Do These Pesky Green Crosswalks Have Different Rules? If so, Why Haven't Drivers Been Told?

As a driver in pedestrian- and bike-friendly Portland, I know a lot about crosswalks. But recently many crosswalks have been painted with green stripes. Do these green crosswalks have different rules? If so, why haven't drivers been told?

—Careful Driver

Pity our public servants—they mark our rights of way as clearly as they can, and we complain because we're too lazy to Google what the signs mean.

To answer your question, the green stripes indicate a place where motor vehicle traffic may cross a bike lane—at an intersection, for example. Motorists (and bikes) should exercise extra caution in such places.

Local authorities do their best to get the word out about this stuff, though I grant that their explanations can be a bit dry. Take this explanation of the now-familiar green bike box, from a Portland Bureau of Transportation brochure:

"When the traffic signal is yellow or red, motorists must stop behind the white stop line behind the green bike box. Don't stop on top of the bike box. Keep it clear for cyclists to use. No right turns on red at these intersections."

That 44-word description is clear enough, in theory, but I'll bet you didn't read the whole thing. There's a reason why you've never seen a 44-word McDonald's slogan.

Try this: When you see the green box, think "No right turn." That's not what it means, exactly, but that's what you should think, because the entire purpose of that box is to keep you from cutting off bikes as you turn right.

Once you have the idea burned into your brain that right turns at a bike-box intersection are fundamentally wrong and shameful, you'll think twice about making one, which is the whole point—you'll pause, look around, and do it super-carefully, like it's illegal. You're welcome.

Note: If you tuned in for the results of last week's "Make Portland Shitty Again" contest, rest assured we haven't forgotten, it's just that the vagaries of the print schedule necessitate an off week between call and response.

Questions? Send them to Dr. Know at dr.know@wweek.com

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