Comments

1
Potter did this in downtown a few years ago
2
"if a pedestrian has even a foot in the intersection, cars must stop"

Didn't the state pass last year a change to this legislation requiring motorists to stop if the person was standing at the curb without need to even step foot into the intersection? I am pretty certain that this law passed last year with much fanfare.
3
I've been on the receiving end of shouted road rage on a few occasions in my life, but no rage was ever so intense as that expressed by other drivers when I dared to legally stop my car for a waiting pedestrian.

A couple of years ago, I did an experiment where I tried to cross Portland Blvd. (now Rosa Parks Way) in a legal crosswalk... I took video with a camera hanging from my neck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F7qrDNmIj4

It's a very shaky video. But it shows that 33 cars passed me before I had an opportunity to cross, and no cars specifically stopped for me.
4
There are plenty of motorists out there who just don't seem to give a shit that they might kill or hurt someone. It's pretty psychotic.
5
The problem is Bob, when not at a crosswalk, that cars going the other direction don't stop, so the ped just stands there, you sit there, and everybody else gets pissed.
6
"Didn't the state pass last year a change to this legislation requiring motorists to stop if the person was standing at the curb without need to even step foot into the intersection? I am pretty certain that this law passed last year with much fanfare."

I believe that was the case. The old law was a bit of a catch 22, in that you'd be in the middle of the street, but so long as you weren't in their lane cars could be going 30 plus. Not a safe situation.

Also, whatever that woman is paid, it's not nearly enough.
7
I always just walk out into traffic and it stops.
8
Actually you must be in the lane in order to assert your right of way. The BTA worked to change this 2 sessions ago when they proposed a law that exists in Norway be added here. This law would have allowed pedestrians to signal their intention to cross with a hand signal rather than having to risk life and limb by stepping into the street. The law was ridiculed by Lars Larson and others resulting in it failing to pass. Too bad because the way things are now is just dangerous.
9
From ORS 801.220:

Whenever marked crosswalks have been indicated, such crosswalks and no other shall be deemed lawful across such roadway at that intersection. Where no marked crosswalk exists, a crosswalk is that portion of the roadway described in the following:

(1) Where sidewalks, shoulders or a combination thereof exists, a crosswalk is the portion of a roadway at an intersection, not more than 20 feet in width as measured from the prolongation of the lateral line of the roadway toward the prolongation of the adjacent property line, that is included within:

(a) The connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks, shoulders or a combination thereof on opposite sides of the street or highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traveled roadway; or

(b) The prolongation of the lateral lines of a sidewalk, shoulder or both, to the sidewalk or shoulder on the opposite side of the street, if the prolongation would meet such sidewalk or shoulder.

(2) If there is neither sidewalk nor shoulder, a crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection, measuring not less than six feet in width, that would be included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of the sidewalk, shoulder or both on the opposite side of the street or highway if there were a sidewalk. [1983 c.338 §36]
10
PAC, did the police record video of the intersection/violaters?
11
And by PAC, of course, I mean raechaeal.
12
Hey Police Decoy,

Come on down to Hawthorne between 12th and 25th and do the same thing. The city spent all that money building curb extensions, which are completely ignored by motorists. All this attention to bikes, which I ride, but where's the love for the pedestrian?
13
I've noticed that motorists see the painted crosswalk stripes on the asphalt more than signs. There's a similar pedestrian median sign on Rosa Parks near my house, and it got plowed down by cars turning onto Rosa Parks at least twice last year.
14
Infoart (and all), you can request police traffic enforcement actions by calling 503-823-SAFE. They won't promise to do them but they will evaluate the intersection you propose for an action. Be very specific about the exact intersection, time of day, and problem behavior.
15
Speaking of bikes, I caught a dirty look from a cyclist when he had to wait while my daughter and I used a crosswalk. At least he stopped, though. We almost got mowed down by another cyclist last year.
16
I make it a point to stop for pedestrians and cyclists whenever they are crossing but it can really be scary when you do and you know the drivers behind you are either not that courteous or just aren't paying attention. I fear stopping and being rear-ended, sending my car into the pedestrian. 39th St, just south of Glisan, right in front of Laurelhurst Park is particularly dangerous.
17
Also, can we do this on Lombard and Mississippi? Crossing to get to the MAX is a little like a game of Frogger.
18
1. It is completely unrealistic for cars traveling above 30 mph to stop at an unmarked intersection simply because a Pedestrian walks in the direction of the street. Stopping on a dime is dangerous for the driver, the pedestrian, and cars behind the stopping car. This law should be revised to mandate it only for crosswalks clearly labeled for Pedestrians, and more intersections need clear labeling for pedestrians.

2. The bikers in this town have really started to piss me off. And I'm a biker/pedestrian as a primary method of transportation. Many Bikers are belligerent, rude, ignore the laws of the road, and ruin any political gains they may have attained in the past few years with this "I am the most important item on the road."
I do not sympathize with asshole bikers, they really reserve whatever comes their way.

I might be stereotyping, but it seems like the bikers that most ignore the rules of the road are the "professionally suited up" biker and the fixed gears. Yesterday I had lunch at Henry's on Burnside and a Fixed Gear dude was riding on Burnside going the wrong way as cars were driving right at him. They all obviously had to stop as he looked behind him to go across the street to go in the proper direction. Madness. Darwin Award contender.
19
Today when I was walking to the bus stop I heard some major car skid action, and then all of a sudden a car burst around the corner a block away from me, tail-sliding the entire turn. And then a minivan came up after it, doing the same thing. I was standing on the corner, and decided to wait before crossing the intersection. They both made another brutal right turn right in front of me, and then burned down the road. I think the one in back was chasing the other. They were going extremely fast and taking turns nearly at full speed (and the one in back was a minivan!)

It looked to me like a case of serious road rage (or, one car hit the other, and now one of them wanted info and the other wanted to get away...)

During all this (this was on Blandena and Commercial in the N), a cop was parked half a block away, facing the other direction. And he completely missed the action. He finally took off after them (I assume) like 4 minutes later.

Anyway, the drivers in this town have really started to piss me off, etc.
20
"And by PAC, of course, I mean raechaeal."

Commenty Colin, it's not that difficult to get the girl's name right. Quit being such a cunt.
21
You are asking for the average driver to be more alert while driving. Good luck. If people can't see my Aerostar with the oversize load sign and 2 rotating orange beacons, what makes you think they will pay attention to a pedestrian. Crosswalks should be clearly marked and pedestrians musy give approaching cars time to stop. Just because youy are standing on the sidewalk doesn't mean you may be about to cross the road.

Please wait...

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