Everyday things that are different in Portland (amusement park, living in)

[Nell Plotts]

Eh, while yellow rain jackets are rarely found jackets with headlight reflector strips are truly appreciated. Dark comes early here, and rain makes it hard to see.

[Bluesmama]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

The big thing is NEVER EVER WEAR A BRIGHT YELLOW RAINCOAT, galoshes or rubber boots unless you are a little kid.
A big Portland fashion faux paux it is.

I suppose it may look silly. But what makes me curse to High Hell are people who cross the streets and roads between intersections wearing black/dark clothing.

[JMPepper]

We moved here recently from Wisconsin. The flashing yellow arrow traffic signal was new to us. It means that--copied from the Oregon DMV manual-- turns are permitted or allowed (unprotected), but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Oncoming traffic has a green light. Proceed with caution.

I see people carry umbrellas here all the time.

Not that there aren't friendly and happy people in other places, but we have encountered an astounding number of friendly and cheerful people here. I agree, drivers here are very courteous.

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by JMPepper

We moved here recently from Wisconsin. The flashing yellow arrow traffic signal was new to us. It means that--copied from the Oregon DMV manual-- turns are permitted or allowed (unprotected), but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Oncoming traffic has a green light. Proceed with caution.

I see people carry umbrellas here all the time.

Not that there aren't friendly and happy people in other places, but we have encountered an astounding number of friendly and cheerful people here. I agree, drivers here are very courteous.

LOL - when I was in PDX two weeks ago, I had to ask a relative what the heck those flashing yellow arrows were. Never saw that one before.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

LOL - when I was in PDX two weeks ago, I had to ask a relative what the heck those flashing yellow arrows were. Never saw that one before.

I didn't know what they were till I saw one, but it's not that hard to figure out. Flashing yellow lights usually mean yield, and if it happens to be a turn arrow, I suppose that means you can turn, but you must yield first.

This thread amuses me. Portland is not a foreign different country, yet...

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Today a gal turned left on a red from NW 25th (two way) to Vaughn (two way). Granted there wasn't a lot of traffic but... (and she would have received a ticket if the police had seen the maneuver). She was busy talking to a woman in the passenger seat and was traveling slow. Her driving skills were questionable.

Yes. You can only turn left onto a one-way street from either a one-way or a two-way street. And this is only legal in Oregon and Washington, from what I have read.

Originally Posted by ahoffelt

One interesting difference that I noticed after moving here from the midwest is at the check out stand. I have found people to be adamant about using the plastic dividers between their stuff and my stuff. In the midwest, I feel like people just leave enough space to make it apparent rather than needing a physical barrier. A small difference, but I thought it was odd at first.

This is just common courtesy to the checker. They are busy bagging all the stuff and dealing with the-people-in-front-of-you's coupons and shopper's cards and them messing up the pinpad to pay attention to where you start putting your stuff on the belt. I can't tell you how many times I have had someone say, "Those aren't mine..." after I have rung up 10 items belonging to the customer ahead of them OR had someone say after an awkward pause, "Those are mine too..." Then why didn't you put a freaking divider on there?!?

Originally Posted by gma221

I have a plan to bring back the rain bonnet! (I'm half-serious...)

You have to get a little creative. There's this man who comes into my work and always wears a wide-brimmed, strawlike hat. For shade when it's sunny I imagine, and when it's raining he puts a clear, plastic cover over it! It's like a hands-free umbrella!

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

I didn't know what they were till I saw one, but it's not that hard to figure out. Flashing yellow lights usually mean yield, and if it happens to be a turn arrow, I suppose that means you can turn, but you must yield first.

I would've probably figured them out after a while, but it was totally new to me at the time.

Yes. You can only turn left onto a one-way street from either a one-way or a two-way street. And this is only legal in Oregon and Washington, from what I have read.

According to wikipedia, five states allow the left turn on red from a two-way street. That just seems totally assinine to me.

Edited: Clarifying my thoughts after reading wikipedia on the left on red matter.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

LOL - when I was in PDX two weeks ago, I had to ask a relative what the heck those flashing yellow arrows were. Never saw that one before.

It is a new national standard, so we should be seeing them everywhere within a few years. Oregon just happened to be first to really start using them.

Politicians keep erroneously saying that Flashing Yellow Arrows were created because people don't seem to understand that a circular green means "left turns yield." But the real reason is to get rid of a hazard called "yellow trap" (Google it), so they can synchronize the traffic lights on more streets.

Here in Indiana, you can turn left on red only when all 4 legs are one way. I would think that turning left on red from a two-way street to a one-way street would cause problems when the signal sequence is other than a standard two-phase signal.

[Troubleshooter]

[quote=kapetrich;19354612]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

[*]We're west of the Mississippi, so Hellman's is Best Foods. Unless you buy it at Walgren's - then it's still Hellman's.


This is a good one. Also, Edy's ice cream is known as Dryer's out here.

My biggest surprise when I first visited Oregon were cars stopping to allow pedestrians to cross at intersections no matter what. Any time, anywhere......people stop. Actually, I was REALLY weirded out by this, especially when I was in Portland, but after moving here I learned it was essentially the law of the land........

Word to the wise to any Oregon travelers. Do NOT try this on the east coast. EVER.

Odd. We have both Edy's and Dryer's in Indiana.

Indiana used to have one of those pedestrian friendly laws. It was repealed, because large numbers of pedestrians could take over an intersection, preventing vehicle traffic from ever moving. Now, pedestrians have to yield in the following cases:

- Before leaving the curb, unless given a Walk light
- When the vehicle is so close that it can't stop in time
- When crossing at stop signs (same priority as drivers waiting at the sign)
- Crossing midblock or where there is no intersection
- When walking linearly along the road, instead of crossing it.

Vehicles must yield when:

- The pedestrian is already in the crosswalk and within two lanes.
- The vehicle is turning right or left.
- Signs are posted requiring a yield.

Restrictions:

- Bicycles are vehicles. They are never pedestrians.
- Pedestrians are never allowed on controlled access highways unless an emergency occurs.
- Pedestrians are not allowed to cross midblock when traffic signals exist at both ends of the block.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Here are some picky things I know of:

• Voting is all done by mail.

How can that be secure? I would think it would be fraught with fraud.

I can imagine someone stealing the ballot from someone else's mailbox, filling it out, and returning it as though the other person had voted. And I have met quite a few of the environmentalist types who think that would be legitimate, because their "cause" is so important that any means is a valid way to achieve it.

[Patron of Wrath]

Originally Posted by sueisme

Darn it. I must read before I post. My husband said "Left and red are two of his favorite *words*..." Otherwise it makes no sense and he (usually) does...

I found your original version much more entertaining