Sasquatch stars in new video promoting pedestrian safety

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 07/20/2016 08:00 AM PDT

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July 20, 2016

Contacts

Metro: Marne Duke, 503-797-1551, Marne.Duke@oregonmetro.gov

ODOT: Don Hamilton, 503-731-8265, Don.B.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us

 

Sasquatch helps ODOT and Metro

stress crosswalk safety

 

ODOT and Metro are getting some help from Sasquatch in a new safety campaign reminding the public that every intersection is a legal crosswalk, striped or not.

Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, stars in a new video spot illustrating the law and the importance of everyone being alert, be they drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists or mythical furry forest creatures.

The video is available at the Metro and ODOT Facebook pages and at ODOT’s YouTube site, https://youtu.be/olYDbzX5qOI .

The video shows Sasquatch, apparently on a rare visit to the city, hesitate while crossing a street, wary of an approaching car. But with an escort from a kindly neighbor, the visitor from the forest is reassured and crosses the street confidently and safely.

“In this video, Sasquatch helps remind us that we all have to look out for one another,” said Rian Windsheimer, ODOT’s Portland area manager. “When you’re driving or biking you have to stop for anyone showing intent to cross the street.”

Under Oregon law ORS 811.028:

  • Every intersection is a legal crosswalk. When driving, you must stop for people showing intent to cross the street at a marked or unmarked crosswalk or at a marked mid-block crosswalk.
  • When walking, you have the right of way at marked and unmarked intersections and mid-block crosswalks when you signal intent to cross. Intent is shown by extending your hand, foot, wheelchair, cane, crutch or bicycle into the roadway. For your safety, make sure vehicles moving in all lanes and in both directions have stopped before proceeding.

Pedestrian fatalities in Oregon were up in by 50 percent in 2015 over 2014. On average, 850 Oregonians are injured or killed by people driving cars while walking each year.

For more information, go to www.walkbikeroll.org or www.oregoniancrossing.org.

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