It's not hard for a judge or grand jury to imagine themselves in the position of driving an automobile, following all the rules, and have another driver in a moment of inattention or carelessness cause a collision that kills them. "Obviously" they say, "They were wrong, they must pay for their carelessness."
A woman was recently sentenced to 30 months in jail for carelessly causing a collision that took the life of another innocent driver. (STORY HERE)
It seems much harder for them to imagine themselves in the position of a cyclist who has the same thing happen. (STORY HERE) and (HERE) (be sure to read the full report in pdf format)
and also in the case of Siobhan Doyle where the police didn't cite so a citizen citation was issued.
Perhaps we need to invite more judges to join us on our weekend rides. Perhaps we need to be more vocal about the inequities of the system. Perhaps we need to write a few letters to the Oregonian.
Perhaps the driver of the cement truck that drove over Tracy Sparling will yet be charged with failure to yield. IMHO, it's too little too late. His inattention killed a rider who was in a bike lane doing everything legally. She paid with her young life for his inattention.
What if she was your daughter/girlfriend/wife?
Write a letter.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............33
YTD.............0......+........141....=.........141
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Worse Day?
A few of my teammates from the upcoming Race Across Oregon will be participating in the Worse Day of the Year Ride on February 9th. My brother-in-law and STP partner niece will likely be riding too. I can't, I'll be in Central Oregon finishing up a multi-day conference, but if you want to ride the organizers will be happy to take your registration!
Update:
A wild weather day here. A little lightning, a little rain, some hail.... a little snow mixed with rain........ and in the low 50's for a high. (50's? January in Oregon???) There was even a tornado across the river near Vancouver WA. Not totally unheard of, but this one was by far the largest I can remember of. I remember perhaps 2 others. Seems that the same area of Washington has born the brunt of them. By midwest standards it was nothing, but you should have heard the local media have a field day with it!
I won't get a chance to ride the real bike or the artificial bike today, have other plans, but several of us are looking at the weather forecast and working towards a Sunday ride. If you are in the area and want to join us drop me a note.
Stay tuned!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............0
YTD.............0......+.......108....=.........108
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Update:
A wild weather day here. A little lightning, a little rain, some hail.... a little snow mixed with rain........ and in the low 50's for a high. (50's? January in Oregon???) There was even a tornado across the river near Vancouver WA. Not totally unheard of, but this one was by far the largest I can remember of. I remember perhaps 2 others. Seems that the same area of Washington has born the brunt of them. By midwest standards it was nothing, but you should have heard the local media have a field day with it!
I won't get a chance to ride the real bike or the artificial bike today, have other plans, but several of us are looking at the weather forecast and working towards a Sunday ride. If you are in the area and want to join us drop me a note.
Stay tuned!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............0
YTD.............0......+.......108....=.........108
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
In the blink of an eye................
A neighbor of mine died today. He was hit head on while driving his pickup by another vehicle that lost control on a patch of ice. He was a good man, active in the community and a 4H leader. He was my kids’ first 4H leader, starting them off on many years of blue ribbons and championships. He pointed many kids on the right path to becoming valuable community members. The community and I will miss Brian Herinckx.
The accident happened very near where a member of Portland Velo, Tim O'Donnell , was killed while cycling earlier this year. It got me to thinking of just how fragile life is, and the inequities of the application of law when it comes to cyclist accidents. Within the last year or so there have been several bike/car collisions. Darrel and Sheryl McDaniel were cycling their way home from a lap of Hagg Lake when they were killed by a car, that while attempting to pass another car on the right, entered the paved shoulder and ran over them. The driver was cited for illegal lane use. Period. Tracy Sparling and Brett Jarolimek were both killed by drivers who “right hooked” them as they were riding in bike lanes. Neither driver was cited for any violation, though they both obviously failed to yield to a bicycle in a bicycle lane.
(violaton of ORS 811.050)UPDATE: Driver in Sparling collision cited.
Sixteen months ago a woman ran a stop sign and collided with me on my bike. I incurred $26,000 in medical bills plus damage to my bike, plus loss of wages, and finally paid a lawyer to get the insurance company to do what they should have done right from the start. What happened to the driver? She was cited for "failure to obey a traffic control device". Yup, I'm sure that will make her think twice next time.
Today I read in the paper that a driver who ran a red light while distracted with happenings in her car and t-boned another vehicle killing the driver was sentenced to 30 months in prison on a charge of vehicular homicide.
Why aren’t those drivers who drove over cyclists being equally charged and convicted?
Lives can change in a blink of an eye.
Life is indeed fragile, ride legal, ride safe, ride defensively………but ride!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............24
YTD.............0......+.......108....=.........108
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The accident happened very near where a member of Portland Velo, Tim O'Donnell , was killed while cycling earlier this year. It got me to thinking of just how fragile life is, and the inequities of the application of law when it comes to cyclist accidents. Within the last year or so there have been several bike/car collisions. Darrel and Sheryl McDaniel were cycling their way home from a lap of Hagg Lake when they were killed by a car, that while attempting to pass another car on the right, entered the paved shoulder and ran over them. The driver was cited for illegal lane use. Period. Tracy Sparling and Brett Jarolimek were both killed by drivers who “right hooked” them as they were riding in bike lanes. Neither driver was cited for any violation, though they both obviously failed to yield to a bicycle in a bicycle lane.
(violaton of ORS 811.050)UPDATE: Driver in Sparling collision cited.
Sixteen months ago a woman ran a stop sign and collided with me on my bike. I incurred $26,000 in medical bills plus damage to my bike, plus loss of wages, and finally paid a lawyer to get the insurance company to do what they should have done right from the start. What happened to the driver? She was cited for "failure to obey a traffic control device". Yup, I'm sure that will make her think twice next time.
Today I read in the paper that a driver who ran a red light while distracted with happenings in her car and t-boned another vehicle killing the driver was sentenced to 30 months in prison on a charge of vehicular homicide.
Why aren’t those drivers who drove over cyclists being equally charged and convicted?
Lives can change in a blink of an eye.
Life is indeed fragile, ride legal, ride safe, ride defensively………but ride!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............24
YTD.............0......+.......108....=.........108
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's beginning to look a lot like....?
3" of snow this AM, and on the way to work in the dark I pass a guy on a bike pedaling his way through the stuff ....with blinky and a reflective jacket! You go guy!
If the weather gurus are correct it sounds like I may finally get out on my real bike this weekend for the first time this year.
I opted for the artificial bike tonight. (pansy that I am!)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............25
YTD.............0......+........84....=.........84
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If the weather gurus are correct it sounds like I may finally get out on my real bike this weekend for the first time this year.
I opted for the artificial bike tonight. (pansy that I am!)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............25
YTD.............0......+........84....=.........84
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Monday, January 7, 2008
How to Fix a Flat Tire on a Road Bike
After hearing so many people say they didn't feel comfortable with their flat repair skills I decided to see if I could find something to help educate. This YouTube video does a pretty good job. I've embedded the video at the bottom of this blog, or you can click on the title of this post and go to YouTube directly.
Hope this helps!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............13
YTD.............0......+........59....=.........59
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hope this helps!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............13
YTD.............0......+........59....=.........59
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The morning after
Well, I gave a bike safety presentation at a local bike group meeting last night. Argh... started out with not being able to access the meeting room until well after the whole group was there waiting for the door to be unlocked and we were already a half hour late, then moved on to not being well prepared. Ah, live and learn! If I ever have the chance to do that again it WILL be better!
As promised .....since I failed to have handouts available :-( here's a list of weblinks that I referenced during the presentation:
Safe Cycling Techniques
Two Wheel Life
How to Not Get Hit by Cars
How to properly adjust a bike helmet
Bike helmet fitting video
Bike brake care and adjustment:
Sheldon Brown's bike reflector information (and a whole lot more):
Adult Bike Safety video: (this time the voice matches the pictures!)
The red blinkie I heartily recommend is the "Planet Bike Super Flash", $20-$25 worth every penny. Available at REI, Joe's Outdoor, Bike Gallery, and others.
We have a bit of snow on the ground in my part of the country this morning. I think I'll go to the gym and ride the artificial bike........while watching TV. :-)
UPDATE!
I did in fact ride at the gym today. When there I ride a LifeCycle 9500HR. I ride a level 9, about as close to riding my road bike as I can estimate, and I hold between 90-100 cadence. Today I held a 100 cadence minimum for an hour giving me 22 miles. The last 5 minutes I played a bit, I set the level to 1 and while holding the 100+ cadence bumped the resistance up a level every twenty seconds. I made it to level 15 today before I decided that was enough.(gasp, wheez, lactic acid buildup!) According the the machine I was putting out 263 watts and burning calories at something like 1038/hr. Oh, and my heart rate was at 170! I finished with a couple of minutes of level 1 "cool down" bringing my total today to 23 miles. My resting heart rate right now is around 55. By mid summer my resting rate will be in the mid 40's. I've also decided that my total bike mile tally needs to reflect real bike vs artificial bike, so I'll make that change as well.
Have a good day all!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............23
YTD.............0......+........46....=.........46
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As promised .....since I failed to have handouts available :-( here's a list of weblinks that I referenced during the presentation:
Safe Cycling Techniques
Two Wheel Life
How to Not Get Hit by Cars
How to properly adjust a bike helmet
Bike helmet fitting video
Bike brake care and adjustment:
Sheldon Brown's bike reflector information (and a whole lot more):
Adult Bike Safety video: (this time the voice matches the pictures!)
The red blinkie I heartily recommend is the "Planet Bike Super Flash", $20-$25 worth every penny. Available at REI, Joe's Outdoor, Bike Gallery, and others.
We have a bit of snow on the ground in my part of the country this morning. I think I'll go to the gym and ride the artificial bike........while watching TV. :-)
UPDATE!
I did in fact ride at the gym today. When there I ride a LifeCycle 9500HR. I ride a level 9, about as close to riding my road bike as I can estimate, and I hold between 90-100 cadence. Today I held a 100 cadence minimum for an hour giving me 22 miles. The last 5 minutes I played a bit, I set the level to 1 and while holding the 100+ cadence bumped the resistance up a level every twenty seconds. I made it to level 15 today before I decided that was enough.(gasp, wheez, lactic acid buildup!) According the the machine I was putting out 263 watts and burning calories at something like 1038/hr. Oh, and my heart rate was at 170! I finished with a couple of minutes of level 1 "cool down" bringing my total today to 23 miles. My resting heart rate right now is around 55. By mid summer my resting rate will be in the mid 40's. I've also decided that my total bike mile tally needs to reflect real bike vs artificial bike, so I'll make that change as well.
Have a good day all!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............23
YTD.............0......+........46....=.........46
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Friday, January 4, 2008
Blustery day in the neighborhood
It's kind of a blustery day today in NW Oregon and will be dark soon. I'm going to work on the Powerpoint presentation on bike safety that I have to give tomorrow. If the weather cooperates I hope to go for a ride on Sunday with my niece Laura. She just bought a new road bike and plans to ride STP this July with me. We are going to try to train together a bit this season. Typical Oregon Spring weather tells us that most of the early season rides will involve some form of precipitation. Rain, showers, mist, drizzle, it's all wet. It's a lot more fun to ride when it's dry, but if we don't start when it's a bit wet then when the weather finally turns we won't be ready........ and the 204 mile STP will come whether we are ready or not! ;-)
Miles Today: 0
YTD Miles: 23
Miles Today: 0
YTD Miles: 23
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Bike Safety
Perhaps I should start thinking about bike safety. By some stroke of fate I have the assigment of giving an hour long presention on bike safety Saturday evening to a bike group I belong to. I've been tossing around a few ideas and gathering a few graphics and facts for a Powerpoint presentation but haven't actually put it together yet. I'm thinking I should touch on reflective gear, lights, helmets, road hazards, proper lane usage, and bike law. Uh....I guess I better get started!++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...............Road Bike.....LifeCycle.....Total Miles YTD
Today...........0...............23
YTD.............0......+........23....=.........23
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Remembering Brett Jarolimek
ORS 811.050
“A person commits the offense of failure of a motor vehicle operator to yield to a rider on a bicycle lane if the person is operating a motor vehicle and the person does not yield the right of way to a person operating a bicycle, electric assisted bicycle, moped, motor assisted scooter or motorized wheelchair upon a bicycle lane.”
I just read Kimberly Wilson's Oregonian article on Oregonlive. The article was describing BTA's New Year's Day ride in Portland. She did a good job of describing the concerns of cyclists but I was concerned when I read the following:
"Like many in the crowd Tuesday, she rode in memory of Jarolimek, 31, who was killed in a "right hook" collision as he cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck."
If you don't think that's responsible reporting contact:
kimberlywilson@news.oregonian.com
I did.
++++Letter to Oregonian reporter++++++
Ms Wilson,
I just read your article on the New Year's Day ride. Good job on describing the concerns of participants, however I was really concerned when I read the following:
"Like many in the crowd Tuesday, she rode in memory of Jarolimek, 31, who was killed in a "right hook" collision as he cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck."
I'm not so sure that he "cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck" nearly as much a a turning garbage truck failed to yield right of way to a cyclist riding in a bike lane.
Your article gives the impression that Brett did something wrong. He was riding legally. What was illegal is that the cement truck entered the bike lane without yielding to a cyclist. It's bad enough that the police don't enforce the laws in these situations, please don't add to the public's perception that the cement truck driver's actions might just have been okay.
---------------------------------------------------------
Miles Today: 0
YTD Miles: 0 :-(
“A person commits the offense of failure of a motor vehicle operator to yield to a rider on a bicycle lane if the person is operating a motor vehicle and the person does not yield the right of way to a person operating a bicycle, electric assisted bicycle, moped, motor assisted scooter or motorized wheelchair upon a bicycle lane.”
I just read Kimberly Wilson's Oregonian article on Oregonlive. The article was describing BTA's New Year's Day ride in Portland. She did a good job of describing the concerns of cyclists but I was concerned when I read the following:
"Like many in the crowd Tuesday, she rode in memory of Jarolimek, 31, who was killed in a "right hook" collision as he cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck."
If you don't think that's responsible reporting contact:
kimberlywilson@news.oregonian.com
I did.
++++Letter to Oregonian reporter++++++
Ms Wilson,
I just read your article on the New Year's Day ride. Good job on describing the concerns of participants, however I was really concerned when I read the following:
"Like many in the crowd Tuesday, she rode in memory of Jarolimek, 31, who was killed in a "right hook" collision as he cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck."
I'm not so sure that he "cycled down a bike lane into the path of a turning garbage truck" nearly as much a a turning garbage truck failed to yield right of way to a cyclist riding in a bike lane.
Your article gives the impression that Brett did something wrong. He was riding legally. What was illegal is that the cement truck entered the bike lane without yielding to a cyclist. It's bad enough that the police don't enforce the laws in these situations, please don't add to the public's perception that the cement truck driver's actions might just have been okay.
---------------------------------------------------------
Miles Today: 0
YTD Miles: 0 :-(
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Registered!
Happy New Year! I got an early start on my Cascade Bicycle Club registrations, I'm signed up for STP and Chilly Hilly! I should have an STP registration number below 1000 I'd think, likely getting that ink weight saving of 25% over the 4 digit numbers. ;-) A good start to the year!
update:
OK, so maybe not a perfect start to the year. It was great weather today for a bike ride........ but I didn't get out on the bike. So...................
Today's Miles: 0
YTD Miles: 0
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