Comments on: Police propose bike lane law change

By: JohnB

JohnB — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:47:50 +0000

I’m a year-round bike commuter in Maine (Portland, as it happens), and I’m totally with Kruger on this. I think this idea that bikes can have their own protected space at intersections where they don’t have to think about what they’re doing and act like any other vehicle is a fantasy. As Kruger notes, it goes against the traditional rules of the road, rules that were developed over decades for good reasons relating to limitations of human perception and ability. I fail to understand why Portland OR continues to insist on solidly striped bike lanes at intersections. It’s dangerous, condescending to cyclists (assuming they’re incapable of following the same rules), and perpetuates a continual atmosphere of competition with motorists on the road instead of cooperation.

By: CABO » Bike Lanes and Motorist Right Turns

CABO » Bike Lanes and Motorist Right Turns — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:43:02 +0000

[...] A few years ago, Oregon was dealing with conflicting laws – one that required motorists to make right turns from the edge of the roadway, and yet another required them to stay out of bike lanes. The police proposed a California-style law which would require motorists to merge into the bike lane before turning. That did not gain traction, and so the net result in Oregon is that motorists are required to turn across bike lanes when turning right. http://bikeportland.org/2006/11/29/police-propose-bike-lane-law-change/ [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Increased bike traffic does not necessarily mean decreased automobile traffic. Higher gas prices are linked to decreased auto traffic, but since some Republicans might make more profit, we can’t go there.
Only Republicans make more in gas profits. Democrats know where every penny of their 401K’s are invested, apparently.
The movement needs to call for Chicagoans and Nerd Yokers to move back to where they came from. WE will have less pollution then.
And, while we’re at it. Please check out the owners of the green companies. Names like Mohammed this and Mohammed that. The Middle Easterners encouraging Obama to invest in companies in the US that are owned by Middle Easterners.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:15:49 +0000

Increased bike traffic = decreased automobile traffic = safer street for your children and family = increased property value. Not a decrease in property value.

By: Leil

Leil — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:40:21 +0000

Just looked at an expensive home with a bike lane painted right in front.
Wow. To have your real estate’s value reduced by thousands when there must be alternative routes – depressing.
(Assuming that no guests can park in front of your home if a bike lane is there.) What a pain when having family gatherings, etc.

By: wsbob

wsbob — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:37:21 +0000

A bit off topic, but in view of criticism of the infamous baby pepper spraying, nazi memorabilia collecting Mark Kruger, some time back, Jonathan Maus, the editor of this blog suggested that at some point in time, he would write an informative article about how, in spite of Kruger\’s notable interests and actions, Kruger was still a great guy.

I don\’t know how to locate Jonathan\’s suggestion that he was going to do this, but I fairly clearly remember him writing that he was going to do so. I\’m not quoting Jonathan\’s use of the phrase, \’great guy\’ in reference to Kruger, but I remember something admiring in his reference to that officer, that seemed to imply that such an article was merited.

Gee it would be nice to know that behind that seemingly ominous exterior of Kruger\’s, there is a guardian angel for vulnerable people.

By: Paul Tay

Paul Tay — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:44:43 +0000

The problem is really with the bike lane itself. What is the purpose of the bike lane? Without a physical barrier, it does NOTHING to protect bicyclists. Lose the bike lane and nobody gets confused.

By: adam

adam — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 08:01:40 +0000

I would not wish to go to that “man’s” house under his current employment situation, which I am going to start working on once I have the time. you know what I am saying, dabby? enjoy the flaming poo.

By: Dabby

Dabby — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:09:17 +0000

Adam,
Mark Kruger and his Nazi sympathizing, along with many examples of bad police work, is a well known, undisputed fact in this town.
And, as if that is not enough, pepper macing babies and costing the city millions in a handful of lawsuits.
I think the only thing you and I would debate about Mr. Kruger is which one of us gets to light the flaming bag of pooh and and which of us gets to ring the door bell.

By: Dabby

Dabby — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:46:27 +0000

TonyT,
To clarify, if you are in the right lane, intending on turning right, and you either:
Pull to the right of a car in your same lane in order to turn right, or pull part way out of your lane even, or
Pull into a bike lane, loading zone, empty parking space, or
Begin an early right turn, cutting through early either a bike lane or parking space, or, the worse reality of all, cutting sideways through the cross walk, or, as the scenario normally would be, 2 crosswalks.
These are things we all know are illegal. Well, actually the majority of citzens have no idea about the rules if the road, whether driving, walking, or bicycling. In reality, if the police don’t need to understand the laws, why do we?
The real problem is that , as Redneck mentions above, take a couple of rouge, supremist or holier than thou thinking cops, add a new chief with a track record of targeting mainly messengers, but really cyclists in general whenever she is put in a position of control (this is a fact from the past and present about Miss Sizer) and we have set ourselves up for disaster.
I say Fire Mark Kruger as we should have been done many times in the past, for many great and diffrent reasons, have a vote for a new chief so we can get her the hell out, and encourage our police dept. to practice actual ethical and pratical law enforcement, following the actual laws and ordinances that we pay them too much money to manipulate now.