Month: November 2006

Lawyer addresses problems, potential of tougher driver negligence laws

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“Oregon needs a new law making it illegal to cause serious bodily injury or death to a bicyclist due to ordinary negligence.”
-Lawyer Ray Thomas

Lawyer Ray Thomas is working to add language to existing driver negligence laws to make it easier to charge motorists with serious crimes when they cause major injury or death to cyclists.

Thomas addresses this important issue in his latest column in Oregon Cycling magazine (not yet published). Spurred by a spate of fatalities in Washington County last summer where the driver was only prosecuted for a traffic violation, Thomas writes,

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PDOT to launch new safe cycling campaign

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PDOT’s Transportation Options division is working on a new safety campaign tentatively called “See and Be Seen.”

The program will encourage cyclists to use lights and increase their visibility as well as reminding motorists to take extra care around cyclists.

They’re still working on final pieces of the program but I’ve gotten word that a Bike Light Parade kickoff event leaving from the Community Cycling Center is planned for Last Thursday (11/30).

The program also has support from TriMet and will include ads on busses, shelters and benches.

More details coming soon.

Bike Buddy pilot program a success

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Roll On Columbia! ride

[A helping hand makes
all the difference.]

Two months ago, Southeast Uplift started a Bike Buddy Pilot Project and they’ve just released a recap of how it went.

The goal of the project was to connect newbies (New Riders) with mentors (Bike Buddies).

According to SEUL, the program succeeded,

“Most New Riders expressed an increased level of confidence in urban cycling and reported bicycling more often because of the project. New relationships were formed between citizens, and Bike Mentors expressed a level of satisfaction with their participation and a feeling of pride and accomplishment in the improvement of the cycling skills of their Bike Buddies.”

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Racer pledges effort, cash for new velodrome

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“I am going to do my best to get this started and push it as far as I can.”
–Racer Steve Brown

Steve Brown — the local developer* whose vision for an indoor track racing facility in Portland is making the rounds in the cycling community — has put his money where his mouth is.

In an email he just sent to the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) mailing list, he has announced intentions to move forward with the velodrome idea and has asked the community for support.

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Latest Headlines

Opinion: Portland needs more cul-de-sacs

Monday Roundup: ‘Social safety’ for women, remembering Donald Shoup, and more

Weekend Event Guide: Illuminated, All Bodies on Bikes, new library and more

Portland will daylight 200 intersections over next two years

From the Archives

Escape from Portland with this easy loop on quiet forest roads above Trout Lake