News Advisory: Summertime crosswalk education and enforcement action June 23 highlights need to watch out for kids

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(June 19, 2015) – The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau advise the traveling public that a crosswalk education and enforcement action is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd at the marked crosswalk of NE Glisan Street and NE 87th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and Oregon traffic laws, and emphasize summertime safety.

With the start of summer, drivers can anticipate seeing more children and families out during the day going to and from the park, pool, community center, library, and other local destinations.

Children are smaller and often harder to see in or at the crosswalk.  Children don’t always make the most appropriate decisions about when and where to cross and they frequently dart out or run to get across the street.  Drivers need to make sure they drive at or below the posted speed limit especially around parks, pools, community centers and other similar locations and scan your environment watching for pedestrians in the crossing or about to cross.

NE Glisan and 87th Ave
The NE Glisan Street at NE 87th Avenue crossing is adjacent to Multnomah University and within four blocks of Montavilla City Park, Montavilla Community Center and swimming pool. 

Under Oregon law, EVERY intersection is a legal crosswalk whether it is marked or unmarked.  Drivers must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians when the pedestrian is in the motor lane or the adjacent lane (motor lane plus 6’ on either side when the driver is making a turn at a traffic signal).  A bike lane and a parking lane are an extension of the adjacent motor lane. ORS 811.028.

Each crosswalk education and enforcement action involves a designated pedestrian crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk while police monitor how motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians adhere to traffic safety laws. Drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk and pedestrians who fail to follow Oregon traffic laws may be issued a warning or citation.

Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Sharon White and a Portland police officer will both serve as designated pedestrians crossing the street during the mission.

Crosswalk education and enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The transportation and police bureaus do education and enforcement actions about once each month in response to requests by community members, city traffic safety engineers, and Portland Police to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.             

Learn more about pedestrian rights and responsibilities. View the results of previous actions. Find out more about PBOT’s safety work and Vision Zero, PBOT’s goal of making our transportation system the safest possible and moving towards zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2025. www.visionzeroportland.com.

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation                  

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