Jerald M Powell

Hey folks... Having been riding bicycles in traffic for nearly fifty
years, I can tell you that the safest place (when stopped at a traffic
control device with cars and trucks also stopped there) is to be in
front of the nearest car or truck... never beside it. Forrester
recognized that reality with the "take the lane" strategy as well. If
you're right in front of even the least attentive driver, he/she can't
claim that you couldn't be seen... nor can you be surprised by that
driver suddenly cutting you off, or worse.

Jerry

On Mar 16, 2008, at 9:37 AM, Steve and Alli wrote:

> It's really to get cyclist's seen and out in front of stopped cars,
> to help
> prevent the "right hook" crash which is one of the most prevalent
> urban
> car-bike conflicts. It's typically only used with stoplight-
> controlled
> intersections. Check out this video if you're unfamiliar with their
> use:
> http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/how-to-use-a-bike-box/
>
> Steve Jorgensen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Doug Sears"
> To: "OBRA list list"
> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:19 AM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Portland's new bike box/green bike lane
>
>
>> Thanks for the pictures. After viewing them, I don't understand the
>> use of
>> the bike box. If you're over on the right in the bike lane, why
>> (and how)
>> would you move 6 feet or so to the left to be in the box while
>> stopped,
>> when you just have to move back to the right into the lane as soon
>> as the
>> light changes?
>>
>> --Doug Sears
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jonathan Maus"
>> To: "OBRA list list"
>> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 7:17 PM
>> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Portland's new bike box/green bike lane
>>
>>
>> Today, the city of Portland made good on a promise to try and make
>> our
>> roads safer after the two tragedies last October.
>>
>> here are some of the first photos of the new bike box and colored
>> lane. This one is at SE Hawthorne and 7th and is the first of 14
>> similar intersection treatments.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/2pfeup
>>
>> (note: the actual bike box has not been filled in with green paint
>> yet...that is expected to be finished on monday).
>>
>> cheers,
>> --Jonathan Maus
>>

Jerry Powell
USAC Level 1 Coach
1926 SW Madison St
Portland, OR 97205

503 222 7173
503 799 7823 (cellular)

jpowell@spiritone.com