Comments on: Mayor Adams releases statement on pedestrian safety

By: wsbob

wsbob — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:35:47 +0000

I have a little route on which I sometimes opt to take the sidewalk/crosswalk through an intersection instead of wait in the lane for the light to change; the intersection’s on a steep hill, 5 lanes of traffic. At the other side of the intersection, I rejoin the bike lane. I’ve never sensed a bad reaction from anyone for doing that;people in cars, bike, or on foot.

I do know someone though, that in casual conversation, commonly drops resentful remarks about people on bikes; not riding on ‘expensive taxpayer dollar paid for bike lanes’…riding on the sidewalk, or in traffic instead, never stopping for stop signs, never signaling turns…yadda, yadda, yadda. Some of the complaint is valid, some is just antagonistic and otherwise superfluous.

For me, the remarks help sustain my awareness that the transportation mode gap in the Portland Metro area is still far from having the functionality it needs. In too many instances, the infrastructure is simply not good enough to support a safe coexistence of motor vehicles, bikes and people on foot. Some people will walk and ride nontheless…motor vehicle drivers will drive around them…but the alliance between the three groups has a lot of room for improvement.

By: Loren

Loren — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:33:32 +0000

Vancouver has an awesome crosswalk on west mill plain. There are actually lights marking the crossing in the pavement. They really catch driver’s attention because they’re at eye level and directly in front of them.

By: fredlf

fredlf — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:47:10 +0000

Lisa G #32. I’ve seen this behavior when I am stopped at the crosswalk with my foot down. If it’s just me, I almost always wait longer than if there are some pedestrians there. It’s my theory that many drivers simply don’t know that a bike can legally use the crosswalk. Judging by the scowls I often get when I make eye-contact with those drivers, it’s not a bad theory.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:01:19 +0000

Downtown, you should – it’s illegal to ride on sidewalks downtown :) Just not elsewhere.

By: Jackattak

Jackattak — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:59:54 +0000

Good to know. I’ll stop yelling “sidewalks are for WALKING” at all the cyclists Downtown, now. :)

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:51:36 +0000

Bikes are generally allowed on sidewalks, except downtown. I think it is generally frowned upon though, when it’s feasible to ride in the road.

By: Jackattak

Jackattak — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:42:51 +0000

Are bikes even allowed on sidewalks in Portland? I honestly thought they were not (exception: Park Blocks).

If I was incorrect in that logic and bikes are allowed on sidewalks, I would continue to believe that they were to be walked across a crosswalk as opposed to ridden?

Someone more educated than I feel free to let me know the actual answers while I go look them up. :)

By: Lisa G

Lisa G — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:27:47 +0000

Fred,

It’s possible that riding a bike in a crosswalk is frowned on, not everyone rides as slow as someone walking. I do so when pedestrians are using it or I get off my bike and walk across. I hope they still teach Driver’s Ed, I think they should also teach defensive driving.

By: fredlf

fredlf — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:14:34 +0000

Agreed that the flashing yellow lights are all but useless. What I’ve noticed at the Marine Dr. intersection is that drivers are far less likely to stop for bikes than they are for peds (though in either case, many, many motorists blow through the flashing yellow).

I’ve noticed the same bias against stopping for bikes in the crosswalk elsewhere too. The only way I can explain it is that motorists think the person on the bike is “cheating” by using a crosswalk that is supposed to be for pedestrians. That’s just speculation on my part, though.

Do they still teach Driver’s Ed in high schools?

By: bobcycle

bobcycle — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:01:36 +0000

“Construct more than 300 Green Streets, curb extensions, pedestrian refuge islands,” From mayor Adams press release. Rather than slow traffic, I find that curb extensions and refuge islands narrow lanes making it more dangerous for those on bikes. Another approach would be to lower speed limit in areas where pedestrians are having trouble crossing. “Refuge Islands” seem to be designed as a place to take refuge where autos are breaking the law by not yielding to pedestrians.