eric aldinger
I had a traffic court judge tell me the following "I do not consider it a
requirement to put your foot down when you come to a stop sign. Other
traffic judges may not understand the law in this way."
I still do track stands at signs and lights, but I know if I see an officer
I should put my foot down to signal a full stop to them. The officer is
trained to look for that foot going down to determine you are at a full
stop. You learn a lot at traffic school.
On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 12:06 PM, wrote:
> Actually, most of them are very nice and most times I deserved to be
> stopped anyway. I think some of this is a case of being tarred by the bad
> behavior of the many cyclists that do not follow the rules of the road. It
> is unfortunate.
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "eric aldinger"
> To: "Ron and Dorothy Strasser"
> Cc: obra@list.obra.org
> Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 4:21:27 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
> 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 <
> rondot@spiritone.com> 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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>
> --
> Eric Aldinger
>
>
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Eric Aldinger