Hood River, Oregon
Oak Avenue
 

      
Another view
      of Oak Avenue looking east shows the spectacular bluffs and cliffs
      of the Columbia Gorge that dominate the horizon in Hood River.
      In this view, the decision to largely work within existing curblines
      and nine-foot sidewalk width is painfully evident: pedestrians
      are squeezed into a six-foot area clear area between street fixtures
      and storefronts.


      
This is a common
      dilemma for small towns struggling with a reluctant state or
      county DOT to narrow travel lanes in an effort to both retain
      on-street parking and expand sidewalks. But by narrowing travel
      lanes to 10 or 11 feet in width, and parking bays to 7 or 8 feet,
      valuable area could have been added to the sidewalk dimension.


      
In this location
      at the busy intersection with Second Street, a curb extension
      would have greatly enhanced the pedestrian space and crossing
      safety, and might have been a compromise that the state highway
      engineers would have accepted.

      
 <
      Back to Hood River Main Page
      n Next
      Image >

      
 All images
      are ©Tom Kloster, 2001, and may only be used by permission