(Photo © J. Maus)
Whether it’s his amazingly well-lit bike, his tireless activism, or the fact that he rides around with pruning sheers in his panniers, Beaverton resident Jim “K’Tesh” Parsons tends to attract a lot of attention.
On one recent night he attracted the wrong kind of attention and was egged by two young kids in a car. But instead of getting mad or getting even, Jim got two new bikes for kids in need that will someday turn into many more.
Here’s the story…
Just as Jim was finishing up pruning some branches that he felt were impairing visibility on SW Hall Blvd near the Fanno Creek Trail, a car full of young men came “tearing out of the Albertson’s parking lot.” As they swerved across all five lanes of Hall Blvd, they hurled several eggs at Jim. Splattered with egg yolks and not sure what had just happened, Jim recalled, “I thought they were going to jump out of their car and beat me up.”
“At first, I wanted him to stand on side of road with a sign draped over his body that said, ‘I attacked a cyclist” and then I’d get a supply of eggs to throw at him.”
Acting quickly (and thanks to his helmet-mounted lights) Jim got their license plate number and called 911 right away. The manager of a local Arby’s also saw the interaction and acted as a witness. The police caught the driver soon thereafter and just after midnight that same evening, the cops came to Jim’s house to talk.
Unfortunately, the police said, the driver had dropped off his egg-throwing friends prior to being caught. According to Jim, the police offered the driver a deal: They’d reduce his punishment if he tells his friends to confess. They did. The next day, the boys turned themselves in. One of them will get $500 in fines, 20 hours of community service, and one year probation on the harassment charges.
The other egg-thrower said he was innocent because his eggs missed Jim. Facing a fine and other punishments, the cops told the young man that he could avoid all charges if he agreed to talk to Jim and find out how to make amends.
Jim recalls his initial urge. “At first, I wanted him to stand on side of road with a sign draped over his body that said, ‘I attacked a cyclist” and then I’d get a supply of eggs to throw at him.” But, Jim resisted the urge. Instead, he said the Lord guided him toward a different path. “I ended up asking for a letter of apology and two new bikes that I would donate to charity.”
Patrick Loftus
(Photo: Jim Parsons) |
The bikes
(Photo: Jim Parsons) |
Jim said he was impressed with the sincerity of the young man’s apology letter. As for the bikes, they were high quality Treks valued at about $400 (for both). Jim decided to donate them to the Community Cycling Center for their upcoming Holiday Bike Drive.
CCC staffer Patrick Loftus was working when Jim brought the bikes in last week. He says they don’t need any more bikes for the Holiday Bike Drive this year. Instead, the bikes will be sold in the CCC’s bike shop where the proceeds will go directly back into their programs — and will likely allow them to build up many more bikes for kids that need them.
Nicely done Jim.