Rough week for pedestrians in Portland
All of a sudden the news in Portland is all about people being hit -- some killed -- by motor vehicles. Last night a guy died trying to cross Macadam Avenue near John's Landing. Before that it was a guy critically injured on Thursday at 111th and Division. A truck killed a fellow in a parking lot in NoPo on Thursday afternoon. And Thursday morning, a cyclist was pinned under a PT Cruiser after reportedly making an reckless move over where MLK crosses the Banfield. (The firemen lifted the car off the downed cyclist with their bare hands.)
Be careful out there, people.
And if you're heading up to the mountains, be extra, extra careful. Yesterday we had a fatal wreck on the icy road up by Mount Head Meadows, and last night another one happened on Highway 26 just north of Madras.
It's winter. And not everybody around here knows how to handle it. Please travel (or don't) accordingly.
| Posted at 5:46 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (12)
Great reminder, Jack. It is all about eye contact.
There is a general rule most of us live by that pedestrians have the right of way. But, it is all about eye contact with the driver before stepping out in front of his or her car.
We live in an area where the moisture and warm temps in the car cause the windshields to fog. Combine that with the low light of winter and rain or slick streets. What the pedestrian has the ability to see and what the driver has the ability to see are miles apart. From my experience in Portland, if the driver ain't looking at you, he probably doesn't see you.
Posted by Gibby | January 7, 2012 7:44 AM
People out there on foot or on bikes need to make themselves more visible. When its dark and raining, from inside a vehicle it is not so easy to spot all the "vulnerable road users" out there.
Posted by Frank | January 7, 2012 7:48 AM
Wear something visible at night; bright or white or better yet reflective!
Never assume the driver can see you.
Posted by Portland Native | January 7, 2012 9:06 AM
I'm originally from Minnesota and now live on the mountain. Like my daddy always used to say: "4-wheel drive doesn't mean 4-wheel stop." I wish all the tourists up here understood this basic physics lesson.
Posted by Ex-bartender | January 7, 2012 9:10 AM
Personally, I was amazed to see that the cyclist was cited by Portland PD for improper lane use and unlawful lane change. But, come summer, he'll doubtless be out riding around and flipping drivers the bird again, just like old times.
Posted by Max | January 7, 2012 11:28 AM
Right of way is a great theory. In action, too many people believe having the right of way means they will prevail. These people end up dead.
I told my kid as he was learning to drive, in theory, you in your 2500 pound car may have the right of way. If your about to be crushed by an 80000 pound semi who, in theory does not have the right of way, GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WAY! Right of way works great until you're dead. Then, who cares if you were right except your kin's lawyers?!
Posted by thaddeus | January 7, 2012 12:27 PM
I would suggest that it is NOT about eye contact!
Just because a driver (or bikie) looks at you, DOES NOT mean he is a responsible adult who is paying attention.
The safe rule is that you DO NOT depend on the other guy to stop. Just wait until it is clear.
Thanks
JK
Posted by jim karlock | January 7, 2012 2:41 PM
"Just because a driver (or bikie) looks at you, DOES NOT mean he is a responsible adult who is paying attention".
True, but I still think it beats the heck out of never seeing you at all.
Posted by gibby | January 7, 2012 3:09 PM
You only have the right of way when it is given to you.
Posted by JFree Professional Traffic Engineer | January 7, 2012 8:27 PM
gibby; True, but I still think it beats the heck out of never seeing you at all.
JK: Only if you want to trust that driver/biker, a total stranger, with your life. And assume the brakes work and assume the pavement is not slippery. And assume they don't have a heart attack as you step in front of the moving vehicle. (OK, so that's a bit over the top, but you're still taking a chance whenever you step in front of a moving vehicle.)
Remember the precautionary principle!
Thanks
JK
Posted by jim karlock | January 8, 2012 1:45 AM
JK, 1:45am? Get some sleep my friend.
I think you and I agree that we should never step in front of a moving car, no matter what.
The picture in my mind was the busy downtown Portland intersection with all cars stopped for the red where you intend to cross. The walk signal is on for you, but before stepping off the curb look ino the eyes of the person in the lane closest to make sure he sees you and does not make a sudden right turn into you.
I guess we could wait for all traffic to clear in downtown Portland before crossing at the crosswalk, but it might take a couple of days.
Posted by Gibby | January 8, 2012 7:55 AM
Both pedestrians and motorists should proceed defensively but I'm disturbed by the tone of this thread. Posters seem to be saying that safety - or any resulting injury by a vehicle - is the fault of the person injured.
That said, I do agree that pedestrians and bicyclists need to take extreme measures not only to be seen, but give vehicles the right of way in EVERY situation where there's the slightest chance of being hit. Even though pedestrians are supposed to be given the right of way while in a crosswalk.
This is a good rule in general but also because there has been an enormous growth of the distraction factor for drivers - mostly involving electronic devices of all sorts and the cell phones that *ahem* nobody is using while they drive anymore. Add that to that the greater volume of traffice and the size of some trucks and SUVs and it's often physically impossible for a pedestrian or cyclist to make eye contact with a driver.
A vehicle can sustain a human-shaped dent and have to go to the body shop but it's rarely a happy ending for a pedestrian even when his at comparatively low speed.
Posted by NW Portlander | January 9, 2012 2:27 PM