With all the news on bicyclists lately, thought I'd bring up something that most people are unaware of. Bicyclists are using "Sunset", U.S. Hwy. 26 in the middle of the night. I've been taking note of this for months. (I'm nocturnal. I'm up in the wee hours doing things like shopping. You don't have to fight crowds in stores or on the road.)

This morning between 12:45 & 1:30am during a short trip to Portland I saw a bicycle rider first east bound riding the fog-line between the Zoo and tunnel. He had his front and back lights on. Then on my way west bound 10 minutes later I saw another in the same area. I'm almost sure this is against the law. I saw a group of riders stopped by Police on Sunset during the day once.

My question is, why do these bicyclists break the law? They're making all cyclists look bad.

These dopey bicyclists deserve to be hit. Riding your bike on The Sunset Highway at 1:30 in the morning is just asking for trouble!

He had his front and back lights on.

I think that will make him legal anywhere in Portland unless HWY 26 has a "motor vehicles only" sign. Does it? I don't usually come down HWY 26.

The cops bust zoobombers for not having lights, but they've reached a shaky truce -- the zoobombers stay off HWY 26 and the cops look away when they come down elsewhere.

Natural selection.... thinning the herd, etc.

Unless something has changed it is legal to ride clear to the Civic Stadium off ramp.

Well, the name "Civic Stadium" has changed...

Andrew

It is illegal to ride a bicycle through the tunnels on Sunset highway but not on the shoulder of the highway itself. When going eastbound, the last exit before the tunnel has a sign telling bicyclists that they need to exit there.

I was behind a cyclist last week in the center lane in the tunnel at rush hour last week.

P.S. I refuse to call PDX institutions by their "new" corporate/rich people names. If Portland newbies have no idea what I'm talking about, TS! (I do defer to temporary visitors)

> I was behind a cyclist last week in the center lane in the tunnel at rush hour last week.

Then that guy is one of the bozos who gives bicycle commuters a bad reputation.

On Monday, I was riding home, and a very rude motorist--a 20-something woman driving a Jeep--yelled and pointed at me. "Bitch" would be an appropriate word to describe this person. This was the situation: I was at a street that had a right-turn lane, and I had to make a right turn. On this street, the bicycle lane runs between the right turn lane and the lane that goes straight ahead. It is not possible to make a turn from the bicycle lane. I merged into the right turn lane where it started, not cutting anybody off and rode as close to the curb as possible. A few seconds later, the Jeep pulled up, and the driver started going bananas, yelling "Get in the bike lane! The bike lane is over there!" and pointing angrily at the bike lane. I can't help but think that the idiot cyclists play a part in reinforcing the idea, in the minds of people like the Jeep driver, that all cyclists are assholes, incompetent, or both.

A biker on Sunset Hwy in the lanes should be run over and the driver not charged. Highways aren't suitable for bikes.

actually you are often safer on a bike, on a busier road....as cars are paying more attention than they do on slower streets...

Alfredo~

I have had a few moments like you described........


.......but then again, that of course was before I discovered a new use for sidewalks........ ;o)

OK, but if you be on the sidewalk booking along and I am out in front of you turning on a cross street, you better slow up or eat steel dude! If you are along side or ahead of me you get to go first but don't expect me to sit there and wait for you when you are behind me!

Don't worry--I usually stop at intersections whenever there's on-coming traffic. I eat meat, not steel--and I don't particularly feel like doing the latter any time soon.

(You might recognise me DT: I often ride an old orange Mongoose mountain bike, 26" with a BMX handlebar and number plate. And I often wear an orange and black dirt bike helmet...probably my most unmistakable feature.....

Give me a wave if you see me!)

A biker on Sunset Hwy in the lanes should be run over and the driver not charged.

Lynching a nitwit driver should be allowed and the mob not charged.

On my way to and from Yakima last weekend, I saw bicyclists on Hwy 84 past Multnomah Falls, and between Hood River and The Dalles.

The last pair I saw were westbound, just outside Hood River. They had a cardboard sign attached to a backpack asking for a ride to Portland...hitchhiking on wheels!

What happened to the "Nonmotorized Vehicles Prohibited Beyong This Point" signs? With the wind through those parts and the nearly nonexistent shoulders, this seems like an accident looking for a place to happen. Get gusted into that right lane with everyone on cruise at 70 MPH, you're toast.

I really wonder what people are thinking when they endanger themselves and others like this.

I don't really have an issue if they are on the shoulder, but if they are in the actual lane, they need to be cited. Bikes can't travel highway speeds unless going down hill.

I realize people have places to go -- and want to do it in a timely manner. But there are plenty of surface streets you can ride instead of Hwy 26. It may take longer to get where you're going, but it can be done. And riding up near the Oregon Zoo/Washington Park is a good deal of fun.

Given all the drunks and tricked out speeding Honda’s and Acura’s that drive 26 at night (especially Friday and Saturday nite), I'd avoid 26 as a cyclist. And too, I doubt the Washington County deputies would like to see you riding on 26. I've heard they can be very stern.

My take on this situation is thus:
(And I used to ride my bike all day everyday,but now I drive.)

No matter what the Laws of the City are,the Laws of Physics will ALWAYS win. It's that simple.
A car weighs at least 10x what you and your bike does,and is generally traveling at a faster speed.

I wouldn't like to see someone riding down HWY 26, but if they are allowed, then its ok with me. We have to start recognizing their right to be on our roadways. Motorists harrassing cyclists should be cited, and likewise, cyclists without lights and not signaling should be cited as well.

Bikes should NEVER be allowed to ride in the lane of the highway. Way too dangerous. Highways are for cars only.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the only roads it's illegal for bicycles to use are Interstate highways. A few years ago, SR 217 was targeted by a group that wanted to add bicycle lanes.

Anyone else remember years ago when there was some sort of bicycle sign on I-205 Southbound just south of Mill Plain Blvd. that had bicycle directions to SR 14 and the Glenn Jackson Bridge bike path? Always thought that was extremely strange and dangerous, especially since I remember the "nonmotorized vehicles prohibited" signs all over the place in Oregon?

I predict in the near future we will have designated days set aside as cyclest commute mornings & afternoons on Sunset Hwy. or the Banfield Freeway. On those days vehicles will have to find other routes into Portland. Think this is far out? Then read what's below. This has got to be on the drawing board I'm guessing in Portland's future:

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/in-a-city-built.html

The Banfield freeway would never appeal to many bicyclists as there are dozens of better east-west options in Portland than that freeway. The Sunset, not so as it is a quick route into Portland from Beaverton, not to mention less hilly.

Along I-205 from the Washington border to Gladstone is a separate and dedicated bike/walk path. This would be ideal for the Sunset and other freeways.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/cyclist_smashes_window_of_trim.h tml

This was on OregonLive.com this afternoon.

Another driver with a suspended license on a bike going nuts.

Newflyer--

The bike path to access the I-205 bridge nowdays is not actually *on* Highway 14 proper--it is in its own little "sideband" if you will, located *adjacent to* 14. You access it via Ellsworth after you go over the overpass (or before, depending on which direction you are coming from.)

Then it's
all
downhill
from
there
.........
;o)

(Supposedly it is legal to ride a bike *on* Highway 14, from what several of my neighbours tell me, but I haven't tried it. Don't think I will at any time soon, either.......)

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_071808_news_bicycle_suv_fight_advocate s_.6a09fa15.html

This from the KGW.com website.

The media loves to stir the pot on this issue. It becomes a self-perpetuating battle and feeds their headlines. It is a lazy and predictable move by these outlets and I bet it is not gonna end any time soon. These are shameless carpetbaggers making a living off of home video, phone tips and police scanners. They exist in a bubble without making any real effort, or reaching out to the community, or doing more than rote research of historical background. In depth coverage of local news is a thing of the past. Now, they create controversies, or exacerbate already tense situations.

For the record, Zoobombers are a creative group of young people. They are safer on the neighborhood run, but there has been sniveling and whining about it for years. Yes, sometimes they are reckless, or disruptive, but as far as extracurricular activities go, this is a good one. They also pick up all the trash along that stretch that suburban piggies toss out the window each day. Like skateboarders, it is easy to ignore what tangible good that spending time with a group of folks having "fun" does for a person. Especially a young person with fewer and fewer things to do inside in our urban environs.

I understand the logic behind using vehicles. Because I want to limit my trips to the terror lemonade stands, I choose to ride a bicycle. I also obey the rules of the road. Some bicyclists are assholes. Some drivers are assholes. Both bicyclists and drivers could use a whole lot more common sense and cooperation. Folks did this kind of thing not long ago at all. We can thank the transplanted bike messengers, the migrant population of drivers and a whole crop of newbie newsies for making this current hostile and dangerous mess.

One more thing, bikes without brakes belong on the velodrome track. Period.

LP said: . . . These [local media] are shameless carpetbaggers making a living off of home video, phone tips and police scanners. They exist in a bubble without making any real effort, or reaching out to the community, or doing more than rote research of historical background. In depth coverage of local news is a thing of the past. Now, they create controversies, or exacerbate already tense situations. . .

. . . it is easy to ignore what tangible good that spending time with a group of folks having "fun" does for a person. Especially a young person with fewer and fewer things to do inside in our urban environs. . . .

One more thing, bikes without brakes belong on the velodrome track. Period.

Wow. Word.

Mrs M, have you ever been east of 52nd Avenue on SE Baseline?

SE Baseline In Beaverton/Hillsboro? Why?

SE Portland!

I'm not sure where that is, but I definitely want to know why you want to know...before I admit it or not.

I'm intrigued!

I have never heard of a Baseline avenue or street in Southeast Portland. Where is this intersection located?

My best guess is a series of markers along Stark, but it might have been a name that was changed. Foster perhaps? I know there are a number of street names on the east side that have been lost to history. In the oldest neighborhoods, like Brooklyn, you will find that the street signs sometimes do not match what is written in the concrete at the corner.

So, was Stark east of 52nd called "Baseline" at some point in the past?

Does this tie-in to MM's comment about not using the "new" names for PDX institutions?

Cool find, LS!

I only found this

Semoochie, you are in Stark contrast with my little gray world!

Yes, we have a winner! I happened to think of that 1917 map that was linked awhile back. I thought it showed the road name changing at SE 52nd Avenue and it very well may have. Maps aren't all that accurate now; I don't know why anyone would expect them to be 90 years ago!

I have a question about the zoobombers. As for picking up trash, I could see that as they climb up to their destination, perhaps they pick up trash along the way – if they are not using MAX or the Ariel tram to get to where they are going. But on the ride down, when would they have time to stop and pick up trash? The videos I've seen of them would indicate that they ride downhill at a very fast rate of speed. When are they going to have time to pick up trash? And I thought they rode their bikes in the city, not the suburbs?

Talpdx, I reread my statement and it is confusing. As far as I know, the kids gather up trash along the shoulder of the Sunset highway like any other civic group or business that sponsors a section of road. A regular day is set aside and a sizable group of volunteers is recruited to do it. They wend their way between the tunnel and the zoo picking up all the garbage. Yes, they do ride in the city, but they clean up a section of road that connects the unfettered sprawl of the west side to Portland proper.

Semoochie, that was fun. You ought to start a "Portland Trivia" thread because that question was a doozy. Thanks for testing our yokel acumen. Great catch Mrs. Merkin!

Littlesongs, thanks for the clarification. Every video I've seen of them riding downhill, I couldn't imagine them picking up garbage.

Talpdx, they are into trick riding, but yeah, that would be a helluva trick! :0)

Fascinating link about the Stark St. markers.

I notice that Merkin's link mentions Division, not Stark, being the "Base Line road". The name connection makes more sense, but clearly the presence markers themselves put the lie to that idea.

So does Baseline Rd. in Hillsboro follow the actual baseline?

I know Foster Rd. is so named because it originally led to the old Foster Farm in the (Damascus?) area, which was the junction on the Barlow Rd where Oregon Trail pioneers could opt for Oregon City or Portland.

Foster Rd was constructed by Portland city fathers to encourage immigrants to head their way rather than to OC.

Re: old street names, if you take a look at the maps on PortlandMaps.com, you can see the original platt maps bearing (in my area of NoPo) up to three different names for each street!

"For the record, Zoobombers are a creative group of young people."

This is code for snotty, self-centered sociopaths.

So does Baseline Rd. in Hillsboro follow the actual baseline?

Baseline zigs and zags a bit, but some of it appears to be in line with the Willamette stone marker... It becomes Main in Hillsboro, so it would appear that Hillsboro was aligned to the same mark.

The latest casualty:

http://www.fauxnews/jul21/cyclist/accident.htm

I think YOU are about to become a casualty, Mister! (LMAO)

Would it be safe to call that a "Roll-Over" accident?

I was downtown in the South Park Blocks near Portland State University have a coffee drink and reading the paper this afternoon when I saw a cyclist attempting to cross the street and nearly collide with a car. The cyclist was clearly in the wrong but yelled at the driver of the car then flipped her the bird. The cyclist then attempted to follow the driver but I think he lost her. You've gotta follow the rules of the rode.