Welcome to our legal column sponsored by Portland law firm Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost.
Now what? (Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland) (Publisher’s Note: We’ve split this article into two parts because Ray is an authority on this topic and he gets into some important details. Come back tomorrow for the finale. Also worth mentioning is that Ray’s firm, Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, is a BikePortland advertiser and this column … Read more
Bike lawyer Ray Thomas breaks down Oregon’s “safe passing law” in this final installment of our three-part series.
This is part two of our three-part series on Oregon’s passing laws written by our legal correspondent Ray Thomas.
The legal side of getting passed.(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland) Welcome to part one of a three part series on Oregon’s passing laws. Trying to decipher Oregon’s passing laws are a perfect example of how it’s often difficult to know when (and how) a particular vehicle law applies to someone riding a bicycle. Confusion about application … Read more
Learn the laws about sidewalk riding.(Photos © J Maus/BikePortland) People that bike, walk (or roll, in the case of wheelchair and electric scooter users) share sidewalks every day, and the combination of modes can cause conflict and confusion. Oregon law, however, is very clear on right-of-way and the legal conduct required when you are bicycling … Read more
It might never happen to you, but just in case…(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) What should you do if you are in a collision with a motor vehicle? First, be prepared. While the odds may be pretty good that you will never be involved in a collision there are several tips you can follow which will … Read more
Ray Thomas(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Welcome to our new legal column with Ray Thomas. Ray has been a legal resource for Portlanders (and beyond) for many years and we’ve used him as a source on countless stories. Now we plan to give him a greater presence on BikePortland. Disclaimer: Ray’s law firm Swanson Thomas Coon … Read more
Respect the foot lane.(Photo © J. Maus) As the weather warms and the sun becomes more reliable, sidewalks seem to blossom with all manner of human traffic; from strollers to skateboarders to joggers and everything in between. And these days, much of that traffic is distracted by their phones or music pumping in their ears. … Read more
(Photo © J. Maus) Having commanded ownership of the road for decades, sharing it is an often unfamiliar and difficult idea for many motor vehicle operators. To now be required to share that space with people on bicycles is for some, rather difficult. Many people honestly believe bicycles don’t have the same legal rights to … Read more
A closer look at how the law dictates where you must ride.(Illustration by Dan Pegoda/Animated Traffic Law Center for BikePortland.org)
Oregon’s careless driving statute applies to multi-use paths too.(Photos © J. Maus) Many of us are aware that a person can be convicted of careless driving (ORS 811.135) for operating their motor vehicle in a manner that “endangers or would be likely to endanger any person or property.” But did you realize that bicycle operators … Read more
Social cycling on N. Willamette Blvd.(Photo © J. Maus) The beauty of a bicycle is that by its very design it lends itself to connecting its operator with other people, be it another person on a bike or anyone else nearby. The technology itself encourages social interaction. I hope it was with this understanding about … Read more