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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, June 10 DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Jun. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Cycling facts Thank you for providing an opportunity to share some factual information about cycling in our community. Between the years 2010 and 2014 there were 244 cyclist crashes in our valley. Exactly half of those were caused by motorists who failed to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist. Twelve crashes were caused because the cyclist was in the roadway illegally. Four crashes were caused because the clothing the cyclist was wearing was not visible. The rest were caused by motorists doing various things like running red lights and such. This means that just under 7 percent of cyclist crashes were caused primarily because of something the cyclist did. So, 93 percent of the cyclist crashes were caused by motorists. I should note that not one crash cites arrogance, funny hats or tight pants as a contributing cause. You can download this data for yourself from the Oregon Department of Transportation. Of course, you'd need to put it into a geographic information software program and run some analysis on it, and that stuff is kind of hard. In general, it is hard work to identify how our own fears translate into false opinions. I get that ultra-fit cyclists are a little intimidating. It's easy to despise what we do not understand or cannot be. While I understand that Mr. Pischel is probably not advocating that drivers have a right to hit cyclists, his statements excuse a culture where it is OK to blame a cyclist for getting hit. Incidentally, yesterday in my hometown, nine "serious bicyclists" were mowed down by a motorist. I knew one of the five who died. Mr. Pischel might have liked her. Everyone did. Nikki Hart-Brinkley, geographic information scientist Ashland Ali's message With the passing of Muhammad Ali, it seems important to reflect upon not just his glories in the ring, but on his most courageous moments as a man. When the great champion at the peak of his career gave up his heavyweight crown and risked imprisonment for refusing to join the Army, his audacious act provoked hateful condemnations. Some even believed he was a traitor and thought he should leave the country, serve time in jail or both. Some of us, however, found him inspirationally heroic. The former Cassius Clay, who grew up in segregated America and chose to become a Muslim, powerfully explained why he would not participate in our Vietnam War: “My conscience won’t let me shoot my brother or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big, powerful America. Shoot them for what? They never called me nigger. They never lynched me. They never put no dogs on me ... How can I shoot those poor people! Just take me to jail.” Today, as we continue to fight seemingly endless wars and hear venomous words hurled at people with darker skin, including those who believe in Allah instead of “our God,” the former champion’s bold words expose our shaky values. Inspired by his chosen new faith, Ali urged us to face and transform the racism and inequality in our own country rather than fight without good cause against the poor and dark in distant lands. This Muslim man, filled with expansive love and thoughtfully focused anger, can still teach us profoundly needed insights about peace, prejudice, courage and compassion. Ron Hertz Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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