Rick C Johnson
The San Diego area is very much a "where you ride and when" affair. The
difference between a pleasant ride and a harrowing one can be as simple
as choosing one road over another, or the time of day. In general I
avoid the "sprawl connector routes" and those leading to the casinos. I
don't ride the time of day when people are rushing to and from their
distant jobs. Then it can be beautiful.
The rest of the time the place drives me crazy...
Rick Johnson
Bend, Oregon
"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it" - George Santayana
Kevin wrote:
> Wow, I've spent 6 weeks riding in San Diego since June. To include
> San Diego on that list you must have been riding in a different
> location than I did. I was SO glad to get back to Oregon where the
> roads are in MUCH better shape and the drivers, while not
> perfect, are a lot more "tolerant" of cyclists.
>
> Kevin
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> What is happening in Kevin's corner of the bike world?
> http://the-whir-of-spokes-in-air.blogspot.com
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Joe Cipale
> *To:* Pink Panther
> *Cc:* obra@list.obra.org
> *Sent:* Tue, January 19, 2010 8:29:13 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] I almost got arrested today while on a bike
> ride!
>
> Sorry folks,
>
> Everytime I hear that PDX is the 'friendliset bike city in America', I
> simply have to laugh. I have ridden in MANY cities that treay
> cyclists 10 TIMES better than Portland does:
> SF
> LA,
> Seattle,
> Phoenix,
> San Diego,
> Miami,
> ...
>
> Tell me when to stop.
>
> Joe
>
> Pink Panther wrote:
>
> >
> > 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 sho=
> > cked to see him behind me, and managed to let my thought slip to
> verbalizat=
> > ion "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
> countr=
> > y road, where there was no traffic or anything. It was for not
> putting my f=
> > oot down at a stop sign when i came to a halt(track stand) at an
> intersecti=
> > on; 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 y=
> > elling, so i quite talking and stood there silently, which seemed to
> make h=
> > im 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 she=
> > lled from 4 hrs of a horrific interval and wet ride to think
> straight enoug=
> > h to get his badge number. Although the judge gave me much of the
> same "thi=
> > s will teach you a lesson" treatment as well. Got to love our
> justice syste=
> > m.
> >
> > 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=20
> > 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 busi=
> > ness. I have been generally impressed with the demeanor of the cops
> that ha=
> > ve pulled me over for general vehicular chicanery.=20
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 4:06 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser
> > .com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Scott,
> > The interaction is finished at this point, but=20
> > my understanding with regard to Portland Police, is they are supposed=20
> > to give you their name or business card or some such ID requirement
> now.=20=
> > =20
> > Maybe it has not started yet. I am pretty sure I would not be
> trying to=20
> > take a photo of an officer while he/she is in control of the
> situation... w=
> > hich=20
> > even when this type of escalation takes place... the officer is the
> boss.=
> > =20=20
> > If what you describe about your interaction with this person is
> accurate, h=
> > e was=20
> > a bit off the charts in my opinion. Anybody stopping along that
> bluff=20
> > creates a potential hazard. Especially a motor vehicle. And you=20
> > would think a police officer would recognize this more than a Joe or
> Jane=
> > =20
> > Citizen. This officer knew that anyone coming along would need to go=20
> > around you guys (and thus into traffic).... probably causing much
> more dang=
> > er=20
> > than what he said you caused. I think this guys was on edge. Many=20
> > people ride this area and do what you describe.
> > I pass riders along that section of Willamette=20
> > Blvd. all the time in the same manner. This has never happened to=20
> > me. I have been passed there as well, but am less apt to pay much=20
> > attention to when the next motor vehicle also comes by from behind.
> I am=
> > =20
> > always on my guard in that area along the bluff because there is
> real dange=
> > r=20
> > there around the potential crashes from motor vehicles turning left
> and the=
> > ones=20
> > behind them either rear-ending them or skidding into bike lane /
> riders.=20=
> > =20
> > Keep your eyes on the skid marks on that section of roadway and you
> will se=
> > e=20
> > what I mean. A few years ago I stopped while riding that section
> (put my=
> > =20
> > bike over on a grass section) and cut blackberries back that were
> hanging i=
> > n the=20
> > bike lane. A patrol car went by while I was doing this (driver
> slowed and=
> > =20
> > looked at what I was doing) but did not stop. The next day a city
> crew was=
> > =20
> > out mowing and weed-eating. I do not know if my work had anything to=20
> > do with that, but I did it because I see a large number of riders
> along tha=
> > t=20
> > lane who are pretty intimidated by the fast moving traffic. They do=20
> > not need additional obstacles. Traffic safety in that bike=20
> > lane (in-bound toward the city center) is very much impacted by
> anything (p=
> > eople=20
> > on blades / skateboards, joggers, busses stopped at pick up areas,
> cars dri=
> > ving=20
> > or stopped in it, especially any of the above going the wrong=20
> > direction. To be honest, my most dangerous situations have been when=20
> > coming upon the UP cross country team out running / training. I even=20
> > talked to their coach about how dangerous it was to have 6-12 riders
> runnin=
> > g in=20
> > that lane. I told him I was not as concerned about riders that=20
> > were very competent on their bikes, but riders not as experienced
> and the f=
> > act=20
> > that one is never sure what auto drivers will do when those
> situations=20
> > arise. The posted speed there is 35, but I know for a fact that=20
> > 40-45+ is the norm especially for commuters in the morning and
> afternoon.=
> > =20=20
> > His response did not satisfy me (but I have to admit I have not seen
> groups=
> > (as=20
> > large) of his team running since) in that his solution was to have
> his runn=
> > ers=20
> > move into the lane of traffic to let riders go by. This can really
> confuse=
> > =20
> > "everybody". I say a heads up in that area almost all the=20
> > time.
> > Hope your blood pressure is good and the rest of=20
> > your day is much better. Since police officers are "people" as
> well, I=20
> > hope his BP is lower and he is having a better time about now.
> Maybe even=
> > =20
> > coming to grips with the fact he overreacted. Remember it was just
> that=20
> > one guy. Not all the officers. No I am not at all employed by the=20
> > police dept and do not have any family employed by them or other
> department=
> > s=20
> > (although my mom told my I had an uncle who was a Texas border patrol=20
> > officer).
> > take care out there.
> > ron
> > ps.......You probably handled it much better than I=20
> > would have. I might be sitting in a cell right now.=20=20=20=20
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----=20
> > =20=20
> > From:=20
> > Scott=20
> > Fitzwater=20
> > To: obra@list.obra.org =20
> >
> > Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 1:22=20
> > PM
> > Subject: [OBRA Chat] I almost got=20
> > arrested today while on a bike ride!
> > =20=20
> > This is simply unbelievable. I was on a 2 hr bike ride on an=20
> > unexpectedly pleasant day of sunshine. Riding on N Willamette Blvd
> just p=
> > ast U=20
> > of P on the bike path toward downtown. I was riding about 22 mph and=20
> > approached another bike rider in the bike lane who was riding
> significant=
> > ly=20
> > slower. I looked over my left shoulder, saw that I has safe
> distance from=
> > the=20
> > auto traffic behind me, signaled with my left hand/arm that I was
> coming =
> > out,=20
> > went around the other bike rider, merged back into the bike lane
> and cont=
> > inued=20
> > on at my 22 mph pace.=20
> >
> > Next thing I know, there is a vehicle behind me=20
> > siren blipping and lights flashing. Huh, is this guy pulling me
> over? I g=
> > uess=20
> > he is. I stop, the SUV size vehicle pulls over and the cop jumps
> out sayi=
> > ng I=20
> > failed to yield when I left the bike lane, entered his lane and
> passed th=
> > e=20
> > bike rider. His voice was raised and he's acting angry. I kid you
> not!! I=
> > =20
> > asked him to calm down and he gets madder. I told him that I felt I
> safel=
> > y=20
> > executed the pass by looking behind, saw the safe distance and
> signaled. =
> > He=20
> > disagreed again and threatened to ticket me. He asked for my ID.
> Luckily,=
> > I'd=20
> > forgotten to bring any and he yelled "god damnit" when I told him.
> The=20
> > "discussion" was devolving into "yes you did, no I didn't" and he
> was=20
> > obviously in control (at one point he said "you're not free to go")
> so I=
> > =20
> > finally said ok, you're right and just stared at him. He then
> called on h=
> > is=20
> > radio and asked if a car was nearby (presumably to arrest me??). I
> guess =
> > none=20
> > were since one didn't show up.
> >
> > The dude (who is a Sargent, by the way)=20
> > then takes down my name, address, phone number and goes back into
> his veh=
> > icle.=20
> > This whole time we're pulled over on the right, the cop vehicle is
> blocki=
> > ng=20
> > the bike lane and all bike riders are having to leave the bike
> lane, ente=
> > r the=20
> > traffic lane and ride around us. Finally, he returns and has
> written me a=
> > =20
> > warning. I ask what it meant and he said "nothing". I said I was
> sorry fo=
> > r the=20
> > hassle, he said nothing so I rode off. Weird experience.
> >
> > Portland's=20
> > finest? Oink oink.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > =20=20
> > =20=20
> >
> >
> > =20=20
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing=20
> > list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe:=20
> > obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --=20
> > Eric Aldinger
> > =20=09=09=20=09=20=20=20=09=09=20=20
> > _________________________________________________________________
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