Putting your elected official's life at risk
eliciacardenas
Commissioner Adams and I went to 1111 SW 10th Street to participate in a pedestrian crosswalk enforcement action. Along for the fun were representatives from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, the Office of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Portland Police Department, and folks from the disabled community.
Commissioner Adams and Sharon White from the Office of Transportation were the official pedestrian decoys, but there was no lack of foot traffic at that crosswalk.
The action was to take place in front of the new YWCA building, next to construction, and along a bus and streetcar route. There is a senior center located in the YWCA building, and across the street is the Portland Art Museum. 
In order to make it fair for the motorists, the police had determined that the minimum stopping distance for a vehicle traveling at the posted speed limit (20mph) was 87 feet. They posted a sign warning of the pedestrian crossing action 100 feet from the crosswalk, and requested that Commissioner Adams not try and cross if a vehicle was past the warning sign already.
Even so, when we left after an hour, 20 citations and warnings had been issued, including one to a bicyclist. The total for the morning was 25 citations (60% cars and 40% bicycles and pedestrians) and 10 warnings.
One third of all traffic fatalities are pedestrians and bicyclists in Portland. These actions have proven to be an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws and change driver behavior for pedestrian safety.
The Oregonian's take on it:
Adams takes a walk on the dangerous side
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Boaz Herzog
In a new feat of daring, city Commissioner Sam Adams risked being smooshed by downtown speed racers to take a stand for unprotected pedestrians.
Last week, Adams stepped into the rush of oncoming traffic on Southwest 10th Avenue in front of the new YWCA building, across the street from the Portland Art Museum. Adams played a decoy, daring motorists to mow him down.
Police posted a sign warning of the sting 100 feet from the crosswalk, after they determined the minimum stopping distance for a motorist going the posted speed limit (20 mph) was 87 feet. The warning didn't seem to deter many a lead foot unwilling to yield Adams the right of way. An hour into the exercise, his police pals had handed out 20 citations and warnings, including one to a bicyclist.
Adams reportedly walked away unscathed.
Fortunate for him, because the city is replete with dangerous drivers, according to Street Beat readers. While cruising down Southeast Duke Street, Aaron Tarfman writes, he saw a bicyclist waiting at a light next to a sport utility vehicle driven by a woman jabbering into a cell phone. No turn signals blinked on the SUV.
Yet when the light turned green, "she made a right turn missing the bicyclist by inches," Tarfman wrote. "I chased the woman as fast as I could, but unfortunately I was not able to get close enough to read her license.
"Drivers who threaten lives but don't actually send someone to the hospital get away not only scot-free, but without even knowing that they've done something wrong."
Street Beat would like to salute the drivers who are man -- and woman -- enough to own up to their sloppy driving.
The Missed Connections section on Craigslist.com normally is filled with postings from angst-laden singles seeking to somehow find that special someone who has crossed their path. Two recent Portland posters, however, sought to apologize to folks who almost became roadkill.
"To girl I almost ran over Wednesday evening -- m4w -- 28," reads one headline. The incident occurred near a Whole Foods lot.
The explanation: "Sorry! Has been a long day."
Another anonymous posting came with the headline "Sorry, Dude!"
The poster describes a mid-Sunday afternoon stopped at a red light in Northeast. With a green light, the poster drives half a block, slowing to turn right into a parking space. A shout of profanity-laced rage ensues from a bicyclist who gathers himself and passes, according to the posting. "I honestly did not see him and sincerely apologize to that rider for giving him quite a scare," the poster writes. "For both of us, I am truly grateful that this was a missed connection."
That's some good old-fashioned Portland civility.
So watch where you're going. You never know when Sam Adams is going to walk across the street.
Got a tip about crime, nuisance activity, traffic woes and other threats to safety and livability where you live? How about a story about you successfully fighting crime? A strange or humorous police call? Send it to Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072; boazherzog@news.oregonian.com.
Posted by eliciacardenas on January 11, 2006
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Comments by site visitors
Thanks for your suggestion. I will pass it on to the staff at the Office of Transportation for a possible location for another operation.
Posted by: Elicia | Jan 25, 2006 8:32:18 AM
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hey sam,
how about setting up one of your stings at the corner of 4th and montgomery? think of the park blocks as frogger on easy, and 4th and montgomery as frogger on hard. except that you're playing with your life.
Posted by: concerned pedestrian | Jan 12, 2006 4:35:06 PM