(December 12, 2014) – The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau advise the traveling public that a crosswalk enforcement action is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and Oregon traffic laws.

The City police and transportation bureaus are holding this month’s crosswalk enforcement action during the evening rush hour at East Burnside Street and 24^th Avenue to reinforce the need for drivers to stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in the crossing at all times, and to be extra alert during the low light conditions of late fall and winter.

Burnside Street as a whole is designated by the transportation bureau as one of the city’s ten High Crash Corridors, streets with high crash rates that the bureau is targeting for improvements as well as educational efforts.  This stretch of Burnside Street was recently redesigned to improve safety as part of the East Burnside Traffic Safety Project.

This location has a marked crosswalk on one leg, a median island, and signage to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians in the crossing.  This spring, the crossing is slated for further safety improvements, which will add an island and marked crossing on the west leg.

Each crosswalk enforcement action involves a designated pedestrian crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk while police monitor how people who are driving, bicycling and walking adhere to traffic safety laws.

The City is urging all travelers to be visible and look out for each other, especially during low light conditions of late fall and winter.

• Drivers can do their part by driving at or below the posted speed and continuously scanning the environment for pedestrians and people on bicycles and being ready to stop as needed.  
• Bicyclists, by state law, must have a white front light and rear red reflector or red light at a minimum.
• Pedestrians are encouraged to be more visible by wearing retro-reflective wear, carrying a flashlight or blinking strobe, and investing in bright and contrasting outerwear.

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.

Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The transportation and police bureaus do 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 visibility at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/512391, the Transportation Bureau’s safety work at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/40390 and pedestrian rights and responsibilities at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/435879.

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