October 2007 Update - Alas, there are still thoughtless people parking and dropping off people in this no parking area... not realizing that they are jeopardizing the safety of others while doing so. If you see someone park or drop off someone here, please ask them to not do so in the future, and or call the Parking Enforcement hotline at 503-823-5195.
After many years of trying and proposing many solutions (see below) can you see what's changed in this picture that has resulted in fewer cars being parked along this stretch of SW Hamilton?
Shoulder area to right of fog line no longer blocked by parked cars, making it much safer for bicyclists and pedestrians!
And has resulted in all these cars parking here at the corner of SW 45th and SW Hamilton?
Cars parked in the once vacant (see below) lot at SW 45th and SW Hamilton
The partial solution was not bollards or boulders, but the simple addition of this little sign below each of the existing No Parking signs:
One of the "your car will be towed" pictograms that have been added below each of the No Parking signs along this stretch of SW Hamilton.
A big Thank You! to whomever thought of and implemented this simple and effective partial solution to this long standing problem.
History of the problem
No Parking is allowed along this stretch of SW Hamilton
No Parking is allowed along this stretch of Hamliton.
where cars attending sporting events at Hamilton Park too often parked in this NO PARKING zone, forcing bicyclists further out onto the street, making it difficult for kids chasing errant soccer balls to see oncoming cars (which in the summer time are heading into the sun), thus making it unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians along this stretch of the street. The different organizations hosting sporting events have been asked to tell parents and people attending to NOT park or drop off their kids along SW Hamilton, but to use the "parking area" at SW45th and SW Hamilton shown here
Please park here at the corner of SW 45th and SW Hamilton instead.
or along 47th on the North side of the Park. But still too many people continue to park or drop off their kids along Hamilton...
Scott Westerman investigated installing a row of bollards
Bollards near Council Crest.
along this stretch of Hamilton. Doing so would both prevent cars from parking and stopping here, and provide a safer area for pedestrians to walk. Installing a row of wooden bollards along the edge of Hamilton there is significantly less costly than relocating the existing steel "handrail". But Carl Snyder, one of PDOTs traffic engineers, said that bollards in the right of way (i.e. along the edge of the pavement) is not something PDOT would approve because of safety concerns.
In the meantime, Scott Westerman is going to work with the district officers, parking enforcement, and the parks bureau in educating and enforcing the no parking zone along Hamilton. Officer Westermen believes that enforcement is only a temporary delay, engineering is the solution.
Please let Scott Westermanm know if you see a pattern of days/hours of violations, and in the meantime, report every violation to the Parking Enforcement hotline at 503-823-5195. This is one of those situations that can turn into a "If people don't report it, it must not be happening" type of situations.
The Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) pilot project for Bridlemile School has identified this issue as one of their top three and funding for improvements here will be done as part of the SR2S pilot program.
Possible solutions include: block all parking and create a pedestrian way, create parking that still enables pedestrian safety. And there are a number of options for each solution.
Photos by Victor von Salza