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Pedestrian crossings in Portland, Oregon

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Pedestrian crossing in southeast Portland's Brooklyn neighborhood, 2021

In the American city of Portland, Oregon, pedestrian crossings are managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). There are fewer crosswalks on the city's east side, compared to downtown Portland and centrally located neighborhoods.[1]

Lawsuits have been filed against the city because of deaths at pedestrian crossings, and Portland has seen the installation of artistic crossings as well as guerrilla crosswalks.

History

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In 2003, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) tested "talking crosswalks".[2] PBOT installed the city's first pedestrian scramble in northwest Portland's Pearl District in 2015. When the scramble opened, square dancers demonstrated how the crosswalks should be used.[3]

Lawsuits have been filed against the city because of deaths at pedestrian crossings.[4]

Safety enforcement

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Pedestrian light call buttons on Hayden Island in north Portland, 2012

In 2023, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced plans to close 181 pedestrian crossings, including 53 in the Portland metropolitan area, citing safety concerns.[5][6][7] ODOT has worked to install pedestrian-activated beacons throughout the metropolitan area, including along along Southeast Powell Boulevard, Southwest Barbur, and the Tualatin Valley Highway.[8]

In 2014, two Oregon state representatives secured funding for flashing beacons to enhance safety for pedestrians at 18 of east Portland's most dangerous intersections.[9] PBOT has conducted crosswalk stings along 82nd Avenue to improve pedestrian safety.[10] Improved crosswalks are being installed along the corridor, as of 2024.[11]

Artistic crossings

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In 2015, the city installed two artistic crossings (or "creative crosswalks") with rain drops and umbrellas in Old Town Chinatown. Jake Kaempf of Ampersand Content helped with the weather-themed design. Requested by the Old Town Chinatown Community Association, the crosswalks were Portland's first artistic zebra crossings.[12][13][14][15][16]

Community activism

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As of 2012, there was a Tumblr page dedicated to Portland's fading pedestrian crossings.[17]

The pedestrian advocacy group Oregon Walks has asked Portland City Council to require PBOT to comply with Oregon's law forbidding vehicles from parking within 20 feet of a pedestrian crossing.[18] Separately, a transportation activist filed a lawsuit against the city in 2020.[19]

Guerilla crosswalks

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The city has seen the installation of guerrilla crosswalks. In some cases, residents added markings following the death of a pedestrian.[20] A guerrilla crosswalk was painted on East Burnside Street in 2008.[21] In 2018, someone placed pedestrian crossing flags at an intersection in northeast Portland's Concordia neighborhood.[22]

PDX Transformation, described as "a contingent of anonymous street safety advocates", has installed guerrilla crosswalks. The city has had to remove certain "do it yourself" ("DIY") markings for safety purposes.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Redden, Jim (2019-03-14). "PBOT: Walking in Portland depends on who you are". PortlandTribune.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  2. ^ Rose, Joseph (2015-07-23). "Joseph Rose: Portland's talking crosswalks are a noisy, confusing, scary mess (video)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  3. ^ "Square dancers celebrate Portland's first diagonal crosswalk". KBOI. 2015-12-05. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14 – via KATU.
  4. ^ Green, Aimee (2015-02-18). "Should city of Portland be held liable for faded crosswalk paint, death of pedestrian?". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  5. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive (2023-02-28). "ODOT to close dozens of Portland-area crosswalks; advocates fear more danger for pedestrians". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  6. ^ Redden, Jim (2023-02-13). "ODOT closing 181 crosswalks in Portland region for safety reasons". PortlandTribune.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  7. ^ "ODOT implementing project to make crosswalks safer". kgw.com. 2023-02-12. Archived from the original on 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  8. ^ "ODOT to install more rapid flashing beacons across Portland metro". kgw.com. 2021-11-08. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  9. ^ "Portland to get funds for crosswalk beacons at dangerous intersections". KATU. 2014-04-22. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  10. ^ "PBOT, Portland Police conduct crosswalk sting on SE 82nd Avenue". KATU. 2016-04-26. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  11. ^ "Wider sidewalks, medians, improved crosswalks coming to 82nd Avenue under PBOT plan". kgw.com. 2024-02-01. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  12. ^ "Portland Gets Weirder With 'Creative Crosswalks'". Bloomberg.com. 2015-06-10. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  13. ^ "New 'creative crosswalk' installed in Portland's Old Town". 13newsnow.com. 2015-06-09. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  14. ^ Rose, Joseph (2015-06-10). "Portland unveils city's first 'creative crosswalk' in Old Town (video)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  15. ^ Denning, Max (2015-06-09). "New Old Town crosswalks 'rain' on streets". PortlandTribune.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  16. ^ "New 'creative crosswalk' installed in Portland's Old Town". kgw.com. 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  17. ^ Rose, Joseph (2012-06-25). "Portland's fading crosswalks need a hero (even if it's just a clever Tumblr site)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  18. ^ "One of the Greatest Obstacles to Safer Portland Streets? Roadside Parking That Blocks Views of Oncoming Traffic". Willamette Week. 2019-12-18. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  19. ^ "Lawsuit Claims Portland Illegally Lets Drivers Park Too Close To Intersections". opb. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  20. ^ "Why Can't Portland Use the Gas-Tax Money to Paint Some Crosswalks?". Willamette Week. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  21. ^ "Guerrila crosswalk painted on East Burnside". BikePortland. 2009-12-28. Archived from the original on 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  22. ^ "There are crossing flags at a NE Portland intersection". BikePortland. 2018-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  23. ^ VanderHart, Dirk. "Cash-Strapped PBOT Doesn't Want Your Free Crosswalks". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
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