With its Saturday Market and thriving art scene, Portland is one of the most popular cities in the country. Unfortunately, these attractions also make it a challenging place to live.
The city of Portland is ranked as the 11th worst in the nation for traffic congestion. But despite this, there are still ways to get around the city in the shortest amount of time possible.
During rush hour, stay off the roads between 7:15-9 am and 3-6:30 pm to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams. Drivers should also pay attention to road conditions in order to avoid lane closures and accidents.
As a result of rising rent and housing prices in the city, and a more liberal, “soft-on-crime” approach to crime, the number of unhoused individuals has increased. These people are often addicted to drugs and it’s not uncommon to see used hypodermic needles littering the ground near encampments and methadone clinics.
Car theft and other types of property crimes are common in the city. Over the last several years, more than 12,000 cars have been stolen across the entire city of Portland. Some neighborhoods, such as Hazelwood and Lents, have higher rates of car theft than others.
The Portland Police Bureau is making it a priority to ensure visitor safety. For this reason, they’ve implemented a new public information campaign that informs visitors about potential crime risks, including assault and vandalism.
