Catlin, Wil
Yup, it's hard enough for folks to follow the details of even this one
specific situation.
There was no lane holding by the cyclist: that's the problem. The 'on
ramp' there is its own lane in parallel with the two on Barbur that it
joins. Form that point down to the Front St. pullout (or so) there are
three lanes on Barbur.
So, the cyclist legally elected not to follow the bike lane and remained
in the right lane. Fine. BUT, once he passed Capitol HWY he found
himself no longer in the right lane but in the center lane. Bus is in
the right lane, heading on down the road toward its next stop like all
buses do when they aren't out hunting for cyclists. Fine again, in that
at least the bus is not demonstrably hunting. However, the cyclist then
decides he just can't wait for the bus to pass, in fact wants to beat
that damn bus, demoralize the indifferent, godless thing, and forthwith
treats all and sundry to a mortality-flaunting display of horsepower and
senseless verve by outpacing and then Oh! cutting past the beast,
through the lane, a hair's breadth from harm, safely into the ... bike
lane. Surely the stuff of demi-gods on earth, yes? Cripes.
At least, at the very, very least, if cornered and stopped, if pressed
by cops or irate drivers, the cyclist wouldn't have gazed bewildered at
the gathered crowd and said... "Bus? I never saw it."
________________________________
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Justin Serna
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 12:03 PM
To: Chris Alling; Obra
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] What was he thinking.
I would have to agree with Chris in this situation if the cyclist was in
fact traveling at the speeds you described he had every right to hold
the lane he was in and the bus should have given him the right of way.
However I will agree with you that merging in front of a bus at that
speed and proximity is very dangerous. I have found that quite often
bus drivers can be the worst offenders when it comes to giving way to
cyclist. Unfortunately with the increased popularity of cycling we will
see many different types of riders just as we see in those who drive
automobiles. I think the key is to judge each situation as an
individual case and then remember that everyone has a point of view, but
I guess that would be a bit idealistic.
Cheers and safe training and riding..........
J. Serna
#1250
________________________________
From: Chris Alling
To: Obra
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2009 10:54:05 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] What was he thinking.
>From your description it sounds as if the bus should have yielded the
right of way to the cyclist and he should be lambasted for not applying
the brakes and yielding. It sounds like the bike was traveling legally
with the flow af traffic.
________________________________
From: JRaedeke@roguecc.edu
To: obra@list.obra.org
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 10:07:49 -0700
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] What was he thinking.
Amen !!! Let's all try to not give motorists any reasons to dislike
cyclist on the roadways. Let's make positive progress.
john
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Rosenfeld
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 9:38 AM
To: OBRA
Subject: [OBRA Chat] What was he thinking.
I am not one to publicly lambaste another cyclist but I witnessed such a
huge display stupidity this morning I have to take the time to vent.
The incident took place where Capitol Highway merges onto Barbur Blvd.
I have attached a picture of the area to refresh memories.
There is a bike path for those heading towards downtown to go around the
overpass and then merge back onto Barbur Blvd safely.
It was about 7:45am, pouring down rain, and very low visibility.
I was driving (yes I know...you can pick on me for driving) towards
downtown and was passing under the overpass. I see a cyclist with
minimal lighting and dark cycling gear, The rain jacket was Red, bluish
helmet. I would have to gauge this cyclist as a racer due to the type
of bike, smooth spin, and speed at which he was traveling, also the gear
was indicative of someone who knows how to ride in the rain....speed
would be maybe 25 to 30 mph. They decide to bypass the bike path
round-about and go under the over pass.
As I close the distance and pass under the overpass I see a Trimet bus
coming down the ramp getting ready to merge onto Barbur from Capitol.
The cyclist stands up and starts to sprint.
The Bus increases speed.
I slow down in case the cyclist needs to veer into my lane....Every
muscle in my body tenses and I mutter a curse under my breath through
clenched jaws as the cyclist cuts across in front of the bus. And this
is no joke.....there was only 5 feet of clearance between the rear wheel
of the cyclist and the bus...it was even less by the time the cyclist
clears the bumper of the bus and is safely across the lane.
The brake lights on the bus never even flickered.
I really thought I was going to watch this guy die....not just hurt but
actually dead. The bus was doing at least mid 30's and would have
smeared the cyclist for at least 100+ feet before stopping.
This is the sort of thing that gives people legitimate complaints
against cyclists.
I know the argument that some experienced cyclists have with regards to
being in control of their environment and know the limitations of their
handling skills and speeds....but for goodness sake this was just down
right STUPID!!
I hope the cyclist is in fact a racer, a member of OBRA, and is reading
this. My message to you is this:
Your actions impact more than just you. If you had been wrong in your
abilities to clear the buses bumper, I and at least 30+ other people
would have watch you die. Horribly. Think of how the driver of the
bus would have felt knowing he or she had taken your life. For what??
30 extra seconds? Not wanting to deal a little bit of gravel? Think
about this before you do something like this again. Your
actions.....your decisions....have consequences to yourself and others.
I am a cyclist. I have been riding both competitively and for leisure
on and off for 25 years. I state this to lend credence to my assessment
of the situation.
Mike Rosenfeld
________________________________
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