Portland’s “original” bike lawyer Ray Thomas has a two-page spread in the June issue of post local lifestyle magazine, Portland Monthly.
Thomas is one of four lawyers singled out (out of 325 mentioned) in the “Top Lawyers” segment. The piece features an interview and a full-page photo that shows Thomas standing with a bicycle from the evidence room that is part of a pending fatal crash case.
In the interview, Thomas says that he was interested in bicycle law since his first case in 1982 because laws for bikes are “a mutant hybrid,”
“Some pedestrians laws apply to them, some motor vehicle laws apply to them, and some laws only relate to bikes.”
Thomas also shares his frustrations with lenient consequences for motorists involved in fatal collisions. He mentions his work on the Vulnerable Roadway User bill (H.B. 3314) and says,
“I am hoping that it’s going to pass…and be in effect by the first of the new year.”
The bill, which has already passed the House is in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.
The interview is not available online, but if the publisher grants me permission, I’ll update this post with a readable scan. You can grab a copy of the issue (see p. 118) at Powell’s, Fred Meyer, or wherever magazines are sold.
(Thanks to Curt Dewees for the tip and help in reporting this story).
i agree its important stuff he is doing good things for the community i think