Portland Considers Ban on Standing in Unsafe Road Medians

Portland Mayor Mark Dion and three city councilors are backing a proposal to ban pedestrians and motorists from standing or driving on specific narrow traffic medians across the city. The measure targets medians less than 5 feet wide to address a rise in intersection crashes and pedestrian deaths, including the June death of Jason Ayers at Preble Street and Marginal Way.

The proposed ordinance amendment would prohibit standing, sitting, staying, driving, or parking on flush medians or raised medians that measure under 5 feet in width, except for individuals actively crossing the street. According to a staff memo prepared for the Portland City Council ahead of its meeting, crash data compiled over the last decade demonstrates significant safety hazards for anyone standing on narrow or roadway-flush medians.

City officials have identified 17 intersections featuring medians that fall under the proposed restriction. The list includes the 28-inch-wide sloped median on Marginal Way where Ayers was struck and killed while panhandling. Additional locations span busy intersections along Franklin, Congress, Riverside, and Auburn streets, alongside Forest and Brighton avenues.

Safety Goals and Counterarguments

Mayor Dion emphasized that the draft legislation is designed around the city’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities rather than target specific demographics. According to Dion, the language is narrower than a 2013 panhandling ban that was struck down by the state’s supreme court a year later.

The argument is that if it’s unsafe for cars, it’s definitely unsafe for pedestrians standing in those spaces, Dion said. The reason for their presence in a median is irrelevant to the ordinance. Councilors Ben Grant, Sarah Michniewicz, and Regina Phillips joined Dion as co-sponsors of the proposal. However, the measure faces pushback from other members of the council. We have the power to save lives, and instead we are finding new ways to blame victims, Pelletier said, adding that he intends to introduce amendments focused on infrastructure upgrades.

Next Steps for the Draft Ordinance

The Portland City Council is scheduled to review the draft amendment during its meeting. Councilors will consider referring the language to the sustainability and transportation committee for a detailed review and a formal recommendation.

The debate mirrors prior legislative battles in Portland. During discussions surrounding the 2013 ban, supporters argued that roadway restrictions were necessary to protect both pedestrians and motorists, while opponents contended that such measures simply displaced unhoused populations without solving underlying socio-economic challenges.