s worthy of consideration?
Hug a biker….as soon as possible.Those folks put up with a lot of *hit from motorists.Being in those nasty rear-view blindspots.Being envyed by some jealous folks for being out there doing it.Sucking our petro pollutions.Mud and pebbles kicked up.Malicious criminal *hit from some.On and on ya know?COEXIST.I’m trying.Might as well say sorry to anyone I’ve offended while I’m at it.Peace.Sincerely,Love buckets[the artist formely none as Mandingo]