BikeLoud lawsuit update: We’ve got the docs, and powerhouse legal team signs on
The legal team has bulked way up and now we can see the locations the City of Portland is asked to address.
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Impact of BikeLoud lawsuit could spark cycling renaissance, and ripple statewide
The lawsuit could be a game-changer both in how cities enforce the law and in how advocates do their work.
BikeLoud PDX to file lawsuit against City of Portland
“We feel change is too slow coming when the need is so great.” – BikeLoud PDX Portland nonprofit BikeLoud PDX plans to sue the Portland Bureau of Transportation for not building legally required cycling facilities when they did major road projects — a requirement outlined in ORS 365.514, a law known as the Oregon Bike … Read more
Jury awards $1.05 million to bike rider hit by bus driver in Tigard
On Monday, a Multnomah County jury awarded $1.05 million to a Tigard resident who was hit by a bus operator while riding his bicycle on Highway 99. It’s a victory, but a reminder that bicycle riders and their advocates still face an uphill battle when it comes to establishing a legal right to the road. … Read more
Who’s responsible for dangerous Willamette Greenway Trail bumps?
Who exactly has jurisdiction over a specific piece of bike path on the Willamette River? Downtown Portland resident Amy C. is learning the hard way that no one seems to know who’s in charge of this popular piece of public right-of-way. On July 18th, Amy was riding her bike northbound on the Willamette River Greenway … Read more
Class action lawsuit says City of Portland violates ADA law by not keeping sidewalks clear
“The City has failed and continues to fail to maintain its sidewalks clear of debris and tent encampments, which is necessary to make its sidewalks readily accessible to people with mobility disabilities.” – Tozer (et al) v City of Portland The City of Portland must clear its sidewalks of tents and campers so that people … Read more
Get Legal: Funeral processions by bike?
Welcome to Get Legal, a column that goes deep into traffic law with the help of experts in the field. Today’s expert is Ray Thomas, a Portland-based lawyer at Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost with decades of experience in bicycle law and advocacy. Read past Get Legal columns here. “You can have a bike funeral, … Read more
Dawn of the ‘throttle kids’
Tweens and Teens are embracing electric bikes for transportation, but it’s technically against the law. By Hood River resident and cycling advocate Megan Ramey (@bikabout) We are currently living through the next great transportation revolution. It may be difficult to see it while you’re in the midst of it, but the rapid development of the … Read more
Portland firm will file lawsuit against aerosol makers and sellers to protect road users from ‘driving zombies’
Lawyers for the family of a Salem woman who was hit and killed while bicycling in October 2020 will file a lawsuit on Monday against the manufacturers of inhalants they say turn drivers into “zombies”. Joleen “Jo” Braasch-Berry was 26-years-old and recently married when she left her job as an elementary school librarian. Braasch-Berry was … Read more
I was sued for defamation: Here’s what happened next
When I first heard I was being sued by the subject of one of my stories, I didn’t think it would amount to much. I certainly didn’t think I’d ever find myself squirming in a courtroom bench as my accuser and a judge read through one of my stories word-for-word. But that’s exactly where I … Read more