Its MY lane!

[donnambr]

Ok, now I have to know - which bridge? When you mentioned sewer work, I was thinking perhaps the bridge over Johnson Creek as a detour around the closed part of the Springwater Corridor Trail.

BTW, the 5 car slow moving vehicle thing is not the law in Oregon. You are not required to pull over, although if you are out cycling in the rural areas with only a 2 lane road, it is courteous to pull over to let back-ups of cars pass.

[plantluvver]

The bridge was the North end of town.

Along Portland Road, there is a bike trail running alongside, some is paved shoulder, some is off road. There are two small bridges, I haven't paid much attention, but one is over water (Columbia Slough?). THe other I am not sure. THe northernmost one has no bike lane, and one single lane for traffic in each direction.

I was going to send individual reply, but wanted to share this update: Yesterday, I attended the Multnomah County Bike Fair, and got a book about bicycling and Oregon Laws. Picking up the book made me feel really empowered. Then I read about the laws governing harassment. This driver did not try swerve or take any physical action against me. I WOULD have liked him over further. But I will keep in mind what it says about reporting such actions. Because I know that sooner or later, someone will have a little "fun" with me.

I am also wondering, "How many non-cyclists really know why I am crossing to move over to the middle lane, just when the road narrows?" I can see how this could look like an obnoxious move on my part.

Are there any public safety spots on this aspect of cycling traffic, (or any other for that matter) directed at car drivers?

Maybe the fact that only one guy jeered at me was actually a POSITIVE experience.

Another incident on the same trip, I wasn't sure how to cross the I-5 bridge returning from Jantzen Beach to Oregon. I pulled into a gas station for directions, waited for the guy at the pump to be freed up. He was filling the tank of an SUV. The driver was outside the behemoth, preaching about Gore's movie, (meno mem- (Menopausal memory). I wanted to interupt, so I could get on my way, and shout "tha'ts why I'm using just TWO wheels!" But perhaps he'll get the connection, eventually. He did have a cane,( but a wooden one, so he must not be too bad.), but hey, biking in some ways is easier than walking. The whole incident just seemed so ABSURD to me. I was waiting in a gas station being delayed by an SUV, for environmental reasons. ( And I didn't want to talk to him,cuz you could tell he's the kind to just KEEP talking(OOPS, guess I do too )

BACK ON TOPIC: Information is such a HUGE asset for me, in general. Everytime I want to feel empowered, I look for a book. Knowing what is in the law, instead of vaguely knowing what I think the law is, was a great releif. When I learn it better, I think it will be an enormous boost to my confidence.

The booklet is written by a cycling attorney, and he talks about cases he has pursued. So it a good reminder of how a car driver may be thinking while driving. (Because more than being RIGHT, I want to be WHOLE. )

It would be interesting to conduct a survey of attitudes toward bikes by car drivers. Has it been done?
BTW, I should have looked for the book but was too lazy just now. If anyone wants to know, just ask, I'll dig it out.

Mary

[donnambr]

Ah, Ray's book. Ray Thomas puts on a bicycle legal clinic every month or so at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland. I hear he also sometimes travels throughout Oregon to have the legal clinic in other areas. I went to one and it was very helpful. You can thank Ray for a great many cool changes in the last 20 years to the Oregon statutes relating to cyclists. Mary, you've certainly hit the nail on the head when you wonder if motorists need more education about cyclist's rights and how traffic law pertains to them. Unfortunately, the OR DMV doesn't seem to think it important and then nearly all if not all of the state legislature are motorists and not cyclists. What do they care? I'm sure that's the same in all US states to varying degrees.

I got out my North Portland bikeway map and I think I see the bridge you are referring to. Just southeast of Smith and Bybee Lakes? The map even marks it as a "difficult connection". I don't get out in that direction much, but I've found that whenever the city maps refer to a place as a "difficult connection", I need to be prepared to ride in a pretty agressive, vehicular cycling manner. Gives me flashbacks of riding in the metro Detroit area... Anyway, you'll get better at dealing with these places with time and practice. It's kind of like the TE members who have physical training regimes - we need to have urban cycling psychological training regimes. I highly recommend attending one of the legal clinics as part of that training regime.

P.S. I went to Jantzen Beach last week for something I could only get at Toys 'R Toxic, and it took me a freakin' hour of riding around dodging the drunk drivers coming out of Hooters before I found the bike entrance to the I-5 bridge. I talked to someone in the city DOT, and they say the new bike signage is being made right now.

[plantluvver]

P.S. I went to Jantzen Beach last week for something I could only get at Toys 'R Toxic, and it took me a freakin' hour of riding around dodging the drunk drivers coming out of Hooters before I found the bike entrance to the I-5 bridge. I talked to someone in the city DOT, and they say the new bike signage is being made right now.

I can imagine! I was across the street from Safeway, and saw cyclists coming off the bridge. I couldn't remeber if there were two lanes while I was on the bridge. I asked for directions at the gas station across the street, which seemed wrong, because then I would be following a Northbound entrance ramp. Entering at Safeway didn't seem right cuz then I would be riding in the wrong direction in the cycling lane, which HAD to be wrong.

Luckily for me, a mechanic/cyclist from Community Cycling Center happened by, and walked me across the street . You may even know him, cuz I ran into him on Saturday, too. Vlad, who wears a vest labelled "powered with potatoes.", curly hair Didn't recognize him on Saturday, I kept thinking I would remember those curls, DUH, he had a helmet while biking .

All in all though, most of my miles on this route are pleasant ones, but the psychological factor will take some training. Sometimes, even when driving a car, I think of how I am only inches away from death, separated by a thin skin of metal .

BTW: It is just a kick to pass an entire stream of cars waiting to get onto I-5 from Marine Drive My sailing races start at 6:00 PM, so I get to ride while they are parked .

Mary

[Susan Otcenas]

Plantluvver,

See page 48 of Ray's book. ORS (Oregon Revised Statutes) 814.430 basically says it's OK for a cyclist to take the lane when "..other conditions that make continued operation along the right curb or edge unsafe or to avoid unsafe operation in a lane on the roadway that is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side." <my emphasis added>

It's not uncommon for motorists to think we have to ride all the way over to the right regardless of the conditions, but that's incorrect. We CLEARLY have the right to ride in the lane in such a way that vehicles CAN'T pass if WE think that it's unsafe or too narrow.

This knowledge is power. I'd bet half the police officers around here aren't even aware of it.

Of course, you can be right and still be dead (ie. dead right) so you must always be careful. Nonetheless, I ALWAYS take the lane when crossing narrow bridges, which I do every day on my way to and from TE's warehouse. And I take it early enough that I don't find myself squeezed off the road with no place to go. My intentions are clear.

This kind of confidence riding in traffic takes time. I should also mention that I wear an eyeglass mirror so I always know precisely who is coming up on me, and how close they are behind me, so I'm never surprised.

Hope this helps.

Stay safe!

Susan

[plantluvver]

What I did was approach closely to the bridge, and I stopped by the edge of it. .I do not know how to look behind me. I let everyone go by in the cluster. There wasn't anyone within three or four blocks. Of course, starting from a standstill slowed me down. I just didn't have the confidence to get to the middle of the lane, and I inched over, as each car passed. (and I am out of shape and I was SLOW). I knew that as long as I made them cross into an oncoming traffic lane they were likely to pay attention. But I just slowly drifted to the right, just from the noise of the cars, and fear.

The bridge was only two lanes, cars were crossing the double yellow line to pass me. And it is not a terribly long bridge, but only because I was going so slow. OH I also forgot, there is a bike warning sign there.

The single lane was a big part of the intimidation factor. If there had been another lane for them to ride in, I wouldn't care, it would be their own fault if I slowed them down, because they should have moved over sooner. Oh, I forgot to mention, it was after 4PM, so there is the evening rush hour aggression factor. The harassment was merely vocal, they didn't play chicken with me, I did kind of expect a beeer can, based on my impression of the vehicle . Also, some or all of these people were heading toward I-5 northbound, which is a major backup this time of day. It will back up all the way to the Expo Center. I wouldn't doubt if I could beat cars on this commute, once I gain a little speed.

Oh, is it legal for them to pass me? I thought I read this somewhere. But I always thought the no pass was due to an obstructed veiw of oncomng traffic. And if there was an oncoming vehicle, who would they take their chances with?

I know that my seating position needs some fixing and that should help my vision. I'll look for a mirror, too. Bought one a LONG time ago, and I misplaced it before I ever used it Can you move it from pair to pair of glasses, or do you need a dedicated pair of glasses? I don't have glasses light enough for night riding yet.

Also, I would not have made this post in any other bicycling forum. I know this is all too common, and it is worse in most other pllaces. But I expected to receive the emotional support from you other gals. I am just so glad that this is now available.When I think back on my high school days during the early 70's there were few coed sports at my school. And the boys' programs were extremely hostile to new girls' sports. Their coaches didn't want the pie cut into more peices. I joined the track team as a sort of political statement, although I despised running.

Oh, I am curious do they still excuse girls from gym for their "monthly"?

You gals are great!
Mary

[spokewench]

If you need to take the lane - take it! Sometimes you need to be aggressive to be safe (OF COURSE USE YOUR COMMON SENSE) Most of the time, most cars will recognize what you are doing and give you the room you deserve. It is those yahoos that squeeze you and yell at you that are the minority, but they are a very forceful and vocal minority! I don't always follow my own advice and have been known to get angry with drivers and do stupid things like chase them down! BUT, don't do this. It usually doesn't get you anywhere and could be very dangerous. Just be polite, wave and smile and say "have a nice day". Your attitude when you finish your ride will be better and hopefully, they will get the message that courtesy counts.

Is this wishful thinking? I hope not!