Oregon bicycle enthusiasts in uproar over proposed ban on young children on bikes

[SadieKate]

You have to be kidding me.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i...siasts_in.html

Portland's avid biking community spun into an uproar today over a proposed ban geared towards young children on bikes.

House Bill 2228 introduced by Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), would amend an Oregon statute that bans unlawful passengers on a bike by making it illegal to carry a child younger than 6 either on the bike or in a trailer. The bill includes a fine of $90.

"The bill itself is just ridiculous," said Jonathan Maus, editor of the popular blog, bikeportland.org.

Other avid bikers got more personal, calling Greenlick "an idiot" in angry emails.

"I've got about 100 emails this morning," Greenlick said.

[Artista]

You mean some people actually think it's safe to transport a young child on a bicycle? The next thing ya know people will be putting kids in cars, sans helmets, and transporting them at high rates of speed on the freeway. Oh wait...

[radacrider]

From Bike Portland site: http://bikeportland.org/2011/01/13/o...reenlick-45964

Geez, the danger of having young children on bikes is not that they are on the bikes, it is because of ignorant folks in cars who think they are the only ones that should be out there.

What's next, airbags for bicycles? Crush zone bike frames? Full roll cage set ups? And, yet, there would still be the driving idiots out there. Fix the problem not the symptom.

[Eden]

250,000 per year.... the approx number of kids injured in automobile accidents every year..... 2,000 of those die.....

74 the number of kids killed in cycling accidents in 2009.... as far as I can tell *all* of them were killed by automobiles.....

Which vehicle should we not allow children to ride in???

[smilingcat]

So this strikes me as punish the innocent and pat the back on the guilty for job well done. Job well done in that many drivers want to have monopoly on the road no walking, jogging, or riding BICYCLEs.

The bicyclist is the one getting killed by cars so punish the bicyclist by banning them. Makes lots of sense. NOT!!

Instead why not have driver license exam to have few more questions regarding interaction between bicyclists and cars? I think that would be a better start.

He should be ashamed of himself for proposing such idiotic law. Then again he may not be the dimmest light bulb maybe just smokin' something very strange when he proposed it.

[beccaB]

Maybe we should all be banned from carrying a child in our arms and walking at the same time. Heaven forbid I should trip and fall down thereby putting a child in danger.

[marni]

They should also take a look at countries like the Netherlands, where it is not uncommon to see moms commuting two kids and themselves (one on the handlebars and one on a seat behind) to school or to the park. Sounds to me like it's the high and mighty punishing the wierdo commie hippie freaks who eat healthy food and ride bikes. But I'm not bitter.

[Melalvai]

I checked the bikeleague site and was surprised not to see anything about this. Hopefully the Oregon bicycle advocacy groups (Bicycle Transportation Alliance maybe?) are on this. If not--write to your elected officials. Including this one.

[radacrider]

http://bikeportland.org/2011/01/13/b...udy-only-45977

Here's the latest information on the bill - many recommending the bill be changed to authorize a study only.

Of course, we all know why bike transportation is dangerous, don't we , intolerance by vehicle drivers in a rush to be the first across that intersection, first onto that on-ramp, first to the store to get that choice parking spot.

[smilingcat]

and don't forget, they have to be in front of you no matter what (even if you are going over the speed limit). They don't want to be impeded by a snail cyclists.

And oh, cars just have to pass you to turn into a drive way no matter how close you are to the driveway or how fast you are going. I really should have smashed into the passenger window of that S class Merceds.... but I had too nice of a bike and didn't want to damage it (the first question after a wreck is "but is my bike okay??")