More on the Trimet thing

The Randy Albright/Trimet thing is becoming something of a national story - so you'll excuse me if I report on it again even though it's on the other side of the continent. The Oregonian ran a front page story called Uneasy Riders about the tension between cyclists and drivers. Having read more about this, I agree that Mr. Albright was way out of line, though he didn't deserve being attacked (see photo) and I agree that when cyclists pull stuff like this - which admittedly, I've gotten angry and done - they aren't helping.

There are some shocking things in the Oregonian article. One couple claimed they moved away because of all the bicycles. That's a first. DC needs to look at ways to avoid the "cold war" between bikes and cars if we're to achieve the same level of growth as Portland

Since 1991, daily bike traffic on the Steel, Broadway, Burnside and Hawthorne bridges has increased by 257 percent, according to the city's transportation department.

The increase in automobile traffic: Zip. Zero.

and isn't our goal to say the same about Memorial, TR, 14Th Street etc...?

 

Comments

[Mike Plakus]

How out of line was Albright? The bus operator clearly gave him no room to operate his bicycle and refused to acknowledge Albright when he tried to flag him down. The papers there are generating there alarmist headlines not from some real backlash that is developing but as a way to sell their motor vehicle advertising subsidized media. I mean, what kind of traffic issues would they have if all the cyclists abandoned their bikes and took to four wheels?

[washcycle]

Here's how he's out of line. Imagine he was in a car instead. A guy who pulls his car in front of a bus, gets out to yell at the bus driver and refuses to move his car is out of line and breaking the law.

Albright should have written the number of the bus down and called it in to Trimet.

The bus driver should have called the police if Albright wouldn't move.

The passenger should have stayed out of it.