At first I thought the title " A Call To Arms" was just a joke, as the last thing we need is more 'bike vs car' stories and antagonisms, from either side.
Alas, I was wrong.
You're just trying to whip readers into a frenzy, right?
Considering the mass shootings and gun-lust plaguing this nation, "A Call To Arms" is hardly a socially appropriate title for such an article. Are you intentionally wishing to provoke violence or did it just sound "clever" to your ears? If you'd like to seriously address a relevant topic about bikes in Portland, I'd suggest you invest a substantial amount of resources studying the lack of law enforcement of driving/roadway rules, by bicyclists.
Not only are Portland bicyclists second only to those in Amsterdam, in terms of the number who completely disregard stopping at stoplights/signs, fail to hand-signal, fail to stay in a single lane (weave in and out through traffic/between cars, at will), fail to use headlights at night, etc, but they are equally as unregulated by local law enforcement officials - something that vehicle drivers are extensively scrutinized on. If there is a vehicle vs bicycle incident, it is automatically ASSUMED to be the fault of the vehicle driver. However, considering the laissez-faire attitudes displayed by most Portland bicyclists, this is rarely the case.
I have yet to see a single bicyclist use hand-signals, in any place within the Metro area. If vehicle drivers failed to do that, they'd be handed a ticket in a heartbeat! Fewer than a third of bicyclists come to a complete stop at stopsigns/lights, yet they aren't caught, either by the traffic cameras, nor any law enforcement officers. Funny, how can it be that two different groups of roadway users can be following two completely different sets of rules, yet only one group is held legally responsible for following Oregon roadway laws? This is an investigative piece of journalism that's worth reading and reporting on, provided you don't use trigger-happy titles to try to draw in an audience.
Portland cyclists are some of the most arrogant, reckless, and despite that shamelessly pampered demographics in the area. I like bicycles and I definitely feel as though steps ought to be taken to ensure that cyclists can share the road safely with pedestrians and motor vehicles, but the bike culture in this town is like a farcical cross between a La Rouche rally and a junior high cafeteria clique, and needs to go.
I don't get it. What else do you want? Bike HOV lanes? Bike-only drivethru's at Burgerville? Barriers between you and cars on every street? Bike culture has reached saturation levels in POrtland. Can't get any higher. I have two bikes. Not hatin', just trying to figure out what you're calling us to arms for. If it's a revolution I'll have to think about it for a while.
Alas, I was wrong.
You're just trying to whip readers into a frenzy, right?
Alas, I was wrong.
You're just trying to whip readers into a frenzy though, right?
Not only are Portland bicyclists second only to those in Amsterdam, in terms of the number who completely disregard stopping at stoplights/signs, fail to hand-signal, fail to stay in a single lane (weave in and out through traffic/between cars, at will), fail to use headlights at night, etc, but they are equally as unregulated by local law enforcement officials - something that vehicle drivers are extensively scrutinized on. If there is a vehicle vs bicycle incident, it is automatically ASSUMED to be the fault of the vehicle driver. However, considering the laissez-faire attitudes displayed by most Portland bicyclists, this is rarely the case.
I have yet to see a single bicyclist use hand-signals, in any place within the Metro area. If vehicle drivers failed to do that, they'd be handed a ticket in a heartbeat! Fewer than a third of bicyclists come to a complete stop at stopsigns/lights, yet they aren't caught, either by the traffic cameras, nor any law enforcement officers. Funny, how can it be that two different groups of roadway users can be following two completely different sets of rules, yet only one group is held legally responsible for following Oregon roadway laws? This is an investigative piece of journalism that's worth reading and reporting on, provided you don't use trigger-happy titles to try to draw in an audience.
Jesus, you guys sound like the Silver Sneakers Club after finding out Shari's ran out of sherbet.