Portland will remove parking spaces to increase visibility at intersections

(NOVEMBER 12, 2021) Drivers often find parking in Portland difficult. There aren't enough parking spaces.

Pedestrians and bicyclists often find crossing streets to be dangerous. Vehicles cannot see them clearly.

Now the city of Portland is removing parking spaces near intersections. Drivers may be unhappy to lose more parking spaces, but the city hopes to make the intersections safer for everyone.

Specifically, Portland is removing parking spaces within 20 feet of 350 intersections. This project will cost $200,000. The goal is to give drivers a better view of crosswalks. They want to prevent accidents.

The city calls them "daylighted corners." The name refers to daylight. That's when people can see better. By removing cars from corners, the city hopes drivers will see pedestrians and bicyclists better. The goal is to increase visibility.

Change has been slow. Portland has not yet painted all of the yellow lines that show where not to park. That's because the state has laws about parking near intersections, but cities choose how to enforce the parking rules.

The issue is an important one. According to Willamette Week newspaper, "more than 100 people have died in car crashes in Portland in the 22-month period since the beginning of 2020." A lawsuit last year, however, is helping to push the changes forward. The city says it will finish the work by June.