Let the Mayor Get Dirt on His Shoes
Earlier today I saw this article on KATU about how Mayor Potter was participating in a pedestrian crosswalk enforcement operation by volunteering as the person who dodges the cars of those who don’t honor the crosswalk. I didn’t think too much about it.
Tonight, I see a posting over on the Portland Republicans blog where they don’t seem too thrilled about his participation in the sting, referring to it as entrapment. It got me to think a bit more about the situation.
Are there bigger problems in the city than crosswalk safety? Of course there are. On the other hand, I doubt that any major crises or catastrophes are going to occur because the mayor got the soles of his shoes dirty by walking across the street. It got him working hand in hand with some police officers, out interacting with the public, and likely provided a nice break for a few hours from the paperwork and politics of City Hall. I applaud Mayor Potter for spreading his time around on various issues, and hope that his actions (and resulting media coverage) lead folks to think about crosswalk safety, even for a few moments.
Related posts:
This sting is great, and both Potter and Commissioner Adams have played decoys. Good for them.
Anyone else notice how the Channel 8 News van, double-parked on 10th Avenue, was actually BLOCKING the motorists’ view of pedestrians stepping off the sidewalk from the YMCA side of the street? Talk about entrapment.
Advice to the 48 sting victims, especially those caught violating the rights of pedestrians crossing west to east: Subpoena the videotape! Between that error and the mayor’s studied and probably illegal last-minute lurches into the street when it was no longer possible for any vehicle to stop [all faithfully caught on videotape by our friends on Channel 8], it’s a prized example of how things really work in the Portland.
Potholes? Unpaved streets? Parks? Police? Or, My Favorite Sidewalk is Like Every Other in Portland But It Still Pisses Me Off And I’m Going To Do Something About It?
Now, there’s a lesson how things really work in “the city that works.”
[More amazing is that Channel 8 got wrapped up in this claptrap of a false story. Being that it was just three blocks from their offices, perhaps they couldn't resist.]
Mayor: If you want to see some real traffic and pedestrian problems, you might consider taking a visit outside of 97201.
Indeed. But we don’t need phony moves to “entrap” people. Just step into a crosswalk where there’s no light on, say, 33rd, or Belmont, or Hawthorne. Lots of folks don’t understand the rules, or don’t care. Tickets would do a lot of good.
I must look like a crazy person as I broadly gesture and wave my hands at the cars gunning for me when I cross NE Broadway at 21st.
Cars heading north on 21st are so excited when their oncoming traffic clears & they get their opportunity to turn left onto Broadway at the light that they figure poor crossing pedestrians better just get out of their way.
I’ve been halfway through the crosswalk when cars have either a) turned in front of me, b) almost clipped me from behind, or c) aimed right at me ’cause the driver had sun in their eyes and/or just hadn’t been paying attention.
(Or in a few instances, assumed it was *my* job to get out of *their* way - as evidenced by scowls, hand gestures of their own, or some choice words shouted in my direction.)
Since those pedestrians trying to cross are often my own children? I don’t much care about looking more than slightly insane as I (hopefully) scare the beejeezus out of the errant driver. And to Mayor Potter: pleeeease come do the sting in my neighborhood!
As someone who has to play “dodge-em” every morning as I head up to PSU, I say GET ‘EM!
If you don’t want the ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian, then stop for the pedestrians in the friggin’ crosswalks. I’ve had a couple of people nearly run me down; one only stopped because there happened to be a bike cop ready to cross behind me.
I don’t try to stop traffic. I’m quite content to wait until an opening in traffic appears. However, when everyone else is stopped, and I’m in the crosswalk, that is NOT an invitation to zoom past, because you’re better than everyone else/late for a meeting/in a bad mood/whatever.
However, I’m getting tired of taking my life in my own hands every morning and afternoon, while I try to walk the 9 or 10 blocks to MAX.