[Grovenet] Biking in Forest Grove

Mon Oct 9 13:26:03 PDT 2006

No where did I say it is the bicyclists fault. I said and if you read it,
that their CHOICE to ride in that lane at that point was a contributing
factor. If they had been in the provided bike lane on the other side of the
highway, then the first factor would have not been present.

I used to ride a lot on the roads. I have not for a number of years. My
choice because of the conditions.

SITUATIONAL AWARNESS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY are incumbent on every one
of us. Choices...You vilifed the driver with inaccurate statements.
Apparantenly you don't understand "multiple events on both sides"

And I love my little hole here and will stay here..thank you...:)

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
Behalf Of Marguerite Storbo
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 12:22 PM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Biking in Forest Grove

Now it's the bicyclist's fault for riding on the road!!??

You people need to get out more. Like to somewhere other than your hole,
where people walk, bike and drive cars and motorcycles at breakneck speeds
on 2 lane roads as narrow as one lane is here. Like England. And rarely is
there an incident resulting in injury. Because people know how to drive and
don't think it's their God-given right to do so!

Marguerite
I'm done with this discussion.

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Dale Wiley
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 11:44 AM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Biking in Forest Grove

Yes it is Hwy 47. And your replies again re-enforce my belief that what you
read in the papers has little real truth to it.

It was not an SUV. It was a BMW sedan.

The BMW would have been over the bank if it had swerved that far. And I
wonder where the police report was published, since in a situation like that
they can refuse to give it out.  If the bike rider swerved to avoid the
grate, and the BMW maintained a lane of travel, there would have been less
than 18 inches laterally between them. Not good...

There was an extensive forensics investigation done. These usually result in
a very accurate re creation of the sequence of events leading the actual
incident. When the TV news reporter was shown the next day with the car, it
became apparent to me that there were not going to be charges filed, since
access to evidence, (the car) would not have been allowed if there was a
criminal case pending.

It is not an inexplicable thing. The bike rider made a choice to ride in a
very hazardous area, with a protected bike lane available on the other side
of the road. Mitigating event # 1. The bike rider likely swerved unto the
fog line in a very narrow shoulder lane. Mitigating event # 2. When you
combine a unprotected bike rider in a very narrow bike lane with a hazard
ahead, and vehicles traveling 55 mph plus, you have a situation that has a
number of events present before the actual accident, and increases the
chances of a castrophic event.

"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."

I find this very interesting. Traveling to Gales Creek about 2 weeks ago we
entered the stretch past NW Owl Drive, extending to just past Rippling
Waters. I was driving 1 of our larger trucks with a 28 foot trailer with
construction equipment on it. As I entered the shady area, I noticed bike
riders in the other lane, as did my wife. They were riding double file in
the lane, which was difficult to see because of the shadows. No strobe
lights or anything like that. They had proceeded over a hill in that area
south bound, and continued to ride double file, even though, there was a
real possibility that a vehicle could be coming up over that rise unaware of
their presence and forced to TRY and take evasive action, strike the riders
or move into our lane and collide with our truck.

Therefore I just don't understand why it is not a crime to use common sense,
and ride in a safe manner in questionable conditions, and keep yourself out
of potentially dangerous situations, in compromised road and weather
conditions, and realize that not every driver on the ride is the sharpest
stick in the pile, and observe Oregon traffic laws regarding bicycle
operation on Oregon roads.

Every event has precipitating events that must be present for the
castrophopic event to occur. Seldom are all these events only on one side
the situation, but a combination of both sides and influences.

I have found that unless I was actually at the scene, which I was at this
horrible accident, as I live within an eighth of a mile for the last 20
years, you will seldom READ the actual facts as reported. The fact that the
riders made a choice to operate their bicycles in a dangerous area was
certainly the first of a series of events leading to the accident.

i-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
Behalf Of Marguerite Storbo
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 11:04 AM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Biking in Forest Grove

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.

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