The Intersection of Neglect: How Portland’s Streets Became a Battleground for Pedestrian Safety
There’s something deeply unsettling about standing at an intersection that feels more like a battlefield than a crossing point. I recently found myself at the infamous Franklin Street and Marginal Way junction in Portland, Maine, and it struck me: this isn’t just a traffic issue—it’s a symptom of a much larger cultural and systemic failure. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it encapsulates the tension between urban design, human behavior, and the value we place on human life.
The Human Cost of Design Flaws
Let’s start with the obvious: intersections like this one are designed for cars, not people. Myles Smith, chair of Portland’s bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, calls it ‘Portland’s purgatory,’ and he’s not exaggerating. The wait times are absurd, the traffic signals are confusing, and the slip lanes—those curved corners that allow right turns on red—are a recipe for disaster. Personally, I think this intersection is a perfect example of what happens when urban planners prioritize efficiency over safety.
Take the tragic death of Diane Bell, a 75-year-old runner who was hit and killed here in November. She was doing everything right: reflective clothing, LED lights, even helping others cross. Yet, she became a statistic. What many people don’t realize is that intersections like these are often designed to move cars quickly, not to protect pedestrians. The driver who hit her was reportedly speeding to make a yellow light—a behavior encouraged by the very design of the intersection.
The Blame Game and Police Reports
Here’s where things get even more troubling: the initial police report blamed Bell for crossing against the signal. Her family disputes this, and witnesses say she was in the crosswalk when she was struck. This raises a deeper question: Why do police reports so often default to blaming pedestrians? In my opinion, it’s a reflection of a car-centric mindset that permeates not just urban design but also law enforcement.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Cynthia Karst, another pedestrian, was killed at a nearby intersection a year earlier, and the report similarly blamed her for crossing against the signal. It’s almost as if the system is designed to absolve drivers of responsibility. What this really suggests is that we need to rethink how we investigate and report these incidents, prioritizing fairness and accountability.
The Slow Grind of Progress
Portland has adopted a Vision Zero resolution, committing to eliminate pedestrian deaths. That’s a noble goal, but the pace of change is glacial. Greg Jordan, the assistant city manager, admits it’s a long-term effort, but for families like Bell’s, time is a luxury they don’t have. One thing that immediately stands out is the disconnect between the urgency of the problem and the speed of the solution.
The city is planning upgrades, like ‘blankout’ signage and a complete redesign of Franklin Arterial, but these projects are years in the making. From my perspective, this highlights a systemic issue: we’re great at identifying problems but terrible at implementing quick, effective fixes. Temporary measures like flex posts or traffic calming demonstrations could save lives now, but they often get bogged down in bureaucracy.
The Bigger Picture: A Cultural Shift Needed
If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just Portland’s problem—it’s a national issue. Cities across the U.S. are grappling with pedestrian safety, but the solutions require more than just infrastructure changes. They demand a cultural shift in how we view streets. Are they spaces for cars to dominate, or shared public spaces where safety comes first?
Andrew Zarro, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, puts it well: ‘Maine’s infrastructure is failing its people.’ But it’s not just about infrastructure. It’s about priorities. We’ve built a transportation system that values speed and efficiency over human lives. A detail that I find especially interesting is how even cyclists like Ben Culver avoid certain streets because they feel unsafe. If people are actively avoiding parts of the city, doesn’t that tell us something about our design choices?
What’s Next?
The advisory committee has some solid recommendations: crash response protocols, lower speed limits, and automatic walk cycles at intersections. But here’s the kicker: many of these fixes are low-cost and could be implemented quickly. The real challenge is political will and accountability. Who at City Hall is truly responsible for making Vision Zero a reality?
In my opinion, the answer lies in treating this as the emergency it is. We need bold action, not just promises. We need to rethink our streets from the ground up, prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists. And we need to hold ourselves accountable when we fail to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Standing at that intersection, I couldn’t help but feel like a castaway, trapped on an island of neglect. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If we’re willing to challenge the status quo and demand better, maybe—just maybe—we can turn ‘Portland’s purgatory’ into a place where everyone can cross safely.
