Stop sign at Ladd Circle.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Ladd Circle has been a thorn in the side of neighbors, vehicle operators, and the City of Portland for years. The circle — which happens to sit on one of the most heavily traveled bicycle corridors in Portland — has stop signs at every entry; but they're notoriously ignored.

The survey is titled, "A Busy Circle - In Search of Solutions." Here's more from an email being distributed about it:

"Ladd Circle is a memorable landmark in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood and during commuting hours can be a very busy thoroughfare. Thousands of cyclists, drivers and pedestrians make their way through each day.
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After reading and thinking about the latest debates over the stop signs at Ladd Circle, 24-year old Sellwood resident Joe Hand decided to take the issue into his own hands — or should I say, into his own oven.

Hand, a Colorado native who came to Portland to attend Reed College and then stayed here because he "loved it," decided to embark on what he calls "an experiment in kindness." (more...)

A reader just sent in a new video shot by local community news site Neighborhood Notes that shows blatant disregard of stop signs at the SE Ladd Ave entrance into Ladd Circle. Watch it below...

Ladd Circle from Neighborhood Notes on Vimeo.

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Ladd Circle stop sign.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The infamous traffic circle in Ladd's Addition seems once again poised for headlines. The circle — which has frequently ignored stop signs at each entry point — is on one of Portland's busiest bike routes and it has been the sight of numerous police enforcement actions (a.k.a. "stings") over the years.

Some nearby residents (and members of the Hosford Abernethy Neighborhood Association) have a well-known dislike of bicycle operators who blow through the stop signs without considering the presence of people trying to cross. Tempers got so heated about these stops signs that last summer someone put up a trip-wire across the intersection in hopes of ensnaring a scofflaw. (more...)

Live at 11! A plastic wrap booby
trap discovered at Ladds Circle!
(Screen grab from KATU-TV)

What started as a post to the Shift email list at 1:30 am yesterday morning has become the latest headline-grabbing story in Portland's ongoing fascination with the "bikes versus cars" dichotomy.

It started with this email from Lauren Hudgins: (more...)

**See results and a statement about this morning's enforcement mission from Captain Larry O'Dea below**

Ladds Circle in Southeast Portland.

Officers from the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division were out in force this morning in the Ladds Circle area of Southeast Portland.

This area, which is a traffic circle ringed by streets with stop signs, is a busy bikeway where Police have focused enforcement efforts in the past. (more...)

One of the issues that has come up after the recent stop sign enforcement at Ladds Circle is whether or not PDOT should consider changing the stop signs to yields.

In response to many people contacting PDOT about this, they have issued a statement from a city traffic engineer with more details (click image for larger version): (more...)

I just received a report on Wednesday's enforcement mission at Ladds Circle from Traffic Division Sergeant Mike Fort:

Photo: Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division

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A scene from yesterday's enforcement mission in Ladds Circle. Neighbors complained about bicyclists and the Police Bureau responded with motorcycle officers.
Photo: Aaron Tarfman

The recent enforcement mission in Ladds Circle has created a fervor of action and discussion. Twenty-four hours after the incident and comments are still coming in.

Here's a quick recap of what happened:
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I just got a tip from a reader that the Portland Police Bureau has set up an enforcement sting at Ladds Circle in southeast Portland.

The tipster said lots of cyclists were getting "scooped up" on their morning commute for not coming to a complete stop before entering the circle.

Consider this advance warning if you're headed in that direction.

And if you're reading this with a ticket in your pocket, let us know what happened.

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UPDATE: (9:15am) According to witnesses, as many as six motorcycle cops are working this area. One of them told a cyclist that this sting was in response to several complaints in the neighborhood.