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Get Legal

Welcome to our legal column sponsored by Portland law firm Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost.

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Get legal with Ray Thomas: How to fight for your property damage claim (Part 1)

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

Get Legal

March 10, 2014

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

15 Comments


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Get Legal with Ray Thomas: Oregon’s ‘Safe Passing’ law explained

Bike lawyer Ray Thomas breaks down Oregon’s “safe passing law” in this final installment of our three-part series.

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January 6, 2014

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

14 Comments


Get Legal with Ray Thomas: Passing around centerline myths and riding ‘two-up’

This is part two of our three-part series on Oregon’s passing laws written by our legal correspondent Ray Thomas.

Get Legalsafe passing law

December 11, 2013

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

51 Comments


Get Legal with Ray Thomas: Bicycling and Oregon’s passing laws

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

Get Legal

December 2, 2013

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

33 Comments


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Get Legal with Ray Thomas: The skinny on sidewalk riding

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

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September 30, 2013

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

48 Comments


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Get Legal with Ray Thomas: What to do if you’re in a collision

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

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August 26, 2013

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

25 Comments


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Get Legal with Ray Thomas: Harassment of Bicycle Riders

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

Get Legal

July 22, 2013

Ray Thomas (Contributor)

25 Comments


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Bike Law 101: Take care when crossing the foot lane (a.k.a. sidewalk)

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

bike law 101Get Legal

August 2, 2011

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

23 Comments


Bike Law 101: Harassment and how to deal with it

(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

bike law 101Get Legal

July 20, 2011

Animated Traffic Law Center

61 Comments


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Bike Law 101: Who’s on the ‘roadway’?

A closer look at how the law dictates where you must ride.(Illustration by Dan Pegoda/Animated Traffic Law Center for BikePortland.org)

bike law 101Get Legal

July 6, 2011

Animated Traffic Law Center

17 Comments


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Bike Law 101: Careless biking

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

bike law 101Get Legal

June 22, 2011

Animated Traffic Law Center

45 Comments


Bike Law 101: Riding two abreast

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

bike law 101Get Legal

June 7, 2011

Animated Traffic Law Center

38 Comments


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