In what will hopefully be one of the final bits of coverage inspired by the two road rage incidents that have captivated Portland (and the nation) for the past week, The Oregonian has once again made bikes their lead story.
Today’s headline marks the fourth time in six days that The Oregonian has given this issue above-the-fold, front page treatment in their newsstand edition (which differs from the edition delivered to homes). (See the other three below).
The latest article, War between bikes and cars? Not in Portland, focuses on how there really is no “war” at all.
The irony is that many people (myself included) feel that The Oregonian was responsible for pushing the idea in the first place.
The article includes quotes from the Police, myself, the BTA, and others. It also features a good summary of opinions on how to respond if you see someone do something dangerous or illegal on the road.
I should also point out that the companion treatment of the story on The Oregonian’s website (screenshot here) comes with the headline of “Bikes and Cars” (emphasis mine) — a major improvement over the usual “Bikes vs. Cars” they’ve used in previous days.
Looking back at the last week, some have criticized me for focusing too much on The Oregonian’s coverage of the incidents, instead of the incidents themselves. However, I still feel like The Oregonian’s coverage is arguably a larger story than what actually happened on the streets.
What do you think?