4 ms·

It was already conditionally legal in rural parts of the state since 2017. > Oregon drivers that would prefer to save time by simply pulling up to an empty pum

It was already conditionally legal in rural parts of the state since 2017. > Oregon drivers that would prefer to save time by simply pulling up to an empty pump rather than waiting in line for a forced full-service pump. Anecdata n=1, but this hasn't been the problem, at least in east Portland. The article describes stations where "half the pumps" are closed because they can't staff, but as a daily driver for 10 years and especially since 2021 I haven't seen a pump closed due to staffing — the one or two attendants for the pumps just take longer to get to everyone. Go to smaller stations with 4-8 pumps and it usually moves faster. The more pertinent shift I've seen is shorter operating hours, which is the biggest benefit of allowing self-service. Having self-service pumps means stations can more feasibly open earlier and stay open later, especially those already attached to convenience stores that are already staffed. Also this is going to be great for out-of-staters already familiar with pumping gas, but based on road-trip experience there are some native/lifelong urban Oregonians who have no fucking idea what do at or with a gas pump.

legitster 3y ago
> Having self-service pumps means stations can more feasibly open earlier and stay open later, This was a common problem before the rules on rural stations loosened up. Driving through Oregon during the night could be pretty risky - there were very few 24/7 stations.
- Arrath 3y ago
  Back in the day membership to a card-lock station chain (Pacific Pride, CFN) was the best option, it was an end-run around the law since membership supposedly ensured you were 'competent' to safely pump your own gas, and the stations were 24/7 since they were unstaffed. No attendants to wait on, no lines, no stressing about having to park up next to a gas station and wait for it to open in the morning.
y-c-o-m-b 3y ago
I think this is less common in Portland because of those smaller stations with the pumps closer in proximity to each other. Out in Beaverton you'll notice the larger stations tend to block off half the pumps and the pumps have huge spaces between them. The Chevron Extra Mile station off Scholls Ferry for example had half the station coned off two weekends ago. The Walker Rd stations tend to do this regularly as well.
- jjulius 3y ago
  I pulled into the 76 on Walker Road & 185th a few weeks back at around 7PM on a weeknight. Every single pump was locked up, and as I looked around, a kid hollered from right next to the car wash, "Sorry, we're closed! Not enough staff!". First and only time I've encountered a full station closed, but it blew my mind, having grown up in Washington and never having an issue pumping gas because an attendant wasn't there. Really happy it looks like I'll be able to start pumping my own again.
- no_wizard 3y ago
  The Fred Meyer off Walker Rd nearest the Nike campus is the worst offender of this. Always terribly understaffed in my experience, and even when you can get in at a decent hour when it appears not to be too busy the attendants are very slow to move through things. Its not great service. Honestly I know this is about gas stations, but service jobs in general in the PNW I've noticed have very very poor service, very kurt employees up here, seems very common. I moved in from California, and one thing I'll say is having lived in California for 13 years (around Sacramento, though went to the Bay Area plenty of times) they at least acknowledge your presence and just seem friendlier. I want better working conditions for everyone in these jobs, thats for sure, but this seems to be a cultural thing in the Pacific Northwest. My casual interactions around here just seem to leave alot to be desired. I'm not huge on small talk, but there's just little cues and things people do that make things more welcoming that people just don't do here.
  - jjulius 3y ago
    I was born and raised just north of Seattle and, while I know you're in the Portland metro area (as am I now, near that Fred's), I'd recommend looking up something called the "Seattle freeze", which sounds like what you're referring to. I had a very interesting experience in 2010, when I moved to Atlanta for a few years, kind of the opposite of what you're experiencing. Being from the PNW, the sort of attitude you described was ingrained in me, and I hated the forced outward politeness of "Southern hospitality". It was such a shock; I could never get used to it and quickly realized that it was a bullshit veneer that people put on in spite of whatever mood they might be feeling. That's not to say that, perhaps to your point, there's not a happy medium to be found, but I digress. I bring that up because in the first apartment complex I moved to in Atlanta, there was an older gentleman a few units down who had an Oregon license plate and looked stereotypically Oregonian. The highlight of my days would be my interactions with him as we passed by in the common area - they literally were only ever a quick head nod to one another with nary a word said between us. Never knew his name, never held a conversation, maybe only uttered the word, "Hi," once, but for someone who preferred those kinds of interactions and couldn't get used to that aspect of Southern culture I really, really cherished those moments. But that's just me. :)
dfinninger 3y ago
I drive an electric car, but my wife has had a difficult time getting gas sometimes in Portland due to the operating hours, like you said. There have been days where she couldn’t fill up because there was no one at the pump. She’s excited for the change.
akira2501 3y ago
Yet.. there aren't any states without the law that have people doing this job.

legitster 3y ago

> Having self-service pumps means stations can more feasibly open earlier and stay open later, This was a common problem before the rules on rural stations loosened up. Driving through Oregon during the night could be pretty risky - there were very few 24/7 stations.

Arrath 3y ago
Back in the day membership to a card-lock station chain (Pacific Pride, CFN) was the best option, it was an end-run around the law since membership supposedly ensured you were 'competent' to safely pump your own gas, and the stations were 24/7 since they were unstaffed. No attendants to wait on, no lines, no stressing about having to park up next to a gas station and wait for it to open in the morning.

y-c-o-m-b 3y ago

I think this is less common in Portland because of those smaller stations with the pumps closer in proximity to each other. Out in Beaverton you'll notice the larger stations tend to block off half the pumps and the pumps have huge spaces between them. The Chevron Extra Mile station off Scholls Ferry for example had half the station coned off two weekends ago. The Walker Rd stations tend to do this regularly as well.

jjulius 3y ago
I pulled into the 76 on Walker Road & 185th a few weeks back at around 7PM on a weeknight. Every single pump was locked up, and as I looked around, a kid hollered from right next to the car wash, "Sorry, we're closed! Not enough staff!". First and only time I've encountered a full station closed, but it blew my mind, having grown up in Washington and never having an issue pumping gas because an attendant wasn't there. Really happy it looks like I'll be able to start pumping my own again.
no_wizard 3y ago
The Fred Meyer off Walker Rd nearest the Nike campus is the worst offender of this. Always terribly understaffed in my experience, and even when you can get in at a decent hour when it appears not to be too busy the attendants are very slow to move through things. Its not great service. Honestly I know this is about gas stations, but service jobs in general in the PNW I've noticed have very very poor service, very kurt employees up here, seems very common. I moved in from California, and one thing I'll say is having lived in California for 13 years (around Sacramento, though went to the Bay Area plenty of times) they at least acknowledge your presence and just seem friendlier. I want better working conditions for everyone in these jobs, thats for sure, but this seems to be a cultural thing in the Pacific Northwest. My casual interactions around here just seem to leave alot to be desired. I'm not huge on small talk, but there's just little cues and things people do that make things more welcoming that people just don't do here.
- jjulius 3y ago
  I was born and raised just north of Seattle and, while I know you're in the Portland metro area (as am I now, near that Fred's), I'd recommend looking up something called the "Seattle freeze", which sounds like what you're referring to. I had a very interesting experience in 2010, when I moved to Atlanta for a few years, kind of the opposite of what you're experiencing. Being from the PNW, the sort of attitude you described was ingrained in me, and I hated the forced outward politeness of "Southern hospitality". It was such a shock; I could never get used to it and quickly realized that it was a bullshit veneer that people put on in spite of whatever mood they might be feeling. That's not to say that, perhaps to your point, there's not a happy medium to be found, but I digress. I bring that up because in the first apartment complex I moved to in Atlanta, there was an older gentleman a few units down who had an Oregon license plate and looked stereotypically Oregonian. The highlight of my days would be my interactions with him as we passed by in the common area - they literally were only ever a quick head nod to one another with nary a word said between us. Never knew his name, never held a conversation, maybe only uttered the word, "Hi," once, but for someone who preferred those kinds of interactions and couldn't get used to that aspect of Southern culture I really, really cherished those moments. But that's just me. :)

dfinninger 3y ago

I drive an electric car, but my wife has had a difficult time getting gas sometimes in Portland due to the operating hours, like you said. There have been days where she couldn’t fill up because there was no one at the pump. She’s excited for the change.

akira2501 3y ago

Yet.. there aren't any states without the law that have people doing this job.