I originally intended to post this in the "Common Denominator" thread but since it got off topic enough, it belongs in its own thread. It in itself is an issue equally worthy of discussion.

So on that thread Andrew2 typed~
"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..."

And I know more than a few of those. Bones, Stevie, Wondergurrrl, Thunderbolt, Piper.....and the rest of you know full well who you are...... }:o( *frown*



In all fairness what really pisses me off (at least here in the Coove) is the drivers to whom the "Walk" and "Don't Walk" signs apparently mean absolutely nothing. When I am trying to cross the street--either on foot or on bike--the driver is supposed to stop and let me pass.

Equally maddening is the driver who is trying to turn the corner and stops directly in front of the crosswalk ramp on the other side, thus preventing me from entering the sidewalk on the end I am supposed to, and forcing me to use the other ramp around the corner and possibly creating a dangerous situation.

I notice this seems to happen a LOT on the 138th/NE 18th street intersection......as well as the intersection of 138th and Mill Plain (by Safeway and Rite Aide.) It also seems to be a problem pretty much anywhere along Thurston, particularly in the vicinity of the mall. I have almost gotten run over out there a few times when crossing the street!

Don't they even cover this stuff any more in Driver's Ed??

I notice this seems to happen a LOT on the 138th/NE 18th street intersection......as well as the intersection of 138th and Mill Plain (by Safeway and Rite Aide.)

Maybe it has to do with the availability of Vernors in the area?

I'm thinking it's a Portland area thing. That is one thing that absolutely drove me nuts there, that people had absolutely zero consideration for the crossing signal and just jaywalked when ever, where ever the heck they wanted. Whether traffic was coming or not, dammit they're jumping in the street!

Agreed, Brianl, and along with that, standing in the lane waiting to cross, instead of on the sidewalk. Then they glare at anyone who would dare to make a right turn and almost hit them in the process. Same with strollers: keep your kid's stroller out of the road until you get the light and cross safely!

It seems to go back to common courtesy ( we've had discussion around that). Where I'm going is sooo much more important than anything you need to do, therefore, I'll run the red light, cut you off, fly by you on my bike or skateboard, and generally act like I'm the only one on the road or on the sidewalk. What are you going to do about it? Nothing.

I hate that attitude and I could just be showing my age, but I sure notice it more and more...

I was in NW Portland today and saw a young male cyclist ignore the light and blow through and intersection -- with no helmet, eating a snack and listening to an IPOD. He could have easily been hit and injured. I realize most cyclists obey the rules of the road, but when you see a bike messenger do it, you're left to wonder.

With more people taking up cycling as primary means of transportation, the cycling community needs to better work with the general public on safety issues. Some say the Oregonian is making a mountain out of a mole hill by covering the recent dust ups between cyclists and cars. But that's what I hear people talking about these days. A public outreach by cyclists I think would help defuse the tension. There is a rouge element within the cycling community that behaves as if they are above the law -- and it gives the rest of the cycling community a bad name. And I know that from experience -- I was a rogue cyclist who didn't obey the law and took pride in it. Riding my bike home drunk from the Bagdad, that would be me. But not anymore.

Put that guy on a PSA, "Is this you?"

And run the bad, evil music, and let social interaction take it's course from there.

Heh..

Yes, I witness people walking into crosswalks in downtown Portland all the time when I have a green light. I always show them courtesy but also have pity for them because I know the law of averages will catch up to them sooner or later. They will find the driver preoccupied or high on drugs. Yes the pedestrian had the over riding right! They were DEAD right.