We’ve heard from a whole host of people since our post last week about our work on bike crashes and police enforcement. At this time we want to assure BTA members, who are counting on us to represent them, that we are actively engaged, and committed to results. We’ve learned a lot, and pushed for more, in meetings with City officials and have a clear idea of what we want to come out of it.
We recognize how incredibly upset people are. Members we know to be mild-mannered and slow to anger are fired up and pissed off. Biking and driving people, reasonable people, safety-conscious people, people who stop at every single stop sign – they are mad, and they are scared, and they have been calling and emailing us to tell us so.
They are mad at the police for not ticketing where it seems clear that they should; they’re mad at their friends and neighbors for saying “Well, the problem is that bicyclists have so much attitude†even though neither Brett nor Tracey nor Siobhan were exercising “attitude†when they got run over; they’re mad that it feels like riding a bike means being underserved and threatened on the roads; they’re mad at irresponsible bicyclists who run red lights and make us all look bad; and a few of them are mad at the BTA for not demanding that heads roll at the police department.
While the process may be frustrating, we firmly believe that the approach we are taking is going to have sound results. Powerful people at the City are working with us and that is going to get us – and our members – the change we’re looking for. Being well-informed and proactively engaged means we can achieve short and long-term action. And we’re hearing from a number of our members that they support this approach.
In our discussions with the police, we have committed to developing a long-term relationship to find ways to change the way the Bureau enforces existing laws. We have expressed our concerns about equitable treatment for all roadway users. We have clearly indicated our position that death or injury to vulnerable roadway users attributable to inattentive motor vehicle operators is absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances.
Last Friday, Chief Rosie Sizer stated very plainly in a meeting with us and others that the Police Bureau is “ready to move.†Her commitment sets the foundation for long-term solutions. Today the Bicycle Transportation Alliance is asking the Police for specific changes in equity, enforcement, investigations, and reporting – the details of which we must hammer out.
We will vigorously advocate for change with the Police Bureau and the Mayor’s office until changes are implemented.
Finally, we truly believe that an even longer-term approach needs to be taken for serious legal changes. The state legislature should pass new laws with the goal of zero traffic fatalities, laws that would include requiring much stronger penalties and more regular traffic safety education.
We will update you when we have more to report. In the meantime, please keep us informed of your experiences and your perspective. We’re listening and working hard. Your energy, support and constructive criticism help us do our job better.
And we strongly encourage you to maintain your energy and take action. Speak out, contact your elected officials, attend public hearings, organize rallies, comment on the blogs, and ride your bike.
The BTA is uniquely poised to work with the PPB and the City while also advocating to them, as well as addressing legal loopholes and inequities through the BTA’s very successful legislative program. I know it’s tough to see the path forward and be confident about exactly which approach is best, but I thank the BTA for being active and committed on this issue, and I look forward to reports back about progress that’s being made.
Can you enumerate the specific changes in city ordinances, state law (that the city can lobby the Legislature for), and PPB practices and policies that BTA will be pushing for in these meetings with the mayor and police? Thanks for all the hard work on behalf of safety.
A lot of the problem isn’t the police — it’s Sam Adams and PDOT who’ve allowed areas to have the wrong signage and engineering.
A stop sign at 23rd and Salmon?
Sure, the cops shouldn’t enforce there. But they shouldn’t even have the opportunity to enforce there, because PDOT should take the stop sign out. They’ve avoided doing it, not returned calls about it, and shown zero political will.
Get Sam to fix the engineering.And get Sizer to reassign Krug er.
…to bring about meaningful change in any kind of political/social context takes time and effort…thanks for this update and the ongoing efforts of BTA to work on these important issues for both cyclists and other members of the community.
…i am particularly pleased to see the Portland Police Chief express a willingness to be engaged in these issues, that can only bode well for developing a positive relationship with this very important group.
…thanks Scott, and the rest of the BTA staff for all your hard word.
Sorry, WilliamG, but I have to disagree. I think that PDOT is doing a marvelous job considering the financial, social and political obligations and limitations that they face each day. And the stop sign at 23rd & Salmon is very necessary – it limits car speeds on Salmon, otherwise car traffic on Salmon would increase and cyclists would be endangered. Bike Boulevards are not devoid of traffic control devices, they just have fewer of them.
Remember also that the neighborhood may not want those signs removed – as much as we like riding through there, we still need to respect the rights of residents just as they have to respect the rights of commuters.
Oh, and Scott – thanks for being part of the BSC and participating / commenting at the meeting, and you and the BTA staff keep up the good work!
There are other ways to slow traffic than stop signs.
The neighborhood doesn’t have the right to impose $250+ tickets on bicyclists. No one has the right to control public space to their own NIMBY liking. If they don’t want speeding traffic, they can have a bike boulevard. But having a stop sign at the bottom of a hill where there’s no cross-traffic is ridiculous.
Stop signs?! Are we still fighting about whether cyclists have to obey stop signs?
Honestly, I don’t obey many when I’m on my bike, but I’m not going to complain if the police enforce signs in an area that has a demonstrated safety problem.
If cyclists want to be respected as legitimate users of the roadway, we have to take responsibility for obeying signs and traffic regulations. Go back and read Gandhi’s writings. A moral stand cannot be built on demands that the “world owes me the right-of-way because I’m saving gas”.
One of the real problems isn’t police enforcement but how the courts and public see the problem. In our area, driving in a bike lane for example is something our citizens complain about when we stop people for it. the judges don’t think its serious enough to warrant fining the person at all as “no one was endangered at the time” type of attitude. Higher fines won’t make the streets safer what is needed is mandatory fines with certainty of being caught and punished.