We as cyclists risk our lives every day on the streets of Portland. Many of us have had near-misses and other altercations that left us rattled, angry, and feeling vulnerable. Yet the only people that ever hear about these incidents are our friends, families and riding buddies.
The media, the police and our elected officials usually don’t take notice until someone is killed. This needs to change.
If our elected officials and city leaders realized how dangerous our daily rides and commutes were, they would begin to take the needs of the bike community more seriously. Now is your time to speak out. If you have had a near-miss incident, or other dangerous interaction with a vehicle while riding your bike in or around Portland, please share your story below.
In your comment please include:
- The nearest cross streets of your incident.
- A short description of what happened.
- What neighborhood you’re from.
In a few weeks, I will draft a letter with all your comments attached and send it to the appropriate politicians and city leaders. Thank you for taking time to make your voice heard.
[For more close-calls, read this thread on the Portland Bike Forums.]