Road-rage, Portland style

C'mon people - learn to share, and know the rules of the road.  I didn't know Oregon had manuals for bicyclists and pedestrians!  Our new (old) "active transportation" needs new brochures and manuals now.  The new manuals might help, then again, one has to read them.

Janet Lee said she snapped this photo of a bicyclist throwing a bike lock at her car during a confrontation on Tuesday evening. Her teenage daughter was driving the car. (Photo by Janet Lee)

The Oregonian May 6, 2015 By Joseph Rose

Portland bicyclist photographed throwing bike lock at motorist during road-rage incident

Update: The second (non-bike-lock-throwing) bicyclist in the photo has contacted The Oregonian/OregonLive with his version of what happened. Read it below. 

Dear Portland bicyclists: Bike locks are for locking up your ride, not hucking at cars during the evening commute.  

A Portland woman says she has filed a police report against a bicyclist who she says threw a bike lock at her car and kicked her in the arm during a heated exchange east of the Hawthorne Bridge on Tuesday night.

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Read the Oregonian web site for the rest of the story.

Here are a few tips from the ODOT Oregon Bicyclist Manual:

Most crashes with motor vehicles happen at road intersections and driveways, where  bicyclists and motorists cross paths. To avoid these crashes, follow PRINCIPLE #2:

ride on the right, with traffic, in a predictable manner.

When motorists and bicyclists collide, the fault is about evenly split between them. Even if you ride responsibly, some motorists may not see you. So remember PRINCIPLE #3: be visible and ride alertly.

The most important rule to remember is ride on the right, in the same direction as the traffic next to you. It’s the law. This way you will be seen by others. When drivers enter a road, change or cross lanes,  they know where to look for possible conflicts. If you are riding with traffic, you are more visible and drivers will more likely yield to you.