Jess Mace
I wrote Scott Whitehead, Chief of Police in North Plains, with my
concerns (kindly stated) about the subject while thanking him for his
service the community at large...
this is his reply:
Mr. Mace,
Thanks for writing. As usual your email is consistent with all the
others I
receive. Maybe next time you could put some thought into it and make a
valid
point instead of all the blah blah blah crap.
Scott Whitehead
Chief of Police
North Plains Police Department
Office: (503) 647.2604
Fax: (503) 647.2031
I think the mentality speaks for itself...
Jess C. Mace
Clinical Outcomes Research Coordinator
for Timothy Smith, MD, MPH
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Oregon Health & Science University
503.494.5886
>>> "J.Michael Manning" 7/6/2007 3:21 PM >>>
One of the most important facts of the road is... not that we have
almost equal access by law. It is the fact that we have to deal with the
perception of cyclists by uninformed motorists, even if it is flawed.
Defensive cycling is a must. I am personally a bit aggressive on the
road, establishing my presence in a way that does not break the law, but
probably pisses a few drivers off, because I may make them slow down and
go around me. I spent 10 years commuting in heavy traffic for 1.5 hours
a day in an area that had never heard of bike racing. In those cases you
learn how to defend yourself. Admittedly, there is no fail safe method,
as I was struck by a hit and run driver 6 years ago and feel fortunate
to have lived through the ordeal. In that case, I was riding with 2
others in a single pace line in the rain as the sun was setting and
visibility was questionable. So I was trying to stay close to the
shoulder. Possibly a mistake, but who can say. Anyway...I ramble. To
illustrate my point, 3 of my friends were cycling this weekend and were
nearly wiped out by an elderly woman who decided to pass them in a
residential area. As she accelerated by them, she blew a stop sign on
Bethany Blvd and was broadsided by a pickup. When she emerged from her
vehicle she tried to blame the cyclists for causing the accident. Her
perception caused her to break the law because she was not focused on
driving safely, but rather on getting by these annoying cyclists. That's
the reality I am talking about.Mike Manning> From: montyh@tvapdx.com>
To: obra@list.obra.org> Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 08:10:35 -0700> Subject:
Re: [OBRA Chat] Hefty fines levied against cyclists
in Washington County> > "You're a friggin' cyclist
man, it must be your fault."> > -----Original Message-----> From:
obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf
Of Steve Brown> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 7:52 AM> To: Greg Crane> Cc:
obra@list.obra.org> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Hefty fines levied against
cyclists in Washington County> > Suggest the ride be moved to West Linn
were traffic laws are not> enforced. I was struck by a car last week
making a right turn while> I was in a bike lane. Police and Fire
responded to witness calls,> crash report written, no citation issued.>
> Steve Brown> On Jul 5, 2007, at 8:50 PM, Greg Crane wrote:> > > Boy do
I feel safer now that the cops are cracking> > down on cyclist. I was
almost killed just the other> > day in my Xtera by a cyclist not
following the rules> > of the road.> >> > Lucky for me I was doing 15
over the speed limit and> > was able to get out of the very dangerous
situation I> > was placed in by a thoughtless person on a bicycle.> >> >
Greg> > --- Mike Manning wrote:> >> >> Just
thought I should forward this message on to the> >> rest of you.> >>
Mike Manning> >>> >> Fellow Cyclists- FYI, on a note I received from a>
>> Tri-athlete who rolls in our neighborhood!> >>> >> Part of a group I
was riding with yesterday was> >> ticketed $335 apiece for rolling
though the stop> >> signs at the intersection of North Plains Rd and> >>
Glencoe. The officer indicated that the north plains> >> PD has stepped
up ticketing cyclists in the area> >> since the rider was killed a few
weeks ago. Beware.> >>> >> Lindsay Kandra> >> Portland TriClub> >>
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