Pink Panther
Not all but most. I had a Beaverton Motorcycle Officer threaten to taze me while still on my bike. He came up from behind with his siren on. I was shocked to see him behind me, and managed to let my thought slip to verbalization "You have got to be kiddin me?" His response was, "Im not. Pull over or ill taze you." Did i mention this was out on Bald Peak on some back country road, where there was no traffic or anything. It was for not putting my foot down at a stop sign when i came to a halt(track stand) at an intersection; an intersection you can see a mile in each direction with little to no traffic. He was quite angry and was in my face yelling, close enough he was spitting on me, the entire time. I was polite at first, but he just kept yelling, so i quite talking and stood there silently, which seemed to make him more and more angry. Unfortunately i got a 300 dollar ticket because he "had to teach me and us other dumb cyclist a lesson." Too bad i was too shelled from 4 hrs of a horrific interval and wet ride to think straight enough to get his badge number. Although the judge gave me much of the same "this will teach you a lesson" treatment as well. Got to love our justice system.
From: barretfishner@hotmail.com
To: rabbitxcr@hotmail.com
Subject: FW: [OBRA Chat] I almost got arrested today while on a bike ride!
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:41:33 -0800
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:21:27 -0800
From: ewascent@gmail.com
To: rondot@spiritone.com
CC: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] I almost got arrested today while on a bike ride!
"Remember it was just that
one guy. Not all the officers."
Since I race against at least one Portland PD racer I know for a fact that not all cops are biased against cyclists or citizens minding their own business. I have been generally impressed with the demeanor of the cops that have pulled me over for general vehicular chicanery.
On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 4:06 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser wrote:
Scott,
The interaction is finished at this point, but
my understanding with regard to Portland Police, is they are supposed
to give you their name or business card or some such ID requirement now.
Maybe it has not started yet. I am pretty sure I would not be trying to
take a photo of an officer while he/she is in control of the situation... which
even when this type of escalation takes place... the officer is the boss.
If what you describe about your interaction with this person is accurate, he was
a bit off the charts in my opinion. Anybody stopping along that bluff
creates a potential hazard. Especially a motor vehicle. And you
would think a police officer would recognize this more than a Joe or Jane
Citizen. This officer knew that anyone coming along would need to go
around you guys (and thus into traffic).... probably causing much more danger
than what he said you caused. I think this guys was on edge. Many
people ride this area and do what you describe.
I pass riders along that section of Willamette
Blvd. all the time in the same manner. This has never happened to
me. I have been passed there as well, but am less apt to pay much
attention to when the next motor vehicle also comes by from behind. I am
always on my guard in that area along the bluff because there is real danger
there around the potential crashes from motor vehicles turning left and the ones
behind them either rear-ending them or skidding into bike lane / riders.
Keep your eyes on the skid marks on that section of roadway and you will see
what I mean. A few years ago I stopped while riding that section (put my
bike over on a grass section) and cut blackberries back that were hanging in the
bike lane. A patrol car went by while I was doing this (driver slowed and
looked at what I was doing) but did not stop. The next day a city crew was
out mowing and weed-eating. I do not know if my work had anything to
do with that, but I did it because I see a large number of riders along that
lane who are pretty intimidated by the fast moving traffic. They do
not need additional obstacles. Traffic safety in that bike
lane (in-bound toward the city center) is very much impacted by anything (people
on blades / skateboards, joggers, busses stopped at pick up areas, cars driving
or stopped in it, especially any of the above going the wrong
direction. To be honest, my most dangerous situations have been when
coming upon the UP cross country team out running / training. I even
talked to their coach about how dangerous it was to have 6-12 riders running in
that lane. I told him I was not as concerned about riders that
were very competent on their bikes, but riders not as experienced and the fact
that one is never sure what auto drivers will do when those situations
arise. The posted speed there is 35, but I know for a fact that
40-45+ is the norm especially for commuters in the morning and afternoon.
His response did not satisfy me (but I have to admit I have not seen groups (as
large) of his team running since) in that his solution was to have his runners
move into the lane of traffic to let riders go by. This can really confuse
"everybody". I say a heads up in that area almost all the
time.
Hope your blood pressure is good and the rest of
your day is much better. Since police officers are "people" as well, I
hope his BP is lower and he is having a better time about now. Maybe even
coming to grips with the fact he overreacted. Remember it was just that
one guy. Not all the officers. No I am not at all employed by the
police dept and do not have any family employed by them or other departments
(although my mom told my I had an uncle who was a Texas border patrol
officer).
take care out there.
ron
ps.......You probably handled it much better than I
would have. I might be sitting in a cell right now.
----- Original Message -----
From:
Scott
Fitzwater
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 1:22
PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] I almost got
arrested today while on a bike ride!
This is simply unbelievable. I was on a 2 hr bike ride on an
unexpectedly pleasant day of sunshine. Riding on N Willamette Blvd just past U
of P on the bike path toward downtown. I was riding about 22 mph and
approached another bike rider in the bike lane who was riding significantly
slower. I looked over my left shoulder, saw that I has safe distance from the
auto traffic behind me, signaled with my left hand/arm that I was coming out,
went around the other bike rider, merged back into the bike lane and continued
on at my 22 mph pace.
Next thing I know, there is a vehicle behind me
siren blipping and lights flashing. Huh, is this guy pulling me over? I guess
he is. I stop, the SUV size vehicle pulls over and the cop jumps out saying I
failed to yield when I left the bike lane, entered his lane and passed the
bike rider. His voice was raised and he's acting angry. I kid you not!! I
asked him to calm down and he gets madder. I told him that I felt I safely
executed the pass by looking behind, saw the safe distance and signaled. He
disagreed again and threatened to ticket me. He asked for my ID. Luckily, I'd
forgotten to bring any and he yelled "god damnit" when I told him. The
"discussion" was devolving into "yes you did, no I didn't" and he was
obviously in control (at one point he said "you're not free to go") so I
finally said ok, you're right and just stared at him. He then called on his
radio and asked if a car was nearby (presumably to arrest me??). I guess none
were since one didn't show up.
The dude (who is a Sargent, by the way)
then takes down my name, address, phone number and goes back into his vehicle.
This whole time we're pulled over on the right, the cop vehicle is blocking
the bike lane and all bike riders are having to leave the bike lane, enter the
traffic lane and ride around us. Finally, he returns and has written me a
warning. I ask what it meant and he said "nothing". I said I was sorry for the
hassle, he said nothing so I rode off. Weird experience.
Portland's
finest? Oink oink.
Scott
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