[Grovenet] Biking in Forest Grove

[Marguerite Storbo]

You mean Hwy 47, right? I don't know exactly where the accident happened,
but the report (I believe it was the police report) said that the SUV driver
had traveled 24 to 27 inches over the shoulder line to strike the bikers.
She had no explanation for why she had left her lane, and there was no
indication whatsoever that the bicyclists had moved into the lane of travel.

I was very interested in this one, as it seemed such an inexplicable thing,
so I've read everything that was published post-accident. The most shocking
thing to me was that this driver received nothing more than a traffic
citation for careless driving. This is the standard drivers are held to: if
you drift out of your lane and kill someone, that is merely ordinary
negligence.

I just don't understand why it is not a crime to be so unaware of your
surroundings that you don't even see bicyclists on the side of the road on a
straight, clear highway in the middle of a sunny day, or to be unable to
maintain your vehicle in your lane.  A friend of mine recently wrote, in
regard to our reliance on each other on the road:

"It brings home with a silent shudder how much we rely upon the social
contract when we are out on the street. The opposing traffic won't cross the
centerline, stop signs will be obeyed, that car will stop at the parking
space.
We know this will happen because that is what we would also do. The rules of
the game. Social convention. 
A painted stripe on the pavement, the cognizance and good will of a
stranger, keeps us alive everyday on our way about life. "

And yes, Ron, I have had the momentary lapse of attention or of judgement,
and slipped toward the yellow line, or started to move into someone's lane,
but I have never come close to having an accident because of it. I always
have enough of a buffer, or enough judgment or reflexes or something, to
save it, myself and the other users of the road. Thank goodness.

Marguerite

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Dale Wiley
Why don't you take a trip down HWY 7 see exactly where they were riding.
They were riding in a very narrow shoulder lane on the south side of HWY 47,
never mind the bike path on the other side.
This shoulder lane is less than 24 inches wide sine they re configured the
highway for left hand refuge turn lanes at Anderson Rd, due to the mutilple
fatalities in vehicle accidents in that stretch in the last 20 years. They
are also STORM DRAINS in this 24 inch lane, and bike riders OFTEN move into
the lane of traffic to avoid the dangerous grate. I have seen  this HUNDREDS
of times along this entire stretch. I have no doubt there was some type of
movement by the bike riders. Even on a light traffic day, to me it makes no
sense to risk riding in such a dangerous stretch of shoulder lane.
Not excusing the actions of the bike riders or vehicle driver, just that is
is proven that there is always a sequence of events that leads up to a
castrophic result.