Guide offers rules of the road for Oregon pedestrians

(AUGUST 4, 2025) The "Kline Pedestrian Law Guide 2.0" explains the laws for people walking and driving in Oregon. It makes it clear that both pedestrians and drivers must be careful to keep everyone safe on roads.

Here are some key points from the guide:

• Who is a Pedestrian? The guide defines a pedestrian very broadly. It includes anyone walking, running, jogging, or using a wheelchair, roller skates, skateboards, or rollerblades. Bicyclists can sometimes act like pedestrians when on sidewalks or in crosswalks, but they generally follow the same rules as drivers when on the road.

• Crosswalks: These are special areas for people to cross the road. They can be marked with lines or just be at an intersection. Drivers must stop for people in or entering a crosswalk in their lane or a nearby lane. It's also against the law to pass another car that has stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In some cities like Portland, pedestrians must use a crosswalk if one is within 150 feet.

• Sidewalks and Shoulders:

  • • On sidewalks, people walking usually have the right of way. Drivers must yield to pedestrians when entering or leaving a road from places like driveways.

    • On roadway shoulders, neither drivers nor pedestrians have the main right of way.

• Blind Pedestrians: Drivers have a special duty to blind pedestrians. They must stop and stay stopped for a blind person using a white cane or a dog guide until they have completely crossed the road, even if there's a green light for the driver.

The guide also talks about making roads safer for everyone. This includes the "Vision Zero" idea, which aims for zero traffic deaths and serious injuries. It points out that in 2019, Portland had 49 traffic deaths, but Oslo, Norway, a city of similar size, had only one. The guide suggests using words like "person walking" instead of "pedestrian" and "crash" instead of "accident" to avoid blaming people and focus on preventing future incidents. If an injured pedestrian has Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, it can cover up to $15,000 for medical costs and 70% of lost income up to $3,000 per month.