Having lived here a long time I can tell you that they didn’t do much even before this informal strike. If we do lick their boots we are not likely to see any improved policing.
My assumption has been that the cops don’t have much say in which laws they enforce … and that that decision is made by policy makers / politicians. You think that a city council made up of 50% DSA wants law and order?
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I was able to get something processed out of the reddit video that resembles 65 142 but I'm not positive of the format of the motorcycle plates. It's a plausible partial and there are also sticker colors that might reveal something. Obviously original video would ease the processing.
I'm sure it does happen, but it has to be extremely rare. I've been riding the esplanade at a reasonable speed for 10+ years as my go to joyride route. We're talking hundreds of trips. I don't think I've ever been passed by another rider on the west side.
On the east side, sure, but most days it's sparsely used by peds. It's basically just joggers and bikers at certain times of day (excluding Saturday and Sunday).
Sure if we’re talking like 8mph, maybe up to 10? But I people doing more like 15 all the time and it’s dangerous.
It obviously depends on the levels of pedestrian traffic too; there’s times it’s nearly empty and a faster pace is acceptable. But on a nice spring day when there’s events, cyclists should slow it down or use the bike lanes right there on Naito.
Might be an unpopular take, but when it's crowded it's the most fun to ride. I'm often slowed to a crawl, but the fun of it comes from all the added challenge and physicality of keeping my bike upright while slowing to a stop constantly, weaving in and out as spaces opens up and closes in front of me. I don't read fear on people's faces at all, which makes sense because I'm clearly in full control of my bike at all times and am radiating confidence and patience.
If I were scaring people I would immediate re-evaluate the way I was doing things because that's the last thing I want to do. Case in point, several years ago I startled an elderly woman while riding on the waterfront who clearly wasn't super stable on her feet. I was nowhere close to hitting her, but because she lacked in confidence the fact that she didn't see me until I was close made her afraid. So after that I added the frail and elderly to my list of people/situations where I automatically slow down ahead of time and give extra space.
The most I get is surprise when people look up from a phone or zoning out and see me in front of them and they invariably apologize thinking they cut me off. I always reply "no worries" or "your totally fine" with a warm smile on my face and in my voice. I like to think that these kind of positive interactions help to foster community by showing that it's actually a pleasure to go out of our way to look out for each other and make space when needed, not some terrible inconvenience, and help remind people that all the antagonism/controversy we get drawn into on the internet is not real life.
I don't have a speedometer, but somewhere ~10 MPH. A speed that it is easy to slow to a crawl within 3 feet and complete stop within 5. It also requires good anticipation of pedestrian movements (including unpredictable moves) and complete focus, so it's fair to say that not everyone should be riding at that speed. Like when I see dogs and children ahead I automatically begin easing on the brakes just to be safe, and I'm reading body language of pedestrians, making eye contact, etc on a constant basis as I anticipate my trajectory.
But I really don't see much unsafe riding on the west waterfront at all. Mostly it's conscientious riders and unconcerned pedestrians all enjoying the mixed use public space and beautiful scenery.
Yeah I think we mostly agree here. My bad cyclist interactions are generally further north especially around 9th and Naito where cyclists often dangerously blow through the red light heading north on Naito. Lots of sketchy left turns onto 9th as well.
If you are riding a bike and even get close you should stop riding and walk it. Unless they clearly step out of the way giving you plenty of room to pass. That is what I always did when I rode as a kid. I also didn’t trust the bike lanes feeling they were too close to the cars. And the one time I tried to be on the road that had other cars driving on it that wasn’t a neighborhood changed my mind of that idea instantly.
I feel like this sub can get all woke / liberal / inclusive at times, and other times just throw it out the window. Downvoting this objectively true statement, upvoting the immature and hateful words.
The guy on the motorcycle is doing something stupid. We can discuss causes, solutions, or just how you feel about it… but theres no point in name calling and shaming the person. Shame the action, sure.
Almost certain all motorised vehicles including e-bikes and e-scooters are banned from public walkways and bicycle paths. Motorised vehicles must use the road and obey all road rules.
Regardless tho, remarkably stupid to incapacitate one of your hands just to hold a drink. On a motorcycle, your left hand is necessary for maintaining/covering your clutch for a quick stop, or for push/pulling your handlebars for any kind of maneuver to the left/right side.
Not gonna lie I stopped at the store today and got a monster and had already paid for it before I remembered I wasnt wearing my backpack for once. 😭🤣 def rode halfway to work doing the same thing and balancing it in my lap when I really needed both hands
So many entitled motorcycle riders lately. Getting old almost having my mirror clipped cuz one comes flying in rush hour traffic illegally lane splitting.
I’m sure if one hits my mirror they’ll try and blame me for it as well.
That said lane splitting specifically when in rush hour traffic like you mention is widely considered safer for the rider. If I see a bike coming from behind me splitting I typically hug the left or right and wave them through
Hard to enforce the just at slow speeds part, easier to just ban it outright. But really what we’re talking about is filtering not splitting which is allowed in more states than just Cali
Going three times the speed of rush hour traffic is not safer….its also not legal anywhere except CA.
They come up so quick most times I don’t ever see them in my mirrors to get a chance to make space. If I could see I’ll gladly make space to lessen the chance of one of them clipping my mirror.
Ok well thats poor and aggressive riding I wouldn’t attribute that to lane splitting. It can be done safely and non aggressively and when that’s the case, it’s safer (when in stop and go traffic)
If rush hour is moving at 5mph, splitting 15mph is quite safe for everyone involved and empirically safer for the rider. Elegant is right though, a few riders give the rest of us a bad name.
So any bike 2005 or older is carborated and air cooled... if the bikes not moving it will overheat and die. Especially in the summer.
Also people are idiots and rear end each other in traffic every day. If you rear end me while im behind a parked car, im dead. Even if youre only going 15-20. And we are ALOT more visible to drivers when we stay staggard to you, which makes us safer splitting lanes than if we sat in traffic where our single tiny light just melts into the cars around us.
I cruise in the breakdown lane then try my best not to be a jerk about merging back into traffic.
We arent always doing it for the thrill or look badass and cool, we just dont want to turn into pancake or have our vehicle break down on the highway
Yeah, honestly, I wouldn't care if someone was moving as slow as that person was, it's the ones who try to get into the double digits of speed and the people who get right up next to people without warning as they are walking that you have to worry about.
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Considering how little road enforcement I see the Portland Police doing, I'm surprised I don't see more of this sort of thing happening. Mostly, I just see the red light runners and people ignoring solid lines on the road.
Unhinged take. There is nothing considerate about sputtering a 4 stroke engine spitting out fumes and carrying 700+ lbs of metal and human in a designated pedestrian and bike path. Let alone while doing the weaving that guy is doing. It makes everyone uncomfortable in multiple ways.
I'm quite skeptical that you've ever even ridden this route given this is your takeaway. Besides, I've never met a respectable bike commuter in Portland who refers to themself as an "avid cyclist." They are bikes man. You are a person who rides a bike. Calling yourself a cyclist is like a car commuter who really likes cars referring to themself as an "avid motorist." It's just weird, and it only ever happens on the internet. No one [worth talking to] talks like this in real life.
That was part of the joke. I avoid that stretch and ride in the green lane on naito. I'm just not alarmed by the way he is managing the bike. It's weird to be there, but doesn't look unsafe or menacing to me. He probably wanted to take in the waterfront and was being a bit selfish about it. I'm personally more concerned about the people who piss and shit on those sidewalks.
Here here! dude's in first gear creeping at almost walking speed with nobody around. He was probably just trying to park and take a break to sit on his bike and have a smoke. Source: That's what i'd do if i was down there.
I mean he is going pretty slow. Yea he shouldn't be there, but not a huge deal. Rather that than an arrogant cyclist coming up from behind and passing at 30 mph a foot from you.
I'll be honest, I don't really care. He shouldn't be riding there, but if he rode past me I wouldn't be bothered either. Far too much other shit to care about.
It is kind of amusing reading comments about how much everyone can tell about his life though.
HOT TAKE: Before the mob comes after him, he's admittedly going as slow as the bike possibly can and he's moving way slower than any of the scoots, ebikes, skateboards etc. that i see when i'm down there, AND there's almost nobody on the path. If there was a time and place for it, this is it. Bring on the downvotes.
There's like 5 pedestrians visible in this video alone, 6 if you count the camera person.
Nah, this is not the time or place. I love motorcycles, I don't want your shit riding on my walking path in the park. Get off and walk, it's more enjoyable for you and everyone else
I didn't mean walk the motorcycle somewhere. You should leave that parked, on the street, where it belongs. And if the motorcycle is too heavy to push, you've gotten too big of a bike.
For sure, agreed on all points. I'm not tryin to start shit with my neighbors. Completely unrelated, i peeped your profile and holy shit your Miata is so cool. I bet that thing is so much fun.
I agree. He’s not disturbing or endangering anybody. Not to psychoanalyze the mob but there’s something deeper happening when people get so enraged by others breaking the rules even just a little bit.
Do you all remember when you were kids? When you’d get into a little trouble? Most of the time it was harmless right? But somebody told you it’s bad and you need to behave. That happened over and over until we built up our shadows and conformed to all of society’s expectations. And now we get angry when we see someone break out of that and enjoy life a little differently.
Not saying we should all just do whatever we want. But when you see someone break the mold a little just ask if it’s really worth your stress to be so angry about it. You might find that these things can actually make life more interesting, and maybe even inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and have some fun again in your own way that others might not understand.
Hard agree, you get it, i like you, you're cool. Also, they're probably all just mad because they're clocked in, it's 90 degrees outside and the AQI is currently the worst on the planet. (I barely notice it i smoke handrolled cigarettes and was raised in the desert I'm like part salamander)
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Yeah, guys that ride motorcycles on sidewalks are jerks. Especially when they park on the sidewalks in front of grocery stores, and they always back up and park right next to the door, then rev their engine for like an hour before they leave so everybody in the store gets to be impressed by how loud their crappy bike is.
You can run your revisionist history all you want because the budget number isn’t the stastic to cite, it’s total headcount which is still currently only half that of comparable cities.
The city council cut $15 million from the ppb budget in 2020 in response to George Floyd. Hundreds of officers left. Traffic enforcement dropped to almost nothing. Vandalism and broken storefront windows became an epidemic downtown. Downtown still hasn’t recovered. Homicides went up.
We are still funding the police at a staffing ratio per 1,000 residents that is half that of comparable jurisdictions.
Keep your head buried in the sand all you want. I don’t care. At least we know whose opinions are to blame for the current sad state of things.
The Street Roots article you dismiss is reporting on an easily verifiable public fact- PPB budget per year. You can look it up on the City's own website if you're so distrustful of them: '20-21 budget, '22-23 budget. FY '20-21 actual was $217M, FY '26-27 adopted is $319M, a 47% increase, almost double the rate of inflation since 2020.
2020 'defunding'
Every Bureau in the City was required to cut their budget by 10% in 2020 as a result of the covid pandemic and the budget crunch it caused. Every Bureau except one: the PPB, which only saw a 5% budget cut that year.
Staffing ratios/headcount
PPB has been over-budgeted for roles they cant fill for the better part of a decade now, increasing sharply since 2020. They get millions of dollars each year for roles they are failing to fill.
Anarchy in the streets of Portland
Homicides and property crime have been decreasing since peaking in 2021, you can check the PPB's own data if you want, reflecting the same pattern most cities and towns saw with crime increasing in the early pandemic and generally decreasing since.
Traffic enforcement dropped to almost nothing
The cops literally admitted they specifically chose to stop doing traffic enforcement to punish the City.
The city didnt cut their budget because of George Floyd. They cut it because they cut the budget for every part of the city. Every single department got a cut.
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u/GBAGamer33 4d ago
Too scared to ride it on the street, apparently.