Is Portland one of the top cities with most smokers? (Green: neighborhoods, movie theaters)

[xyz321]

I've been living here for the past several years, close to downtown, don't have a car because I can walk everywhere I need, and virtually everyone I pass who is walking or standing on any street is smoking. Any time of day or night, in any weather. By now holding my breath while passing anyone has become automatic. Disgusting spitters on the ground are very common too. Many don't seem to be of the homeless population, so it's not that. I can't get over the contrast of gorgeous nature, pretty quaint buildings, interesting things to do and explore, and low quality of people, at least pedestrians.

It's not snobbery on my part, I wouldn't judge what someone looks like, how rich or poor they appear, how they dress, couldn't care less about any of that, but no consideration and respect for others, forcing passers by to breathe their stench, is what makes someone low quality to me. I like living and walking downtown, but people who can't keep their nasty habits that affect others to themselves are driving me out. Walking in this city is depressing, downtown reeks of urine, unwashed bodies and clothes, and tobacco. Not enough there are car fumes and chemtrails, smokers have to pollute whatever there is left of clean air further.

So question is, is there a place, a city/town in another state maybe, if not in this one, with all the good that this state/town has, like great nature and climate (climate is great to me, I actually like gloomy rainy season), relatively affordable, convenient and walkable, without such huge smoking population? I've lived on the east coast before, this wasn't the case there, just don't want to move back. Thanks.

If no one has any suggestions let this be a warning to others considering moving here at least.

[urbanlife78]

Being downtown you are where most people congregate, but if you move out to other neighborhoods in the city, you won't notice that many people smoking.

[Nell Plotts]

Portland ranks among the 10 lowest as a % of smokers at 86.5% non smokers. 10 Smokiest U.S. Cities—and 10 Most Smoke-Free, Too - US News

I haven't seen smoking or spitting except by derelicts and rarely even them.

Moderator cut: snip

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Portland ranks among the 10 lowest as a % of smokers at 86.5% non smokers. 10 Smokiest U.S. Cities—and 10 Most Smoke-Free, Too - US News

I haven't seen smoking or spitting except by derelicts and rarely even them.

Moderator cut: snip

Good to see Portland is in the top 10 lowest. Though I thought it was interesting that Greensboro, NC was 4th worst, yet Durham, NC is one of the 10 lowest. I wouldn't have imagined any North Carolina city making the most smoke free list.

[scottinpdx]

Smokers often don't realized how bad the stench is and how far the smoke can travel. When I was a smoker I tried to be mindful of the people around me. I quit smoking a few years ago, I now when I walk past smokers I can't belive I smelled like that.

[crisw]

I actually think the first poster has a point. Though fewer people may smoke here, there seem to be many who feel "entitled" to puff away wherever they wish. I am very, very allergic to smoke, and I actually have to plan out my walks downtown to avoid the areas where smokers congregate.

Also not that the posted article is 6 years old and may not reflect current conditions.

[crisw]

Oh, and my pet peeve- smokers who bring their smoking clothing, like heavy coats, indoors in the winter into movie theaters, restaurants, etc. I've lost track of how many times I've been made physically ill and had to move.

Please, if you do smoke, at least realize these things REEK and leave them in your car...

[bler144]

Moderator cut: snip Certainly is the case that downtown Portland has a fairly high show of smokers than what you tend to find elsewhere in the city.

So it's quite possible for the overall smoking rate to be low, and yet to experience a lot of second-hand smoke in certain parts. When I was commuting for downtown I noticed the much higher prevalence of smoke.

Though realistically that could just be a function of density, particularly around PSU. If you have 25,000 students/staff/faculty (est.) packed on a relatively small campus and only 2,000 go outside to smoke, the rate of smokers can still be pretty low (8%), but that's cold comfort when walking through the hazy stench.

[pdxmilw]

In some ways, the strict non-smoking indoors pretty much everywhere have made the situation worse. Because now all the smokers congregate on the sidewalks. I agree that you can't really walk near any businesses these days without walking the smoking gauntlet.

[Nell Plotts]

But spitting?? That's the kind of thing snuff chewers do. Chewing tobacco is awful. I rarely see that in Portland.

The other group that does that are rural Chinese men (been there, seen that, it is a big issue for them).