Darell C. Provencher
This morning I was coming back from a team ride out to the Banks area and
back, and linked up with Carl Hoefer on the way back to Liberty HS via North
Plains. At about 10:50 am, Carl and I were riding single file on NW Glencoe
Rd, just a few hundred yds from the West Union and Glencoe Rd intersection,
when a guy in a dark green Range Rover pulled up next to us, rolled down his
passenger window and began screaming expletives at us. He then tried to run
us off the road. When he reached the intersection, he stopped, got out of
his car, and approaches us screaming, giving us the finger, and saying to us
(and even apparently to bewildered cyclists approaching the intersection
from the east on West Union), "Stay off the road or I will run you off the
road." Carl and I moved around his vehicle (stopping at the stop sign and
putting foot down) and turned east onto West Union. The driver went
straight on Glencoe, still screaming out his window and flipping us off. I
filed a complaint to Washington County Sheriff, and also ended up talking to
North Plains reserve police officer Matt Brady. Officer Brady grew up in the
area, is a cyclist as well, and knows this individual. We had a very
constructive conversation, and he mentioned other reports today of cyclists
riding "three or four abreast" and blocking traffic. Maybe this driver came
across some of these situations, and decided to take his anger out on us
(which is still unacceptable and dangerous).
So if you're riding in the North Plains area:
- Keep an eye out for a dark green Range Rover, Oregon license plate 375
ENW. This guy has a big anger issue and should be (in my opinion) considered
unpredictable.
- When you're riding on these great-but-narrow roads -- use common sense
and obey the traffic laws. Oregon law may allow you to ride 2 abreast, but
don't abuse it. Ride single file when there's little or no shoulder and be
courteous to motorists. Come to a full stop at stop signs. Recommend a foot
dab as well in North Plains.
- Be courteous to the reserve officers in our communities. These guys
have a tough job. Just ask our fellow police/bike racers, Greg Magnus and
Chauncey (the Sheriff) Curl
- Be safe out there
Thanks,
Darell