back and side of all trucks in the City
of Portland’s Maintenance Operations fleet.
(Photo: PDOT)
The City of Portland is making good on a promise to lead the way in an effort to improve bike and truck safety. Today, they announced an event that will give people an opportunity to see what life on Portland’s roads is like for truck drivers.
The Share the Road Bike-Truck Safety Education Event is scheduled for next Tuesday on SE Clinton street, one of the city’s busiest bikeways. According to the official press release, the event will give everyone a chance to view the roadway from the driver’s perspective by climbing into the cab of a large working vehicle.
“While we may think that a driver may see a cyclist, add in the possibility of greater noise from the larger engines, lower gearing, and heavier suspension. Professional drivers may also be listening to work-related calls coming over a two-way radio. Oftentimes, driving up a curb or even running over a metal item, like a bicycle, can feel like a small pothole or nothing at all to a large vehicle.”
The event announcement also confirms that the City of Portland’s Maintenance Operations unit will install bike guards on its trucks and will place bright green stickers on the rear and right side where “bicyclists are more likely to notice them”.
The stickers read, “Do you see me? Can I see you? Make eye contact — Make it a safe commute”.
No word yet on whether or not any truck drivers at the event plan to straddle a bicycle to educate themselves about what it’s like to operate a 30-pound, two-wheeled vehicle mere inches from a multi-ton machine.
- Bike – Truck Safety Education Event
Tuesday, April 29
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
SE Clinton St. just west of SE 39th