Tim O'Donnell's widow, Mary O'Donnell,
had these buttons made for the hearing.

Last Friday, just two days after he relieved former BTA lobbyist Karl Rohde from his duties, executive director Scott Bricker was down in Salem filling his former role as the organization's chief lobbyist.

Bricker presented the BTA's position on their proposed Vehicular Homicide Law (HB 3399) to the House Judiciary Committee. (Today, he'll return to Salem to testify on behalf of a bill that would create a new pot of funding specifically for non-motorized transportation projects. More on that later.) (more...)

Mary O'Donnell at this morning's
press conference.
(Photos © J. Maus)

At a press conference this morning held at a law firm in downtown Portland, Mary O'Donnell -- whose husband Tim was killed while riding his bike -- told reporters and news cameras that her push for a vehicular homicide law is "definitely what he would have wanted."

Facing a packed room full of reporters and television cameras, O'Donnell seemed pensive as she marked the one-year anniversary of her husband's death. "He said that if he did ever get hit, at least he would die doing something he loved." (more...)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) announced yesterday that they will pursue a vehicular homicide law in the 2009 session of the Oregon State Legislature.

They plan to make a public announcement at a press conference on Monday (June 9) in the law offices of the attorneys representing the family of the late Tim O'Donnell -- a 66 year-old Aloha resident who was killed while riding his bike on a rural road in Washington County last year. (more...)

Graphic from "And we Bike" website.
Click to enlarge

As part of a new bike safety campaign, a coalition of advocates in Washington County is planning a memorial ride for Timothy O'Donnell this weekend.

O'Donnell was struck and killed by a car on a rural Washington County road last June.

On Saturday (9/22), the Portland Velo riding club (of which O'Donnell was a member) will retrace the route that O'Donnell took before he was hit. "Complete Tim's Ride" will meet at 9am at Longbottom Coffee off Evergreen Parkway in Hillsboro (4893 NW 235th Ave).

The ride is part of an ongoing bike safety campaign called, "And we bike". The campaign is backed by a coalition of advocacy groups and sponsors and it kicked off yesterday with a series of awareness actions throughout Washington County. (more...)

(Photo: Jonathan Maus)

The death of 66 year-old Timothy O'Donnell last June in Washington County continues to spark activism over safety concerns on rural roads.

The tragedy helped shine a light on bike safety during the last legislative session in Salem and was a key ingredient in the passage of the Vulnerable Roadway Users Bill. His death also spurred his family to create a memorial fund that is being administered by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).

Now, a coalition of advocates and community groups -- including the BTA, the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition, the Bike Gallery, and Portland Velo -- have launched, "And we Bike", which they describe on their newly launched website as, "an effort to increase awareness of these serious safety issues."
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Willamette Week reporter Nick Deshais has been digging into the Timothy O'Donnell case to find out more about the driver, Jennifer Knight.

In a story posted late last night on the Willamette Week blog Deshais notes that he tracked down an accident report from Idaho involving Knight just six days before she hit O'Donnell on a rural road in Washington County.

From his story: (more...)

Over the weekend, the discussion over enforcement against bicycles in North Plains continued both in the comments of my post from Friday and on the OBRA email list.

Among the reactions was a comment by North Plains Police Chief Scott Whitehead. Whitehead wrote in to clarify his position on the situation:

"It seems that several people have taken my comments out of context...Our efforts to step up enforcement at stop signs has been focused towards everyone...
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The fatal crash that took the life of Timothy O'Donnell seems to have resulted in two different responses by law enforcement personnel. The Washington County Sheriff's office shows a willingness to work with the community for tougher laws against motorists, while the North Plains Police opt for increased enforcement directed at bicyclists.

A story in the Forest Grove News-Times earlier this week reported that Sheriff Rob Gordon was "steamed" by O'Donnell's death. The article said the police see "eye-to-eye" with cyclists and that they support a tougher, felony-based vehicular homicide law.
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From the Willamette Week:

"Jennifer Knight pleaded no contest Wednesday to three citations she received in rural Washington County on June 9. At 12:49 pm that day, she hit and killed bicyclist Timothy O’Donnell, 66, of Aloha.
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The bill was introduced at
a rally in Salem yesterday.
(Photo: Rep. Jerry Krummel)

At a rally in Salem yesterday to bring attention to bike safety bills, Representative Tobias Read and Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced Senate Bill 1058.

The bill would create the crime of vehicular homicide and make it punishable by a maximum of five years improsinment and/or a fine of up to $125,000.

According to the new bill, the crime would be a Class C Felony and it stipulates that, (more...)

BTA lobbyist Scott Bricker just gave me a report from Salem. The Vulnerable Roadway User bill (H.B. 3314) got it's vote on the Senate floor this morning and it passed easily by a margin 25-4.

Mary O'Donnell, wife of the late Timothy O'Donnell who was killed earlier this month while riding his bike in Cornelius, was in the Senate Chambers during the vote. According to Bricker, Senator Ryan Deckert (D-Beaverton) gave a speech in support of the bill and recognized O'Donnell sitting in the gallery. He pointed her out and the entire Senate acknowledged her presence.
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Tim O'Donnell (1941-2007)
(Photo: Portland Velo)

Tim O'Donnell will live on in the memories of his friends, family, and of the bike community for many years. A memorial service has been scheduled to pay respects and to come together as a community. Here are the details (taken from the Portland Velo newsletter):

A celebration of Tim’s life will be held on Friday, June 15 at 3:00pm at St. Patrick’s Church (1623 NW 19th Street). Please come and support the family and your fellow club members who were with Tim. Please send your cards and condolences to Mary O’Donnell and Family, 17725 SW Sugar Plum Lane, Aloha, OR 97007.

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66 year-old Timothy O'Donnell was killed on Friday while on a group ride with the Portland Velo bike club. He was struck by a motorist from behind as he attempted to make a left-hand turn. The crash took place in Cornelius, about half-way between Hillsboro and Forest Grove. Here's the press release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office:
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