Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Buses vs. bicycles in Portland
Portland is supposed to be all about transit, walking, and cycling instead of driving. But what happens when cycling conflicts with buses?
The last time I went cycling in Portland, I found myself on narrow streets (thank you traffic calmers) with wide buses (thank you federal incentives to buy overly large buses) that barely fit on those streets and therefore could not pass me. The bus drivers' responses were to honk at me. What was I supposed to do? Cycle on the sidewalk? That's dangerous too, not to mention illegal.
Randy Albright, who is described as "a well-known bicycle activist," has this problem too. When a bus almost hit him, and they met again at a red light, Albright did what I probably would have done: pulled out in front of the bus to let the driver know he was there so he would not hit him when the light turned green.
The driver responded by opening the bus door (which itself was a rule violation because it was not a bus stop) and letting a passenger off who proceeds to toss Albright and his bicycle out of the way. A downloadable video shows the entire incident, finishing with the man getting off the bus, grabbing Albright's bike, punching him, and shoving him onto the sidewalk.
This all happened two years ago, and now Albright is suing the transit agency. So much for Portland's bicycle-friendly reputation.
P.S.: Here is some response to the story in the Oregonian. I guess I am in the minority for sympathizing with the cyclist -- not even all cyclists agree with me.
The last time I went cycling in Portland, I found myself on narrow streets (thank you traffic calmers) with wide buses (thank you federal incentives to buy overly large buses) that barely fit on those streets and therefore could not pass me. The bus drivers' responses were to honk at me. What was I supposed to do? Cycle on the sidewalk? That's dangerous too, not to mention illegal.
Randy Albright, who is described as "a well-known bicycle activist," has this problem too. When a bus almost hit him, and they met again at a red light, Albright did what I probably would have done: pulled out in front of the bus to let the driver know he was there so he would not hit him when the light turned green.
The driver responded by opening the bus door (which itself was a rule violation because it was not a bus stop) and letting a passenger off who proceeds to toss Albright and his bicycle out of the way. A downloadable video shows the entire incident, finishing with the man getting off the bus, grabbing Albright's bike, punching him, and shoving him onto the sidewalk.
This all happened two years ago, and now Albright is suing the transit agency. So much for Portland's bicycle-friendly reputation.
P.S.: Here is some response to the story in the Oregonian. I guess I am in the minority for sympathizing with the cyclist -- not even all cyclists agree with me.
Comments:
Normally I'm on your side Randal but you didn't give an accurate portrayal of the situation.
First of all, the bike rider is clearly out of the bike lane at the beginning of the video. He isn't riding in the clearly marked bike lane but over the line in the traffic lane. First mistake.
Second, he didn't stop at a light since the bus is still clearly on the Hawthorne Bridge. It is easy to see the cars in the left lane speeding by and the camera pointing back clearly shows the bridge rails.
The guy on the bike was obviously being a jerk, stopping in front of the bus on a bridge.
Doesn't mean that bus driver should have let the passenger off, doesn't mean the passenger should have assaulted the bike rider.
But I think the bike guy is going to lose.
The rest of the video shows the bus going down the slope to the city. There isn't a light for at least a quarter mile.
First of all, the bike rider is clearly out of the bike lane at the beginning of the video. He isn't riding in the clearly marked bike lane but over the line in the traffic lane. First mistake.
Second, he didn't stop at a light since the bus is still clearly on the Hawthorne Bridge. It is easy to see the cars in the left lane speeding by and the camera pointing back clearly shows the bridge rails.
The guy on the bike was obviously being a jerk, stopping in front of the bus on a bridge.
Doesn't mean that bus driver should have let the passenger off, doesn't mean the passenger should have assaulted the bike rider.
But I think the bike guy is going to lose.
The rest of the video shows the bus going down the slope to the city. There isn't a light for at least a quarter mile.
Randal doesn't care because he wants cyclist to ride on wide roads where speeds exceed 65 mph! Every cyclists knows that riding on highways kills and is far more dangerous than traveling on city streets with narrow roads. Then again, Randal probably never rode a bicycle in years which explains is ignorance.
The cyclist clearly had some blame in that he was looking for trouble by blocking the bus. All he had to do was get the driver's number and call his supervisor.
The cyclist clearly had some blame in that he was looking for trouble by blocking the bus. All he had to do was get the driver's number and call his supervisor.
>>Randal doesn't care because he wants<<
What are you, a mind reader? How do you know what "Randal wants?"
Your bias is so tranparent it hurts.
>>Randal probably never rode a bicycle in years<<
Irrelevant nonsense. I don't have to kill somebody to know it is wrong.
Why don't you go take some courses in logic and stop making a public fool of yourself?
Post a Comment
What are you, a mind reader? How do you know what "Randal wants?"
Your bias is so tranparent it hurts.
>>Randal probably never rode a bicycle in years<<
Irrelevant nonsense. I don't have to kill somebody to know it is wrong.
Why don't you go take some courses in logic and stop making a public fool of yourself?
