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More than once, I have narrowly missed being hit walking across a crosswalk, usually by an SUV driver on a cell phone. BUT I have also been cut off at crosswalks and, more than once, cut a pedestrian off at a crosswalk myself when turning right on a green light. I come from a city (I suspect many others do, as well) where there is EITHER a signal indicating that a right turn is allow OR a walk signal when there is no turn allowed.

Sure, pedestrians do stupid things. Sure, drivers on cell phones can be dangerous. But I believe that a walk signal that is lit at a corner where a driver can legally make a right turn really increases the risk for pedestrians, and I wonder how many of the pedestrians are hit by vehicles in Portland because drivers are new to Portland and unaware, or forgetful, that this is the case.

posted 1 year, 6 months ago
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