Members of the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division will be out in force today at NW Broadway and Couch. They will be on the look out for stop sign violators during a "traffic safety mission" that will last from 10:00 to 11:30 am.

Lt. Chris Davis and Capt. David Hendrie were at the PBOT Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting last night (someone from Traffic Division attends every month) and told us the mission comes in response to complaints that some people are blowing through the stop sign. Lt. Davis said their hunch is that many people look ahead to the traffic signal at Burnside and do not see the stop sign in time. They're worried that someone might get sideswiped. (more...)

Streetview of Springwater and Spokane.

In response to multiple citizen complaints, the Portland Police Bureau says they plan to begin a series of enforcement actions on the Springwater Corridor Trail near Sellwood Riverfront Park.

BikePortland was contacted by Sgt. Ty Engstrom of the PPB Traffic Division on December 14th in hopes we could spread awareness about this intersection (Engstrom has been the bicycle liaison officer but was just recently transferred to Central Precinct). Sgt. Engstrom said, "I wanted to let you know about this issue to see if you could help spread the word to local cyclists of a complaint we've received multiple times. We will be starting some enforcement in the area."
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The scene at Flint/Broadway last week.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Once again, two of the city's most infamous stop sign locations are being targeted by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). This morning, and two other days this week, multiple motorcycle cops have stationed themselves at the intersections of N. Flint and Broadway and SE Ladd Ave at the circle. These locations have gotten bicycle-focused police attention for many years, but the behaviors that bring them there — a high rate of non-compliance by people riding bicycles — continue to be problematic.

At Flint and Broadway, I have confirmed with the PPB that they are working the intersection due to a request by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). The request comes as part of the move by PBOT last week to partially close N. Wheeler Ave (which is just a few yards west of the Flint/Broadway intersection). One vocal business owner who was opposed to the closure felt that the collisions at Wheeler were the direct result of people running the stop sign at Flint. Even though PBOT analysis shows a myriad of dangerous factors that contributed to the Wheeler right-hooks, media coverage of the closure then adopted this business owner's perspective, thus cementing the idea with their audiences. (more...)

The location of yesterday's enforcement action
on SE Foster.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) held one of their regularly scheduled "crosswalk enforcement actions" yesterday. This excellent program, run by the PBOT traffic safety team and dedicated staffer Sharon White (who often puts herself at risk on our most dangerous roads as a decoy during the missions), has resulted in nearly 1,000 citations since it began five years ago.

The set-up is your typical sting situation, except that it's not exactly a sting. The reason we call these "enforcement actions" is because both the PPB and PBOT give plenty of prior warning that the missions are happening. They notify the public about them via the local media and they even set up signs at the locations announcing that an enforcement is ahead. The goal, says the City, is not to fill the City's coffers busting scofflaws, but rather to increase awareness among road users of traffic safety and the laws that govern it. (more...)

This just in from PBOT:

NEWS ADVISORY
Crosswalk enforcement is tomorrow on SE Foster Road with Police

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau advised the general public that a crosswalk enforcement action was scheduled for Wednesday to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and traffic law.

The enforcement action will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the marked, mid-block crossing of SE Foster Road between SE 68th and SE 69th avenues near 6880 SE Foster Road.

This mid-block crossing has a pedestrian median, pavement markings and signage alerting people driving and pedestrians of the crossing.

A crosswalk enforcement action includes a pedestrian decoy positioned at marked or unmarked crosswalks. Drivers that fail to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk and pedestrians that jaywalk may be issued a warning or citation by the Portland Police Bureau.

Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The transportation and police bureaus do enforcement actions in response to community requests and to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings. They are conducted approximately once a month.

Visit www.PortlandOnline.com/StreetSmart to learn more about the StreetSmart – Go Safe effort.

What happens when you mix
cops and crosswalks?
(Photos © J. Maus)

One of the tools we can use to make our streets safer is to get tougher on enforcement. So, what happens when police officers focus on particular violations at specific locations?

Recently, we came across a report detailing five years of crosswalk enforcement actions carried out by the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau. The results (below) show that in most locations, there is either simply ignorance or blatant disregard for basic traffic laws that protect our most vulnerable road users.
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Waiting to cross near Beaverton City Hall.
(Photo © J. Maus)

What would happen if police officers in a suburban city went out and did a crosswalk law enforcement action (a.k.a. sting) at a busy intersection? Well, the Beaverton Police Department found out last Wednesday. Beaverton PD officers spent five hours, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, on two "crosswalk details."

The result? 55 citations and nine warnings. Check the full press release from the Beaverton PD below (emphasis mine).

On November 3, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Beaverton Police Department's Traffic Team conducted two crosswalk details. The details were conducted at the intersections of S.W. 12th Street and S.W. Hall Boulevard (map) and S.W. 4th Street and S.W. Watson Avenue (map). Officers were looking for vehicles that did not stop and remain stopped for pedestrians while they were using the crosswalk, according to ORS 811.028. (more...)

PDOT's Sharon White, shown here
at a Share the Road rally in 2006.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Sharon White is PDOT's pedestrian safety chief. One of the many programs she oversees is an ongoing "crosswalk enforcement action" campaign. Working with the Portland Police Bureau, White and staff at PDOT identify high-risk intersections and then employ decoys to walk across them while officers stand by.

White is so committed to her work that often, she herself takes on the role of crosswalk guinea pig. A few weeks ago, during one of the enforcement actions, she got more than she bargained for. (more...)

By Elly Blue

As we debate stop signs, police enforcement, targeting of bicyclists (or not), and the definition of a brake, let's clearly draw one distinction.

On the one hand, there is the idea, often brought out at times like this, that some (or most) bicyclists think they are above the law.

On the other hand, there is a growing upset in the bike community over particular laws, and the enforcement and interpretation of them in certain circumstances.
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A local cyclist, concerned with what she feels is too much "negative police attention on cyclists," emailed the Mayor's office after this morning's enforcement action and has heard a detailed response from one of his staffers:

Here is the response as relayed by the Mayor's "public advocate," Jeremy Van Keuren:
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