SE Morrison Street is a bit of a trial right now between about 12th and 6th. Two of the three lanes are closed for a while (months? I think?) while the sewer is dug up and replaced. In attempt to ease the snarl, the city has placed a big ol’ sign up on the sidewalk that says:
“USE BUS LANE”
Except that, the three times I’ve gone through there (I live nearby), no one is. Thus I feel like a big ol’ jerk as I use the bus lane and pass a stationary line of cars a block and a half long. Am I being a jerk here? Is it necessary in Portland to be so nice as to not even use the bus lane when we’re told to do so? Is the sign too small or otherwise suffering from low visibility? Is this just a crisis of the over-polite?
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portland drivers are often too polite, especially when it comes to multiple travel lanes and merging situations.
Personally, I think people are just that laid back in PDX. No one ever seems to fret over time or anything here. I thought the southeastern United States was laid back, but Portland has got it beat.
As for the bus lanes… I use whatever road there is, but often get in trouble. Thus I try to stick to using the bus lane by riding the bus.
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