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80 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, August 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 9, 2004 A cyclist crosses Riverside Avenue at Eighth Street leaving downtown Medford. Cyclists often run into problems with motorists when someone involved doesn�t know the rules of the road. For cyclists, the misunderstanding can be deadly. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Cars and bikes: a hazardous mix Uncertainty about road responsibilities can lead to dangerous situations for both By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Stopped at a red light at East Main and Lindley streets in east Medford, Mark Chinn flew 40 feet when a car came from behind and slammed into his bike. He landed next to a fire hydrant on the opposite side of Main. His heavy clothing kept him from being injured, but he was rattled. Chinn took down the vehicle model and the license plate number and reported the incident to police. "The closest phone was my home, so I left," he said of the March 2001 incident. Despite the identifying information he was able to get, the case was never resolved. When it comes to sharing city streets, cyclists and motorists sometimes clash. If cyclists are lucky, it’s just harsh words, hand gestures or an unfriendly honk. In most cases, problems arise when somebody doesn’t know the law. Advertisement "There’s a lot of people on both sides who don’t understand what’s expected of them," said Chris Haynes, who, with his wife, Gwen, owns Sims Cycle & Fitness in the Medford Center. Haynes alternates between commuting by car and bike and knows both worlds well. He blames part of the confusion on cyclists. "There’s the person who’s using a bicycle more as a toy than as a means of transportation," he said. "They can be more like a pedestrian." And then there’s the adult for whom a bicycle is a serious vehicle, and they ride the speed of cars in traffic, he said. The solution begins with cyclists behaving like motorists, said Haynes. "The police need to give tickets to people who are not cycling appropriately," he said. Chinn, who has been hit on his bike three times, agrees. He said when bicyclists weave in and out of cars and hop on and off curbs, they teach drivers that cyclists are unpredictable. So it’s important that bicyclists don’t ride on sidewalks, run red lights or ride against traffic, said Chinn, who was recently named "bike commuter of the year" by the Rogue Valley Transportation District. Chinn, who’s been getting around on his bike for 30 years, said cyclists aren’t the only ones who need to be educated. "(Drivers) go by and they just treat you like a couch that shouldn’t be in the road," said Chinn, adding that he’s had pop cans and beer bottles thrown at him. "Think of it actually as flesh and bone with feelings and nerve endings." Most drivers are polite, but occasionally one gets annoyed, which Chinn doesn’t understand. "The inconvenience they have to go to is bend the ankle just a little bit to decelerate or turn the wheel to swerve — it can save the cyclist weeks in the hospital." Chinn was disappointed that Medford police never tracked down the driver after he was thrown from his bike in 2001. Medford police traffic officer Jason Becker remembers handling Chinn’s case. He said bicycle and car accidents are the same as two-car accidents: When the parties leave the scene, Oregon law prohibits an investigation, he said. "If both parties stay at the scene and law enforcement arrives, then I can do an investigation," Becker said. In the case of road rage, cyclists can file a complaint with the police department, which the city attorney reviews to determine if police should issue a citation. Complainants need to provide the date, time and location as well as the vehicle description and license plate number. They also should be able to identify the driver. Becker, also an avid cyclist, said he doesn’t ride Medford’s streets often because he doesn’t feel safe. "I notice that people don’t give people (cyclists) a lot of room," he said. "We don’t have a lot of bike paths, so it forces people on the road." Bicyclists have to follow traffic laws, too, he said, and the fines are the same for cyclists as drivers. Fines for bicycling violations average between $94 and $237 ($237 would be for riding against traffic or running a red light). Sometimes they get up in the $400 range, he said. John Fertig, who lives near Kennedy Elementary School and has commuted to work downtown since 1997, says he had an experience July 29 of a driver yelling at him to get off the road and swerving toward him. He finally had to brake and let the car pass. But those instances are rare, he said. In fact, because he can pedal along back roads and avoid heavy traffic on a bicycle, he prefers it. "It’s much better on a bicycle than in a car," he said. "When I get in a car, I arrive at work stressed-out." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Guidelines for cyclists, drivers Cyclists In Oregon, a bicycle is a vehicle by law, and cyclists have the same rights and duties as other road users. Ride with traffic. Ride on the street, not the sidewalk. Obey traffic lights and stop signs. Keep a safe distance from road hazards such as potholes and broken glass, and ride far enough away from parked cars to avoid doors that are opening. Ride in a straight line; don’t weave in and out of traffic. Use hand signals when turning. All bicycle riders under 16 must wear a helmet when riding in a street or public way. For riding after dark, bicyclists must have a white light in the front and a red light or reflector at the rear. Drivers A bicyclist has the right to the whole lane, so when you’re approaching a bicycle that is in your lane, slow down until it is safe to pass in an adjacent lane. Do not try to squeeze between the bicycle and a car in an adjacent lane. Anticipate a cyclist’s move. For example, if a cyclist just in front of you is coming up to a hazard such as a pothole, give him or her room to avoid the road hazard. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities