Hit-and-run victim Jessica Osborne in the ICU the night of the crash (4/3).(Photo: Amy Wolf)

Last Thursday, 28 year-old Northeast Portland resident Jessica Osborne was riding her bike to the store when she was struck by a car. The driver paused briefly, then left her for dead on the pavement.
The impact ruptured Osborne’s spleen, cracked […]

Traffic Division Captain, Larry O’Deaat the bike box press event in March.(Photos © J. Maus)

Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Captain Larry O’Dea wants to learn more about bicycle laws.
In fact, he also wants his officers, local judges, bike advocates, lawyers, and others to learn more too.
Next month, he’ll assemble all of them to […]

Unlike their morning shift, the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau was busy yesterday afternoon at the intersection of SE Hawthorne and 7th.

The officers positioned themselves across the street.

One unmarked police car and six motorcycle officers were on scene for an educational mission to make sure motorists understood how to treat the […]

Officer Voepel keeps a watchful eye on the new bike box.(Photos © J. Maus)

This morning, officers from the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division began a series of targeted enforcement missions at the new bike box on SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Traffic Division Lieutenant Bryan Parman and three of his officers were on hand to watch the intersection […]

Traffic Division Captain Larry O’Dea.(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland’s campaign to remake several intersections with colored bike boxes and bike lanes is made up of much more than just markings on the pavement. Along with the new markings comes a significant change to the law; at all intersections slated to receive a […]

Lawyer Chris Heaps was not satisfied with the Police response to a bike/car crash, so he pursued justice himself…and got it.(Photo © J. Maus)

Christopher Heaps, the Portland lawyer who mounted a “citizen initiated” campaign last December to bring the driver who hit Siobhan Doyle to justice, says we can “chalk one up for the good […]

Portland Police Bureau detectives say they’ve identified a suspect in the case of a road rage incident that took place in Northwest Portland just over two weeks ago.
The victim — who claims he was nearly run down, threatened with a baseball bat and then punched in the face by a man in a Hummer […]

Traffic Division Captain Larry O’Dea(Photo © J. Maus)

In an executive order issued on Monday (2/11), Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer made official what I reported on one month ago — new language has been added to the list of crash investigation criteria that will have a major impact on bike-involved collisions.
At last night’s Portland Bicycle […]

Mr. Dozono(Photo: ShoForMayor.com)

Oregonian politics blogger Jeff Mapes asked mayoral hopeful Sho Dozono what he thinks of the “Safe, Sound, and Green Streets” funding plan crafted by City Commissioner (and Dozono’s political rival) Sam Adams.
His answer seems to cement speculation about Dozono’s ties with the various lobbyists and special interests that oppose the fee-based plan. […]

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has made its decision on whether or not to issue traffic citations in the October fatalities of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek.
Rinker Cement Company truck driver Timothy Wiles has been issued a citation for violation of ORS 811.050, “Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane,” in the October 11th […]

Eric Lundgren is a local historian currently researching a book on Portland’s bike history.
As part of that research, he has found an interesting article published by the Oregonian in 1897. The article (pasted below) shows that the sometimes rocky relationship between the police and “wheelmen” is nothing new.
Here is the article:

PROTECTION FOR […]

A few minutes ago, I posted a story about a potentially new directive within the Police Bureau that would call for all bike-involved collisions to be investigated.
Now I have confirmed with the PPB’s Public Information Officer Brian Schmautz that yes, there will be a modification of their policy, but it is a bit different than […]

According to an experience this morning by a reader, a potentially significant and positive change has been made at the Portland Police Bureau: a new directive that says all bike-related collisions will be investigated.
I share his story below (more analysis follows):
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A little after 8:00 am this morning, Jasun Wurster was riding his bike […]

Lt. Mark Kruger will no longer work in the Traffic Division.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Some major personnel changes have been made at the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division.
Speaking from her cell phone a few minutes ago, Assistant Chief of Police Lynnae Berg confirmed that Captain Vince Jarmer and Lieutenant Mark Kruger will soon be leaving the […]

KATU, Portland’s ABC affiliate, ran a special “On Your Side” report last night on the fixed-gear bicycle brake issue.
The story was given the headline of “Are brakeless bikes safe to ride?”. Of course “brakeless” bikes are not safe. But are fixed-geared bikes technically brakeless? That depends on your definition of brake […]

From R to L: Officers Phil Blanchard, Robert Pickett, Robert Quick, Police Chief Sizer.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

At a ceremony this morning in downtown Portland, four members of the Southeast Precinct Bike Patrol Unit were among those recognized at the Chief’s Forum Awards — which intend to “reflect on the value of community policing partnerships”.
Officers Phil […]

(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

The other day I met someone who claimed to have gotten more tickets while on their bicycle than anyone else in town. While I don’t think that’s anything to be proud of, I did think it was an interesting story and I was curious to know more.
I asked the person, who […]