Critical mass bike ride, FRI @ 5pm

[Dan Crall]

Greetings,
Join fellow cyclists for a critical mass bike ride,
starting FRI at 5:00ish, at Central Park across from
the Corvallis Library. We plan to depart at 5:20 and
take a ride through our lovely small city.

The Critical Mass tradition has seemingly died over
this past year in Corvallis. My friend Mike and I
would like to see it revived, and while we don't want
to dictate rules, we do encourage lawfulness. In the
past, entire streets have been blocked in one
direction, sometimes riling up the gas vehiclers. As
Mike says, "...the ride should be mildy intrusive, but
not obstruct automobile traffic. We need to assert
the rights of bicyclists and popularize bike use."
Whatever you choose to do, just remember that every
rider is responsible for their own actions.

So, hope to see you around 5:00 at Central Park.
Bring your bike! Please tell your friends!

Dan

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[Wells, John - FS]

Hi Dan and other bicycle enthusiasts,

This message prompts me to say something that I have had running around
in my brain almost daily as I ride my Sun EZ-1 'LowRider' to work. I
ride almost every day, rain or shine. I also drive a car and a
motorcycle. Lately the car and the motorcycle have been parked way more
than used, but that is another issue. I don't say that for
self-aggrandizement. I say it to point out that I am familiar with the
road, conditions, and bicycle riding and driving motorized vehicles in
Corvallis and surrounding areas. This letter is not a pointless
diatribe. Please give me a moment of your time on the advent of an
event intended to evoke awareness of alternatives to gas/diesel powered
cages and visibility for those of us who choose non-motorized methods of
moving ourselves.

I am aware that some motorists seem to have a problem with my being on
the street. Although most do not. In fact there are so many really
polite and careful car and truck drivers that at times I find myself a
little annoyed at them. As I approach a marked intersection they
anticipate my running the stop sign and they stop on the arterial
blocking the traffic behind them. This is not necessary nor desirable
and it angers the others drivers. If we bikers want equanimity with the
motorists we have to follow the rules and that means stopping at stop
signs, yielding at unmarked intersections, not charging into the street,
cutting across parking lots, and darting back into the traffic flow on
the other side. And not riding on the sidewalks. Are you aware that
riding on the sidewalks and through the marked pedestrian crosswalks on
the street is not allowed. Did you know that if you ride on a
pedestrian pathway and come to a street you must yield to the street
traffic. It makes many drivers, who are already nervous, very anxious
to have bicycles coming at them from all sides and with no seeming
regularity. That is how they perceive it.

The rules are not there to make your life hard. They are there to form
a framework within which all of us can drive safely and with efficiency
because we can anticipate what the other individual will do. They will
follow the same rules.

Having said that I am well aware that many motorists do not. I have had
the experience where I am in the bike lane and I want to turn left on a
busy multi-lane arterial and the car drivers will not let me pull over.
So I end up at the corner getting off my bike and walking across the
street in the crosswalk. I know I can boldly charge out into the middle
(fast) lane and duck into the left turn lane. I know I have the legal
right to do so. I also know the pressure being exerted on the back of
my skull from the eyes of the truck driver behind me is probably just in
my head.

We have lost riders recently in traffic. It grieves mightily. That is
no way for anyone to go. Killed in a car accident. So yes, we do need
drivers to be aware of bicyclists and tolerant. I think we need fewer
cars and more bicyclists and that may come, but right now, let's not
antagonize too much by acting out. If you are going to ride for
awareness do it with dignity. You hold the high card. Act like it.

John Wells

[Dan Crall]

As stated, I encourage lawfulness in today's ride. I
agree with most of what you said, John, but I've also
heard other conflicting points of view that also make
sense. It comes down to individual responsibility- I
really hope you show up, as we are wanting this to be
a responsible ride to raise positive awareness. I am
going to ask that riders not block entire roads, and
not turn this into an aggressive outlet, as much as
some of us may dislike cars.

Thanks for the note- see you at 5 (hopefully).

Dan

--- "Wells, John - FS" <john.r...@oregonstate.edu>
wrote:

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[Bruce Hecht]

Hello all,

I usually do not jump into these conversations but having started my serious
bike commuting in Los Angeles 34 years ago, I wanted to support John's
comments. The times I have had close calls as a cyclist have been when my
riding behavior is unlike the patterns of other vehicles. That is why the
bike route to south Corvallis past the Coop is so dangerous. Cars do not
expect us to be coming from all directions. I have partcipated in Critical
Mass rides and have seen motorists get very irate. I would encourage you to
discuss ahead of time how you plan to deal with that anger, because it will
happen.

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Hunn [mailto:lh...@coas.oregonstate.edu]
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 9:41 AM
To: john.r...@oregonstate.edu; Braun, Mary; Trelstad, Brandon; Hecht,
Bruce; Stevens, Marge; Farmer, Rainier (E-mail); Lovett, Linda
Subject: Re: Critical mass bike ride, FRI @ 5pm

Thanks, John. You raise some good points.

Linda

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6:13 AM

[Morre, Susan]

Riding in the bike lanes and following the rules of the road (including not blocking traffic and not riding on sidewalks or the wrong way in a bike lane) is critical to gaining the respect of drivers and pedestrians, and therefore increasing the enjoyment and safety of biking in this town.  All forms of transportation are important and should respect one another's rights and safety.  Purposefully blocking cars does not help achieve any of these.  There are some jerks who get twisted pleasure from intimidating bicyclists (my husband has experienced this and it was scary, and if I see it again I will report their license plate to the police).  However, I think they are in the small minority of drivers, and we can avoid increasing their ranks by not doing any intentional obstruction. 

 

Susan Morre'
Ph.D. student, Department of Forest Resources
International Programs Assistant
Oregon State University College of Forestry
109A Richardson Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
phone:  541-737-0872
fax:  541-737-3008
Susan...@oregonstate.edu

---

From: sustainabl...@googlegroups.com on behalf of Dan Crall
Sent: Fri 8/31/2007 10:16 AM
To: Wells, John - FS; sustainabl...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Critical mass bike ride, FRI @ 5pm

[Mike Beilstein]

Hello All-
The bike ride today was great, mild weather, a
relaxing ride through a beautiful city. At the high
point we had 12 riders. We toured downtown and out to
35th Street to the just competed bike lane north of
Western Blvd. A great improvement for those who need
to bike that way.
We hope to do the ride each month on the last
Friday. Next ride will be September 26. Start about
5:20 at Central Park. Come join us if you can.

Mike Beilstein

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[Morre, Susan]

Sounds delightful.  Thanks for the feedback on a nice ride.

 

Susan Morre'
Ph.D. student, Department of Forest Resources
International Programs Assistant
Oregon State University College of Forestry
109A Richardson Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
phone:  541-737-0872
fax:  541-737-3008
Susan...@oregonstate.edu

---

From: Mike Beilstein [mailto:mikebe...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Fri 8/31/2007 6:26 PM
To: Morre, Susan; oregonpr...@yahoo.com; Wells, John - FS; sustainabl...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: Critical mass bike ride, FRI @ 5pm