OBRA: OBRA Chat: Re: Code of Conduct

Re: Code of Conduct

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Robert Nobles

2005-01-26

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Susan,

Unless someone asks you for advice or you are leading a group ride, I don't think people will be too receptive to legal pointers on how to ride. Especially if they are not endangering anyone (but themselves) by breaking some of the more minor car traffic laws that they believe don't make sense for bikes due to our slow speeds, small size, and good lines of sight.

Susan Otcenas <sus-@teamestrogen.com> wrote:

Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list.

Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote after

reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you care

to read it, here's a link to my letter

http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639

8840172300.xml

as well as the original article

http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new

s/110544844993880.xml

Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from

"Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase,

and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way

cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation,

with both of us conceding a few points.

Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem

to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs, riding

3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from

behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our

"rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with

him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter.

WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES

OURSELVES.

I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts.

### Note:

- If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another thread.

- If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread.

- If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread.

Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with

them to advocate for change.

###

The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish to

gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying the

rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our

fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to

be said for peer pressure.

In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not

stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to

commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be

necessary. My favorite was:

"Remember the "three R's" of cycling:

Same road

Same rules

Same rights"

For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be

perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign

instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask

friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so that

we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely pass.

I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so I

can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at

http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you will

also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there

isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as

individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially

if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think and

expect.

So, I pose two questions:

1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other

individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving?

And

2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA,

OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on

this issue?

I apologize if this e-mail has come across as preachy. That's not my

intent. I just think we need to figure out a way to peacefully co-exist

with motorists and this seems like a good way to start. Please don't flame

me if you disagree. Constructive criticism and discussion welcome.

Susan

--------------------------------------------

Susan Otcenas

TEAM ESTROGEN, INC. __~o

2038 NW Aloclek Dr., Suite 220 -\_<,

Hillsboro, OR 97124 (*)/'(*)

http://www.TeamEstrogen.com

1-877-310-4592

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<DIV>Susan,</DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>Unless someone asks you for advice or you are leading a group ride, I don't think people will be too receptive to legal pointers on how to ride. Especially if they are not endangering anyone (but themselves) by breaking some of the more minor car traffic laws that they believe don't make sense for bikes due to our slow speeds, small size, and good lines of sight. </DIV>

<DIV> Susan Otcenas <sus-@teamestrogen.com> wrote:</DIV>

<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list. Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote after reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you care to read it, here's a link to my letter http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639 8840172300.xml as well as the original article http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new s/110544844993880.xml Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from "Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase, and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation, with both of us conceding a few points. Jack's biggest beef with

cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs, riding 3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our "rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter. WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES OURSELVES. I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts. ### Note: - If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread. Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with them to advocate for change. ### The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as

they are. If we ever wish to gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying the rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to be said for peer pressure. In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be necessary. My favorite was: "Remember the "three R's" of cycling: Same road Same rules Same rights" For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so that we can be courteous to our fellow

citizens by allowing them to safely pass. I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so I can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you will also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think and expect. So, I pose two questions: 1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving? And 2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA, OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on this issue? I apologize if this e-mail has come

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