Mike Murray
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Marek, Joe [mailto:jo-@co.clackamas.or.us]
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 09:33 AM
To: 'Mike Murray'
Subject: RE: Bicycle races
Mike,
Thanks for the reply regarding crossing centerline. The citizen caller I
dealt with did not have a number or description of the rider who nearly
collided with his son.
The issue of follow or not follow the rules rests squarely with each
participant. As the agency issuing the permits, I can't tolerate such
violations because of the obvious safety issues. As you and the other OBRA
officials talk with riders at rider meetings and through the OBRA chat, it's
important to stress to the riders that agencies will not issue permits to
race on the public roads if they are deluged with complaints after each
event. So, if they want to keep racing on pubic roads, then they need to
follow the rules set out for them and highlighted before each event.
My dealings with OBRA have always been good, both from the agency side
issuing permits as well as from the race participant side. I guess all you
can do is continue to stress the safety issues to the riders and race
promoters. I would hate to see a few riders with poor judgment spoil it for
the hundreds of others who do follow the rules.
As far as future races in Clackamas County, I will want to work with you,
other OBRA officials and the race promoter to figure out how the key safety
rules can be more effectively enforced, before, during and after an event.
Please try to get this issue out to the riders so they know this is a big
deal.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks and ride safe.
JOE
_________________________
Joseph F. Marek, PE, PTOE
Traffic Engineer
Clackamas County DTD
Sunnybrook Service Center
9101 SE Sunnybrook Blvd.
Clackamas, OR 97015
Tele: 503.353.4705
Fax: 503.353.4659
email: jo-@co.clackamas.or.us
web: www.co.clackamas.or.us
_________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Murray [mailto:mike.m-@obra.org]
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 11:38 PM
To: jo-@co.clackamas.or.us
Subject: Bicycle races
Brian Witty forwarded your message regarding riders in the oncoming lane. I
want to make sure that you are aware that this issue is also very high
priority for OBRA. Crossing the centerline in a race is against the OBRA
racing rules, regardless of whether there is any oncoming traffic or whether
there is visibility to allow this. The OBRA racing rules state:
"17.1.2 - General rules
-Unless instructed by the Chief Referee, all riders must stay to the right
of the centerline, or another point on the road designated by the Chief
Referee. "
The penalty for this rule is disqualification from the event.
Unfortunately, like all other rules, enforcement can be a problem. It is,
of course, not possible to promise that all the individual riders will
always follow the rules. We strive very hard to identify and penalize
riders who cross the centerline and who can be identified. This is often
difficult to do from a practical point of view since it is hard for
officials to identify riders over the centerline while following a race in a
car. We also encourage riders in the field to enforce this rule and to
report violators to the officials. In fact the subject of riders crossing
the centerline generates much discussion on our e-mail lists. Since Brian
forwarded your note to the OBRA mailing list I expect that another round of
discussions will ensue. In general, I think that we are very successful at
keeping races confined only to the right hand lane. Certainly most of the
OBRA membership sees crossing the centerline as not only cheating but a
potentially dangerous activity. There are the rare recalcitrant individuals
who we continue to try to identify and weed out.
Almost 20 years ago I attended the only death I have ever seen at a bike
race that occurred when a new, unlicensed rider cross the centerline and
stuck an oncoming car. I also testified at the resulting liability trial.
Neither of these experiences was something I wish to repeat.
Please don't hesitate to get back to me if you have any more input on the
subject. In fact, I would love to have some identifying information on any
riders who were seen in the left lane so that we could enforce a penalty
against them.
Mike Murray
OBRA Board member