Sunday, October 14, 2007

two a day

I rode out yesterday with a class-mate for a quick two-hour jaunt through the south Salem hills.

As we rounded a curve, two massive brutes of the canine persuasion came across the road at us. My classmate was leading and they could not get to him, so they focused on me. They got within a few feet of me before I finally was fast enough to get past and away. Thank you, Mr. dog owner, for letting your menaces off-leash, free to harass.

Next time, I will be on the lead around that curve. Another example of why it never pays to be a follower.

death in the afternoon

I have been silent and non-blogging for awhile. Law school calls and the burden is heavy...too heavy to ignore at this price tag.

But, the fatal collision in Portland last Friday necessitates a posting. Read about it here: http://bikeportland.org/2007/10/12/hundreds-join-solemn-burnside-procession/

Two things about this accident that strike me. One the cyclist was not paying attention to her surroundings. The reports indicate the truck had his signal on. She should have seen it. Owning the bike lane does not mean one gets to play ignorant, as though enshrouded in a protective blanket against liability.

Second, Portland designed some bike lanes and motor-vehicle turn lanes to coexist peacefully in this scenario, by forcing the car/truck to cross the bike lane, yielding to cyclists, into a turn lane. Those cross overs are painted blue inside the bike lane. Drive around the Coliseum and Rose Quarter, they are all over. The city should move to make this their standard. Quickly.

The driver of the truck? What could he have done differently? Likely nothing. All vehicles have blind spots. More mirrors on his rig? When do we draw the line. At some point, it becomes unreasonable. We cannot catch everything. Small comfort for the driver who innocently was part of a fatality.

I investigated enough accidents in my insurance job to know that typically, more often than not, someone is not paying attention, driving too fast, using a cell phone or some such activity that had they been actively driving, actively aware, they could have avoided the accident.

I wish I could been in Portland for the memorial ride.