randya

Here's a freshly minted blog, apparently encouraged by all the 'bikes vs. cars' stories in the Oregonian this month...we'll see how long it lasts. I haven't even been to the local craigslist rants page, that's usually another good place to find people spewing bike hate.

Speedo

Is she right about the RQTC?

Speedo

randya

the RQTC is a really screwed up location which has taken years to sort out, mostly because of bad initial design and a transit agency that was unwilling to negotiate for so long, and now because there is a sewer construction project going on; but see jonathan's comment on myra's blog for more info, things are finally moving forward

John E

This "us versus them" stuff gets old. People unable to see reality from the vantage points of others are the real problem.

Sammiches

the "bikenazi" flag is funny

mccook

"Bikers are either illiterate or just plane stupid."

uhhh....

RobertHurst

Seems like the big problem in Portland this summer has been bicyclists yelling at other bicyclists from cars.

adriel

I think this shows that whether they are on a bike or in a car, there will always be people who are jerks in traffic, I would still rather have an angry person on a bike than a car, I have a much better chance of living through the incident.

Johnny_Monkey

The comments are pretty funny.

donnamb 

With alcohol & testosterone involved, no less.

RickAccused

score 1 for bicyclists.

genec

But is it really an US versus THEM situation... many cyclists drive... so they see both sides of the issues. Few motorists cycle. They can't see the other side of the issues at all.

veloGeezer

I thought they were referring to our complete lack of knowledge about airplanes. In fact, I keep getting people educating me about the performence capabilities of Saab jets everytime I bash their commercials

RobertHurst

Drunkenness, self-righteousness, and sexual frustration. A potent brew.

randya

All the finger-pointing and 'the myth of the scofflaw cyclist' have exactly zero to do with alcohol and testosterone. That was just an excuse to start this year's session of cyclist-bashing. In response, this week the cops have been out in force on an almost daily basis picking off cyclists at stop signs.

ChezJfrey

And yet again the Oregonian's front page today with the "Cops Warn Bicyclists to Obey, or Else!" crap. Good thing all the other people traveling in/on their respective modalities are strictly obeying so as to free the policing resources to hone in on the real threat to our societal utopia - cyclists hellbent on anarchy, mayhem and DANGER!

This flame-war just never ends around here.

Blue Order

They haven't been picking me off at stop signs.


I don't mind at all that the cops are out enforcing the laws. But that above-the-fold "warning" to cyclists to "obey the law or else" was WAY over the top.

randya

me neither.



It still doesn't mean I agree one bit with the misguided and selective police enforcement we are seeing right now, or the stupidity of the Oregonian. But they sure must be selling a lot of papers, by the way they continue carrying on...

Actually , I rolled up to the stop sign at SE Caruthers and Waters this afternoon just as one of the (rare) 18 wheelers was rolling out the gate of the construction site. The driver actually waved me through the stop sign, but I pointed to the sign and shrugged and let him go first. Luckily I stopped far enough back, it's amazing how different the rear wheel track of these big rigs is from the front wheel track. This is how people get smooshed by the truck that right-hooks them. It seems the construction site should have a spotter on duty when the truck are pulling out...I've seen the construction guys watching that gate and intersection when there is no truck activity, but there was no one around at the critical time...

randya

btw, I think the Oregonian or this Myra crazy could actually be culpable for road rage incidents inspired by what they are publishing. How likely does anyone think this is this from a legal standpoint? Could you actually make it stick?

Blue Order

Oh, I don't mind at all that they're enforcing the laws. The only bone I have to pick is that they don't enforce the laws regularly, and across the board.

Everybody needs to chill, stop pointing their fingers at that OTHER mode of transportation, and pay more attention to observing their own duties. That, and a little courtesy extended to each other, would go a long way toward making the road environment safer and more pleasant.

Agreed on the turning radius of the big trucks. I was walking with Ms. Blue Order, and watched one go up on the sidewalk as he turned. I explained to Ms. Blue Order that if she had been at that curb on her bike (or even as a pedestrian on the corner), she would have been crushed. Hopefully she'll remember that after seeing it happen.

Blue Order

I think it would be very tough to make it stick, short of them saying "Go out and get a biker NOW! Do it! NOW!"

But that said, I also think there's at least a bit of "monkey see, monkey do" involved.

randya

Isn't this what Lars Larson and some of those other juvenile AM shock jocks do?

Blue Order

I don't bother listening to Lars.

But I think they tend to toe the line just this side of legal.

ChezJfrey

Hehe, I finally read the blog.

"Call them [Tri-Met] at 503/ 238-ride call them and tell them you do not want to see bikes inside the RQTC. Speak for the bus drivers who will no be asked or polled or heard in this life saving issue. Tell them your complaint is for General Manager Fred Hansen."

Yeah, good idea...call the General Manager of the organization that has already posted a sign to disallow bicycles and tell tham that you don't want to see bikes in the transit center.

Brilliant! Tri-Met has already come to the conclusion that they don't want bicycles there and posted notification, so calling them to reiterate what they have already concluded and acted upon is a waste of time. What a freakin' dumbazz.

randya

I went for a ride Saturday evening and within the course of an hour and within blocks of each other in SW Portland (on SW 19th at Salmon and on SW Salmon at 20th) I was honked at, intimidated with motor vehicles and got into shouting matches with two separate motorists for simply taking the lane in situations where I was legally allowed to, had no other choice but to, and was not impeding traffic in the least. The motorist's message in both cases was 'get the ***** out of the lane, you don't belong there'. For this I blame the Oregonian, the PPB, and especially Sam Adams and PDOT, the latter two for their almost complete and utter silence over the past two weeks while the Oregonian and the rest of the local media outlets have run roughshod over cyclists' rights. Also, where are our independent leaders like Joe Kurmanski and Bob Mionske? They've been pretty silent during this period as well. It's getting to the point where I almost don't want to ride on the streets anymore, the atmosphere on the roads is that bad!