The Portland Backlash
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The Portland Backlash
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.
Originally Posted by Myra
Bike Free Portland
Stopping the Bikenazi cold in their track. They want to win the fight for safe Portland streets by making everyone else pay for their roads, yield to their needs, and look out for their stupid stupid stupid driving. It's time to put these idiots back in their place.
Stopping the Bikenazi cold in their track. They want to win the fight for safe Portland streets by making everyone else pay for their roads, yield to their needs, and look out for their stupid stupid stupid driving. It's time to put these idiots back in their place.
Last edited by randya; 07-23-08 at 05:49 PM.
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Is she right about the RQTC?
Speedo
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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
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This "us versus them" stuff gets old. People unable to see reality from the vantage points of others are the real problem.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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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.
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With alcohol & testosterone involved, no less.
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"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
This flame-war just never ends around here.
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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...
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...
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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?
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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...
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...
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.
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But that said, I also think there's at least a bit of "monkey see, monkey do" involved.
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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.
"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.
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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!