Steve Brown
The key point, here is that bad drivers exist where one lives. I
average an incident a day when I ride in the West Hills, but Dunthorpe
is the worst.
Steve Brown
On May 18, 2006, at 10:00 AM, K P wrote:
> I agree with the city/country evaluation here. The worst treatment
> seems to come from Portland?s east side (where I live) but I think I
> know why. There are so many idiot cyclists close-in SE/NE it?s
> insane. Even I get road rage when crazy Hawthorne hippys veer in and
> out of traffic with no regard for laws or efficiency of
> people-movement because they think they own the roads. Forcing me to
> drive 10 MPH down a main artery because you can?t hold a line on the
> right isn?t particularly fair either ? especially when they do it on
> purpose which is often in my experience. I can?t tell you how many
> people I?ve almost hit on 39th who were disobeying traffic laws, with
> dark clothing, and no reflectors or lights on their bikes at night.
> It?s maddening!
>
> Yes, I too have almost been hit on several occasions by all sorts of
> vehicles and some of my teammates and I have been victims of very
> scary harassment by certain men driving Washington-plated SUV?s with
> ?EAT OUT? license plates
> But I think we law-abiding cyclists are the minority so as much as I
> hate being harassed by drivers, I do understand their frustration with
> bikes. It?s not about us but it affects us nonetheless.
>
> Action Item: So do what I do ? yell at any idiot on a bike who?s
> impeding traffic or breaking laws. Until we can all behave safely as
> cyclists, we can?t pick on drivers who dislike cyclists unless the
> driver is behaving unsafely themselves. All we can do is obey laws and
> try to earn drivers' respect and trust by being good kids. Oh and
> also, spreading the word amongst everyone you know that you're a
> cyclist does help. The more people feel personally invested in the
> safety of YOU as a cyclist, they b ecome more invested in the safety
> of all cyclists.
>
>
>
> From: "Evan MacKenzie"
> To:
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Bad drivers, etc
> Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 09:38:10 -0700
>
> Well, let me just offer this little tidbit:
>
> I lived in Baker City for about a year. Out there, just about everybody
> has a truck. At first I was a little nervous about riding out on
> country
> roads dressed in lycra. But you know what? The people out there were
> some of the most courteous drivers I have ever had the pleasure to
> share
> a road with. Many of them wave hello as the drive by in the other
> direction.
>
> The only time I was ever hassled was when I was riding my townie down
> Main Street, in jeans no less, and some little junior high punk kid
> yelled faggot at me. When I turned around and came back down the street
> he yelled it again. When I started riding toward him he ran.
>
> Of course, in Baker County (10 times the area and 1/10th the population
> of Yamhill County), chances are you can ask around and quickly find out
> who the offending person is, if you don't know them already.
>
> When I lived on the east side of Portland, I was hit not once, but
> twice
> where I-5 northbound drivers exit and turn right into the Lloyd
> district. I was pushed off the road when cars carelessly veered into
> the
> bike lane for no reason, and I landed on some old lady's hood when she
> passed me and immediately turned right going down Broadway. This all
> happened in the course of about two years. I was in the bike lane, with
> the right of way, every time.
>
> A friend of mine once said giving someone a car (any car) is like
> giving
> them alcohol. They just become stupid. Heaven forbid that person is
> actually drinking too.
>
> Oh yeah, and after all this banter about bad drivers, rights,
> responsibilities, the law, etc., I still stand by my cyclist's rule of
> the road:
>
> Law don't mean s%*t when you're dead.
>
>
> Thanks to all who showed up and rode the Ride of Silence last night.
> Thanks to John for taking the time to organize it.
>
>
> -Evan
>
>
> ------------- __o
> ---------- _ '\<,_
> ----------(_)/ (_)______Get on your bikes and ride!
>
>
>
>
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Steve Brown
Steve Brown Company Inc.
6435 SW Parkhill Drive
Portland, Oregon 97239
503.293.1683
503.293.6009f
503.781.3631c
sbrown@stevebrowncompany.com