the bike lane on N Greeley.
(Photos © Brett McLane)
A large armored truck has been making a habit of parking in the bike lane on the southbound side of N. Greeley Avenue and a citizen activist has taken it upon himself to make it stop.
On September 2nd, North Portland resident Brett McLane notified the City of Portland’s Traffic Safety and Livability hotline that he had witnessed an Oregon Armored company truck parked in the Greeley bike lane on several occasions.
Greeley in this section is downhill. McLane feels the truck poses a safety hazard because it “creates a potentially deadly situation” as people on bikes are forced to merge into the adjacent lane where the posted speed limit is 45 mph. In addition, McLane notes that the truck is in clear violation of Oregon law.
ORS 811.550 states that it’s prohibited to stop or park a vehicle on a bike lane unless the vehicle is stopped to “momentarily” pick-up/drop-off a passenger or load/unload property.
McLane, in his emails to PBOT, adds that there’s a parking lot nearby:
“Most notably, there is ample off street parking in the Adidas lots on the east and west sides of the street (the very same business the armored car is visiting). However it is clear from the driver’s actions that having to walk an additional 20 steps is a more important issue than the safety of the numerous cyclists and drivers that use this street at 7:30am during their morning commute.”
McLane got a response from PBOT 20 days later. On September 22nd, a PBOT employee replied to McLane to inform him that his complaint had been forwarded to the Parking Enforcement Division on September 6th.
After continuing to see the truck parked in the bike lane, McLane emailed PBOT again, stating, “If the city is unwilling to take action on this I will pursue other legal action on my own and will note the city’s inaction in enforcing this ongoing violation.”
McLane is yet to hear back.
I’ve asked PBOT for comment and will update this story when I hear something.