gschreckchat@comcast.net
Interesting in that it is not a requirement that you put your foot down. Just that you stop completely.
----- Original Message -----
From: rosenfeldma@gmail.com
To: "Scott Fitzwater" , obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 1:29:52 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] I almost got arrested today while on a bike ride!
Well that will put a damper on your day.
Reminds me of the ticket a very portly officer gave me in lake oswego for failure to put my foot down at a stop sign. He was yelling so loud and he was turning purple.
You cant win with them so you did the right thing in staying calm.
Sent via Android.
----- Reply message -----
From: "Scott Fitzwater"
Date: Mon, Jan 18, 2010 1:22 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] I almost got arrested today while on a bike ride!
To:
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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