Commuting - Portland, OR Study: Few (riders or drivers) stop at intersections

I ran across this today and found it an interesting and insightful story. Personally, I'm in favor of the "Idaho stop" myself.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/04/so_you_think_cyclists_are_the.html

Apparently I am a victim of the much maligned 'Selective perception' myself.
We visited Portland earlier this week and I was amazed how friendly every traffic participant was. Drivers would stop for crosswalks to let pedestrians cross; pedestrians did not jaywalk and bicyclists adhered to the rules (mostly): They waited for red-lights, they slowed down for stop signs and were generally very friendly.
Living and commuting in Chicago I did notice the difference. Here drivers never stop for pedestrians and "always" roll through stop signs; pedestrians think jaywalking is their birthright, and bicyclists.... well don't get me started about them and all the ways they manage to break traffic rules.
So, is Portland perfect? No, for one they should do something about the hills and all the rain, but I think they are well ahead of other cities.....
Duppie

Wait, really, you didn't see anyone jaywalking?!

Did you not go downtown?

The hills is one of the things that makes P-town so much fun to ride, the rain clears the road of all the fairweather cyclists. ;)

. Here drivers never stop for pedestrians

I find that they almost always stop for them here.

Anywho, the problem with stop signs is that four-way stop signs are (ab)used as traffic-calming devices. Needless to say, they suck at this and it leads to them being ignored. If you want slow traffic, use physical countermeasures such as humps, bump-ins, intersection islands, etc.

Wait, really, you didn't see anyone jaywalking?!

Did you not go downtown?

The hills is one of the things that makes P-town so much fun to ride, the rain clears the road of all the fairweather cyclists. ;)

+1

Portland is a great cycling area. Thompson, Skyline, Cornell.... head down to Lake Oswego.... back into town for some Voodoo doughnuts Oh yeah.... "the magic is in the hole" baby

+1

Portland is a great cycling area. Thompson, Skyline, Cornell.... head down to Lake Oswego.... back into town for some Voodoo doughnuts Oh yeah.... "the magic is in the hole" baby

Maple Bar with Bacon!!!! YESSSS, I'm gonna go get one right now!

I find that they almost always stop for them here.

I must be living in a different Chicago than you do. If you want to cross at a cross walk without a stop sign, you might as well bring a chance of clothes. It's going to take a while....
Duppie

Wait, really, you didn't see anyone jaywalking?!
It sounds to me like you too suffer from 'Selective Perception'. Overstating the problems with other traffic participants; while understating your own. In the grand sheme of things nobody jaywalked in Portland, especially when compared to Chi-town ;)


The hills is one of the things that makes P-town so much fun to ride, the rain clears the road of all the fairweather cyclists. ;)
For all the coolness that Portlanders exude, they have an apparent lack of sarcasm detection. Note to self: when talking to Portlanders again, liberally apply emoticons....
Duppie

So you need a study for this huh? How about just opening your eyes!

It sounds to me like you too suffer from 'Selective Perception'. Overstating the problems with other traffic participants; while understating your own. In the grand sheme of things nobody jaywalked in Portland, especially when compared to Chi-town ;)


For all the coolness that Portlanders exude, they have an apparent lack of sarcasm detection. Note to self: when talking to Portlanders again, liberally apply emoticons....
Duppie

I guess, though I don't really see jaywalking as a problem (as long as it's done smartly), I myself jaywalk. In outer SE Portland where I live one MUST jaywalk, cars don't stop, crosswalk or not.

And of course I noted the sarcasm about the hills comment, as there is nothing one could do about the hills, I was just expressing my love for them :D

Next time you come to Portland, look me up, the pints on me ;)

I guess, though I don't really see jaywalking as a problem (as long as it's done smartly), I myself jaywalk. In outer SE Portland where I live one MUST jaywalk, cars don't stop, crosswalk or not.

And of course I noted the sarcasm about the hills comment, as there is nothing one could do about the hills, I was just expressing my love for them :D

Next time you come to Portland, look me up, the pints on me ;)

Laurelthirst? Bridgeport? Mississippi Studios?

I'm partial to Lucky Lab myself.

So where is this Voodoos? Have heard about it from others and now here.

I do a maintenance route in Portland every few months and always take my bike. Every time I ride there am more amazed at how great a place it is for the whole spectrum of riding. Got 2 great after work rides in; on Friday, took off northwest from downtown out to St. John's Bridge, meandered E. and S. to Mt. Tabor park, then west back downtown. Yesterday, rode from Killingsworth down to the Springwater, followed it east for a few miles, then back north in the east part of town. Can't wait to do more.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=voodoo+donuts&sll=45.47686,-122.567775&sspn=0.011269,0.019312&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=12

Markers A and B