In the early years of Portland, Burnside St. was known for the liquor, whores and sailors that traveled up from the docks. Now, B St. is known as an intersection between the gritty Portland of old, and the gentrifying Pearl. Dive bars and shelters are competing with chain restaurants and condos. This means more people, cars, and bikes on Burnside and nearby streets. Currently, the city is remedying this problem by fixing his derelict bridge, adding new neighborhoods, and new streetlights.
Unfortunately, Burnside, is still one big pothole. Traversing this street can cause the stress levels of even a Beaverton resident to rise. There are few left hand turns, and inevitably you’ll get stuck behind some douchebag for 10 minutes trying to turn across traffic.
Walking over I405 bridge on foot, is death. Crosswalks always flash red before you’ve had the chance to reach the other side. In the day you will encounter drunk bums on the sidewalks, and in the evening… drunk scenesters. It is a wonder (and a travesty for the human race) that the lines in front of Aura and Ringlers have not been taken out by a swerving car. Clearly, B St. was never intended to be pedestrian friendly.
Burnside street IS the drunk, inappropriate uncle of Portland’s streets. He’ll come to your family gathering, driving on a suspended license from his 2nd DUI. He’ll also bring a hooker.
You’re not from here, are you. It’s assholes like u that make people think we’re stuck up and you’re probably not even from here. Fuck off!
Hah, I thought I was the only one picking up on that. I mean, Portland’s a gritty, drunken, druggy city whose only redeeming quality is a mass transit system that only serves 20% of the population. Not much has changed in this city since I was born in that regard at all save for now there’s a denial problem and the economic disparity is worse now as a direct result.
It is best for transplants to ignore all Portland/Oregon natives. It is a huge waste of time and energy even talking to natives.
They aren’t worth it…none of them. They would just as soon kick you in the shins than invite you to break bread.
There’s nothing wrong with tourists. We like ‘em. But there’s this thing called “wearing out your welcome.” Go home when you’re done visiting if you want respect.
Burnside’s not that bad if you accept it is what it is, and that three rights always make a left in any one-way grid, even if you’re on a two way street.
portland kicks ass. i have been to many places in this world and think Burnside is one of the safest ‘high crime’ areas. so, shut your pie hole and look for the positive things in life. if you can not find it in portland then move. idiot.
Burnside is a high crime area?
It is grimy and really dirty but high crime? Most of Portland is dirty. The rains wash a ton of garbage off the curb where it just festers around the drains.
Why can’t Portland clean out the gutters after a big rain? It is disgusting to open your car door and be faced with trying to jump onto the curb or put your foot on the garbage.
So take the bus and quit bitching.
Has anybody else heard the old joke, “What is a Burnside Cadillac? A shopping cart.”
I think the last thing this “city” (if u want to call it ) needs is to complain of how busy the streets get…its a ghosttown. The people here are the most passive people I have ever met…not really sure if they’re high or just rednecks
I think you were a little easy on the city. I can think of ALOT more things to dislike about Portland. you never once mentioned of fake and snotty the people that live here are?
OH! and how ignorant most white people are here and what’s considered a racial slur.. I find people in Portland very ignorant and think they’re being ‘pc’ when in fact they’re just making sure we all know that they ignorant and better than you!
“It is a wonder (and a travesty for the human race) that the lines in front of Aura and Ringlers have not been taken out by a swerving car.”
…awesome.
Well, well, I like the rants on the ‘most-over-complimented-city-in-the-US”
Let’s see more on:
- terrible drivers: turn signals optional
- parking the wrong way on a street – which means causing accidents with other car drivers and smashing cyclists
- smoking in bars: even Chicago, with its above-per-capita smokers to to non-smokers ratio is cleaner than the smug, we -are-more -health conscious than thou Portland
Very true. Glad I found your blog. What I hate about downtown Burnside is that it is so stinkin hard to turn off of. So many of the cross streets will be no left turn, so you have to back track for 4 blocks in traffic.
I agree.