RAY THOMAS

This is an announcement I clipped from Bike Portland this morning
> > Please join us:
> > Friday, November 16: Press Conference
> > 12:30 - Press conference at City Hall (1221 SW 4th Street)
> > Saturday, November 17: Community Rally in Waterfront Park
> > 12:00 Noon - Gather by Salmon Street Springs Fountain (between
> > Hawthorne Bridge and Morrison Bridge) to voice our concerns and
> > demonstrate our commitment to justice, equality, and respect for all
> > on the road.
> > Spurred on by the recent string of traffic collisions resulting in
> > cyclists' deaths and injuries, we are making an appeal to all levels
> > of our government and law enforcement, to the media, and to all
> > citizens who share the roads, to come together and work for a positive
> > change in our communities and in the streets.
> > Our concerns:
> > * The high toll of law-abiding cyclists killed and injured in
> > traffic collisions in recent months.
> > * The bias displayed by certain elements in our law enforcement
> > community, when responding or reporting on car-bike collisions.
> > * The apparent lack of accountability for motorists who cause
> > car-bike collisions resulting in injury or death.
> > * The "bikes vs. cars" rethoric used in certain media to frame the
> > recent string of cyclist fatalities.
> > * The frustration shared by many regarding the current state of
> > traffic safety education and road facilities that perpetuate
> > misunderstandings, confusion, friction, and rage.
> > We feel strongly that all these issues are unacceptable for a city
> > that is widely recognized as the "best city for cycling in the USA".
> > Our appeal:
> > * Make "safety of vulnerable road users" the #1 priority on the
> > agenda of our transportation planning & policy and traffic law
> > enforcement
> > * End the bias in traffic enforcement and police reporting related
> > to car-bike collisions.
> > * Change our law enforcement policies to investigate all car-bike
> > collisions requiring medical assistance and to issue citations for
> > obvious traffic violations causing these collisions.
> > * Replace the "bikes vs. cars" rhetoric with a positive message of
> > "sharing the road" in a respectful, responsible and courteous way.
> > * Adequately fund bicycle and pedestrian facilities to meet
> > expected demand 10 years out.
> > * A commitment by ALL to make concrete efforts to increase the
> > protection of vulnerable road users, through education, enforcement,
> > and engineering, and increased funding in these areas.
> > * A call to ALL users of the road to respect traffic laws and to
> > ride and drive in a responsible, safe and courteous manner.
> > This is not just about bicycles - this is a chance for the whole
> > community to come together and address the issues and frustrations we
> > ALL experience daily, whether driving, bicycling, or trying to walk
> > across the street. This is a call for change and action by all parties
> > to make a true commitment to share the roads and make our streets
> > safer for everyone.
> >
> > Please consider gathering before Saturday's rally at one of the
> > all-too-many sites around town where people have been killed while
> > bicycling or walking, and then riding or walking together to
> > Waterfront Park.
> > If you can lead a procession (by bike, or for closer-in sites, by bike
> > and foot), please let us know (eleanor"dot"blue"at"gmail"dot"com)
> > which site you will be leaving from, what time the procession will
> > need to leave for downtown, and if you would like a co-leader. Leaders
> > will choose a route downtown, set the pace, and make sure nobody gets
> > left behind. Procession times will depend on the starting point - they
> > should be timed to arrive at Salmon Street Springs by 11:45am. We'll
> > announce a list of gatherings on Thursday night.
> > We'll provide black and red armbands for ride leaders to distribute -
> > black to wear in memorial, red if you've been in a crash yourself.
> > Here is an incomplete list of gathering sites in Portland. There are
> > stars next to sites that still need leaders. Please let me know about
> > other sites that should be on this list (especially if you can lead or
> > co-lead the procession from there).
> > Downtown:
> > *SW 14th and Burnside - ghostbike for Tracey Sparling
> > *SW Broadway and Taylor - ghostbike for Kristine Okins
> > North Portland:
> > N Interstate and Greeley - ghostbike for Brett Jarolimek
> > 705 N Alberta - ghostbike
> > Northwest:
> > *NW 23rd and Quimby - memorial for pedestrian Sara Cogan
> > Northeast:
> > *NE MLK and Wygant - ghostbike for Chris Burris
> > NE 9th and Killingsworth - ghostbike
> > Southeast:
> > *SE Belmont and 41st - ghostbikes for Angela Leazenby and Orion
> > Shatushek
> > SE 37th and Taylor - cob lighthouse for Matthew Schekel
> > *SE Belmont and 34th - Curtis Lee Web
> > *600 SE 49th - ghostbike for Noah Cardamon
> > *SE 26th and Stark - ghostbike for Nick Bucher
> > *SE 11th and Stark - Daniel Hunt
> > *7606 SE Harold - ghostbike
> > *SE Foster and 115th - Jerry Hinatsu
> >
> > Ray Thomas
> > www.stc-law.com
> > www.oregonpedestrianrights.com
> > email rthomas@stc-law.com
> >