Walking Collins View

The City crafted one of the country’s first Pedestrian Master Plans in 1998 and has set national precedent with its “pedestrian first” transportation strategy for people movement… which has served inner Portland well, but has often struggled to provide adequate guidance for areas such as East Portland and Southwest Portland… — From Portland Transportation article WHAT IS THE STATE OF WALKING IN PORTLAND?

Collins View, with its hilly rural character (eg no sidewalks) is a beautiful place to hike – but not a place to safely “Walk to Work” or “Walk to Shop” or “Walk (or bike) to School.” According to Walk Score, "Collins View is the 80th most walkable neighborhood [out of 95 neighborhoods] in Portland with a neighborhood Walk Score of 27."

Citywide, 2020 was a very bad year for pedestrian and biking accidents, despite fewer cars on the roads. Dylan Rivera, a spokesperson for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, said on OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) that “excessive speeds contributed to the majority of traffic deaths.” Two-thirds of all pedestrian collisions (71%) occurred at intersections. Street Blogs report

Just last month (April 2021), a serious one occurred at an intersection on Terwilliger. This long, heavily trafficked District Collector and Major Emergency Response Street has its highest posted speed limit right in the busiest section of Collins View — 35 mph from the shopping center through the Riverdale High School Zone, to Terwilliger’s far south stretch at the Tryon Creek Park Area.

The orange Vision Zero signs seem to be collector items, disappearing as fast as residents put them up. This doesn’t happen with the popular Love Wins signs. What’s going on? Stay Tuned for the evolution and genesis of the City’s Walkability Programs in Collins View.

May 2021 by M. Read