(Photo J. Maus)
As part of an ongoing effort, the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division is performing a series of “traffic safety educational missions” at the intersection of Broadway and Flint.
Traffic Division Captain Larry O’Dea says his officers are conducting the missions during morning commute hours every day this week. According to O’Dea, the missions are being done in conjunction with the first round of changes made by PDOT (the “Bikes Stop” markings installed last week).
In an email sent by O’Dea this morning, he described the PPB’s efforts as,
“part of our cooperative effort in increasing awareness, improving traffic control device compliance, and improving safety in this challenging area.”
He also released their results from yesterday (9/30). According to O’Dea, two officers gave out 18 warnings — 17 of them to bicycle operators and one to a motor vehicle operator.
In case you’re wondering why this number is so much lower than last time the PPB did a mission at this intersection (53 bike operators were stopped back in July), O’Dea says it’s because he only has two officers at the location this week, while they had “a bunch” of officers in July.
O’Dea also told me that this morning officers are reporting much better compliance than yesterday.
I’ll do an update at the end of the week, with final tallies and thoughts from Capt. O’Dea.