Last week it was cyclist attacks driver, and now a driver takes a cyclist on a cruise while he's hanging on to the hood of his car. Like last week, right on cue, the Oregonian is sensationalizing this last episode, adding yet more fuel to the cyclists vs. drivers conflict.

What is sort of getting lost in each of these instances is the fact that in each case, both the aggressive cyclist from last week and the aggressive driver from this week were intoxicated. I'd like to think these are isolated incidences, inflamed primarily because alcohol was a factor in impairing the judgment in each case. The Oregonian is not helping either side with its sensationalized coverage of the confrontations. The role of alcohol needs to be made the villain, rather than the driver or the cyclist. I doubt either incident would have occurred had one not been drinking at the time.

Agreed about the alcohol, but it needs to be the alcohol and the action that needs to be the focus of attention.

I just saw the front page you're talking about (nice cell phone picture). While alcohol is surely a problem, that can't be it in all cases.

I have encountered numerous idiot cyclists who do stupid things - not that there aren't plenty of idiot drivers doing stupid things as well, but the cyclists in general have a certain self-righteousness about them. I once had a cyclist almost run a stop sign and nearly hit my car when I had no stop sign - glare at me for not stopping, as if the traffic laws don't apply to them. I've seen bikes at night with no lights or reflectors; I almost ran a guy over because I was changing lanes downtown and he yelled at me - that's the only way I saw him. He was angry because I didn't see him apparently - but how was I supposed to? Had I had my stereo blaring I would have never have heard him and probably wiped him out. Recently, I saw a cyclists blow through a stop sign at a busy intersection, at rush hour, weaving through two cars who were turning left on a green arrow. That gentleman is lucky to be alive.

Not all cyclists are so self-righteous but quite a few of them are, and somehow, the more self-righteous they are the less sympathy I have for the plight of all cyclists - which isn't fair, I know - and it creates a vicious cycle: self-righteous cyclists pissing off drivers, who became less caring, pissing off more cyclists, who become more self-righteous...

Andrew

.......and this is why I almost never cross either of the bridges on a bike! Drivers can be rude, other bike riders can be even ruder yet (especially around the Rose Quarter area--stay away...) and riding around the west Side has proven itself equally nerve-wracking.

So recently I made a vow that the furthest I would ever really need to go into Portland on a bike is the Airport Way area. That's really all the further I need to go there anyways.

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"I've seen bikes at night with no lights or reflectors; I almost ran a guy over because I was changing lanes downtown and he yelled at me - that's the only way I saw him."

None of my bikes have reflectors, except on the wheels. Lights are pretty much .the. standard equipment on my machines.

In the "merits of lights versus reflectors" discussion, I tend to liken using reflectors as a primary warning device on your bike to running CP/M on an 8080 as your primary desktop computer in a world dominated by Linux ans Window$ PCs equipped with Pentium 4's. ;o)

I agree with Andrew! I have seen so many idiot bike riders with attitudes that, frankly, I have no sympathy for them. Follow the rules of the road and ride defensively, and all will be well. The one thing to remember, when it's bike vs car, the car wins, so the onus is on the biker to be extra aware and follow the rules. You are a guest on the road that was meant for cars!

I know alcohol isn't the issue in all cases, but these last two, which the media have taken and run with, seem to be glossing over the fact each of the guilty parties were intoxicated. By making that the minor focus in favor of the incidents themselves, the media are escalating the negative viewpoint of the opposing transportation method.

I've taken to commuting by bike to and from work, and I have to say I have encountered far more cyclists who fit the "above-the-law" profile than angry drivers that's for sure. The closest I've come to getting broadsided was by a cyclist. I try to remain supportive of the alternative form of transportation, but the more I'm out there, the harder it is to not side with the drivers as to who is usually at fault.

Bookem, I'm with you on this one. And, I think the Oregonian is just milking all this for hits on the website.

You know, that's how they can compete with Fox12 and all, go with the sensational. You read the story in the newspaper, then go to Oregonlive.com and see the video. They've got you coming and going. Smart, and devious.

Agreed big time.

BTW: I almost never visit Oregonlive.com The site is kind of a mess. Just did. Looks better than the last time.

And there it is! Video, right on the front page, underneath "Everything Oregon". Bet a very significant fraction of us could give two shits about the bike -vs- car spat.

There are morons running cars and morons running bikes. What's the big deal?

The end result is commuting with morons!

The problem of jerks on bikes are never going away because the jerks driving cars who end up losing their licenses end up riding bikes and they'll still be jerks.

How about a requirement for bike licenses in the metro area? I'm sort of for that.

Nah... A bike license would be pretty silly. Damn near a walking license, and I know people that could probably use those!

Could pull a Beaverton and pass an "aggressive driving" law. Not that it has done any good, from what I can tell! I much prefer the east side to the crap west of Sylvan.

I don't think there are good solutions beyond solid PSA's, and new driver and rider education.

This all will pass, but it's gonna take a while.

Factor in Darwin and a new generation of people, used to the expectations that come with mixed vehicles in greater numbers, and it will reach a stable point.

Until then, there is always oregonlive.com for the latest scoop!

Edit: IMHO, this is a great example of something that's really best addressed with good social norms, backed by some well thought out law, or maybe just minor changes to the law.

With bikes, there just is going to be a degree of freedom, not unlike that found with motorcycle riders. Nature of the beast. Best just know about it and deal.