Advocacy & Safety - Polk County, Oregon

I notice in the article that both homicides are called accidents. Both happened in broad daylight. Yeah this is where I ride.

http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22820/how-safe-is-it-to-cycle-in-polk-county

I notice in the article that both homicides are called accidents. Both happened in broad daylight. Yeah this is where I ride.

http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22820/how-safe-is-it-to-cycle-in-polk-county

I donno, right here they are not called "accidents."


There have been three fatal collisions between bikes and motorists in the county since 2002, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

That includes the crashes that claimed the lives of Henry "Hank" Bersani on Highway 99W just north of Monmouth on March 31 and David Apperson on Jan. 27 on Hopewell Road. The last cycling death before this year happened in the city of Independence in 2007.

I found that article frustrating on three counts. First of all, there is a "roads are for cars" attitude throughout the article. Like this quote from a bike mechanic:

You can take liberties when it's slow, but you need to get toward that shoulder when a car is coming," he [Dan Shell] said. "It all comes down to just being aware of traffic.
The second thing that really, really bothered me is that this is the perfect venue for mentioning Oregon's four-year-old safe passing of vulnerable users law (ORS 811.065). Wouldn't it have been great if the author, or one of the cyclists, had mentioned a motorist's duty to give the cyclists he/she passes room to fall in their direction? (Really, that is the distance required under Oregon law. Even a short rider is entitled to five feet.) The author could have gone all in and mentioned that cyclists have a right to the full lane on those narrow, shoulderless county roads. That would have been nice.

The third thing that got my goat in that article, aside from the recent killings of cyclists is the notion that we can all strategize when and where we ride. That's just ludicrous. Some of us are using bikes to get places, like work, school, shopping, doctor's appointments, family gatherings, sports events, and so on. Those can't all be done Sunday morning. Besides, the church-going folks tend to be some of the most aggressive motorists I encounter on Oregon roadways, much worse than the local log truck drivers I deal with daily. I try to avoid being on the road when they are coming/going from their gatherings.

unfortunately, all of my rides start out on roads I would probably not ride on if I had the choice. I think the best roads around here are the narrow, shoulderless roads. The roads with shoulders all have 55mph speed limits, and there really isn't all that much room to pass anyway. They've been pushing the new texting law, but I haven't seen any official mention of the new safe passing distance law.

Here roads with no shoulders are zoned 55.

Thanks TheHen, as I'm having a tough time being coherent with this.

Wow god bless them, lets pray drivers are more keen to cyclists in such a time when gas prices are indeed skyrocketing! Also, what law are you guys talking about?

We can advocate "take the lane" and try and live with "share the road" but truthfully there are times we, as the cyclist, need to acknowledge that we are a minority, we are the vulnerable participants, and we need to look out for ourselves. I ride on 3-6 lane 45-55 mph boulevards, two lane rural type roads with no paved shoulders, MUPs, pedestrian lanes adjacent to very heavily traveled commuter corridors, and residential streets getting to/from work. All have challenges. A primary thing I keep in mind is that this area is rated as one of the most dangerous areas in the nation for pedestrians and bicyclists...it seems hardly a week goes by without a death, serious injury, and/or hit & run. Hit & Run has become a very, very serious problem around here.

Be careful folks - standing by your "rights" and getting killed is just foolish. Gallant, but foolish. Nothing about riding a bicycle is worth your life.

The third thing that got my goat in that article, aside from the recent killings of cyclists is the notion that we can all strategize when and where we ride. That's just ludicrous. Some of us are using bikes to get places, like work, school, shopping, doctor's appointments, family gatherings, sports events, and so on. Those can't all be done Sunday morning. Besides, the church-going folks tend to be some of the most aggressive motorists I encounter on Oregon roadways, much worse than the local log truck drivers I deal with daily. I try to avoid being on the road when they are coming/going from their gatherings.


There are 5 churches within a mile of my apartment. Being out on the road on Wednesday nights is taking your life in your hands. The number of sanctimonious bumper stickers is inversely proportionate to the vehicle operator's skill and courtesy, I've noticed.

The number of sanctimonious bumper stickers is inversely proportionate to the vehicle operator's skill and courtesy, I've noticed.

THIS added a whole lot to the conversation.:wtf: