tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41916796185623593142024-03-08T05:23:49.376-08:00PortlandcentricA native Portlander's view of the world - a Portlandcentric perspective.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-34395526441883640602014-02-27T23:56:00.001-08:002014-02-27T23:56:25.013-08:00Guns - Part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My formal introduction to guns came
with a few tears and a lot of anxiety. As the lesson began and my teacher
laid the unloaded weapon on the table, I quivered with the fear of deadly
unpredictabilities. But by the end of the hour, I could coexist with an
unloaded handgun. I even touched it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lesson number two took me all the
way from touching the unloaded Glock to pulling the trigger on a practice
round. Because I understood the mechanics of the hand gun, felt reassured
that every safety precaution was in place, and knew how to ensure any gun I
picked up was unloaded, lesson number two didn’t provoke my previous fears. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I learned how to load the magazine, use
the proper grip, rack the slide, and check if a round is in the chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned proper stance and trigger control,
how to aim, and finally, how to breathe when firing. Because these were
practice rounds, I successfully completed all of the steps dry-eyed and
calm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It isn’t hard to use a gun. It
isn’t complicated or even dangerous when done correctly. If there were
nothing lethal about it, I could easily have mastered it at age 8 or 9.
But add in the fact that a handgun can take the life of another human being,
and everything changes. The process of learning skills historically meant to harm
people creates an inner turmoil in my chest. On the one hand, I can pace
through the mechanics and follow the procedures like any good student. I
am smart and not overly clumsy. On the other hand, it puts my soul
off-kilter to pursue proficiency in a deadly act I will never commit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will never kill another
human. First of all, I don’t believe I will ever find myself in a
position where that is a reasonable choice. Second, even if I did, I
would never be able to know, with 100% certainty, beyond even a flicker of a
doubt, that killing someone is the best course of action. I believe that
there is almost always another alternative. To perform an act so final, I
would need nothing less than a direct command from God (if I believed in
God). And even then, I am going to insist it be notarized and
countersigned by at least two other deities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just don’t trust myself to know
everything, and that is what I require before I would be willing to take a
life. I would need to weigh every possible factor, from what the
perpetrator had for breakfast to which direction the wind was blowing.
Therein might lie an alternative to killing. I would need to know every
possible outcome of the situation. To be omniscient, to know that killing
this human being now is the best choice, is impossible. It can’t be
undone, the snuffing of a life-force born from the mysterious spark of
nature. I am not god, nor do I want to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the end of lesson number two, I
probably was skilled enough to clumsily fire a bullet into the body of a bad
guy (a slow bad guy), but that doesn’t mean I was any closer to doing it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This educational undertaking,
however, would not be complete without firing a live shot. That is why I
decided to accompany my teacher to an indoor firing range and shoot for
real. Seeing how smoothly the second lesson went, I thought I was
ready. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the range, I filled out the
paperwork and donned my ear protection and safety glasses. I looked through the
bullet proof glass at a row of mostly middle aged men, each in their own booth,
firing away at paper targets on the range. I started to balk. Those
were real men firing real ammo. Death was only one crazy person
away. But I swallowed the lump in my throat and soldiered on, silently
willing myself to follow my teacher inside the interlocking, soundproof doors
connecting the range to the lobby. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With each step, I noticed my blood
pounding in my temples. My breathing grew shallow and weak. As I
stepped onto the range, the true volume of the firing weapons attacked my ears
like a thunder-strike. The piercing explosions made me flinch over and over.
My body jerked and jumped with every blast. The noise was so loud and so
sudden, I burst into tears. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The deadly banging of the firearms had sent anxiety
jolting through me, flipping some kind of regression-switch that made me cry
like a baby. My teacher was concerned. He looked at me, but I
wouldn’t meet his eyes. I tightened my hearing protection and sat down,
twisting my legs and arms into a tight protective pretzel as I waited for my
body to get used to this scary new environment of noise and confusion.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My teacher took care of everything
for me, checking each gun and neatly laying out the weapons and their
corresponding magazines on the shelf in our shooting booth. As he worked,
I dared to look at the row of men shooting from their individual booths.
They were all men. Some in their 50s, others in the 20s. Most wore
jeans and plaid flannel. Many had pot bellies. All of them were
intensely focused on their activity. I felt completely out of my element:
insecure, weepy, sensitive…female. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On most occasions, I do not pay
attention to my gender. I assume I am just as qualified to do whatever it
is I am doing as the guy next to me. Sometimes I am better than the man
to my right, sometimes worse than the one to my left. I compare my
performance only against my own expectations. But how many men cry upon
entering a firing range? If these guys weren’t so focused on destroying
the paper targets in front of them, they might have looked at me and rolled
their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw, in my somewhat hysterical
state, people pretending to conquer other human beings with the power-hungry twitch of a finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this activity there seemed to be something
inherently male. These men were enthusiastic, dedicated, focused, set on
killing that paper outline of a perpetrator. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt at a disadvantage because destroying
things is not in my nature. I did not bring to this endeavor a desire
strong enough to blanket the fear of so many flying projectiles so close, such
loud explosions, over and over. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Red flames flashed from the muzzles of
every gun fired! I was astounded: I had thought that just happened
in the movies. It certainly added to the seriousness that this experiment
was about to become. I myself was about to send flames flying, create
deafening explosions and destroy things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My teacher approached me and asked
if I was ready. A little wobbly and unsure, I stood and stepped up to the
shooting booth where an arsenal was laid out in front of me like a metal
buffet. From left to right, there was a Ruger 22/45, a Glock 19, a Smith
& Wesson M&P Compact .40 and a Bersa Thunder .380, each grouped with 2
or 3 loaded magazines at the ready. He suggested I start with the .22
caliber because it had the least recoil. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I looked at it; I touched
it; I got used to it. I picked it up and slowly went through the steps I
had learned in my lessons. I placed the magazine in the grip and tapped
it, then pulled lightly on it to see if it had seated properly. I chambered
a round by racking the slide. I wrapped my right hand around the grip
with my index finger straight, below the barrel of the gun and well above the
trigger. I wrapped my left hand below the right and created a tension
between the two to hold the gun firmly in place. I squared my hips and
set my feet shoulder width apart, then leaned forward with both arms straight
and rigid in front of me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The target paper was 5 yards away.
There were five black target faces on it with red bull’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lined the sights up on the center one,
closed my left eye and brought the front sight slightly below the red circle in
front of me. I held my breath, wondering if the noise and the force of
the explosion would jolt me as badly as the noise had when I walked into the
room. I decided there was only one way to find out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I moved my trigger finger down onto
the trigger and lined up my sights again. I squeezed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The trigger moved, but nothing
happened. I squeezed harder, thinking I was doing something wrong.
Nothing happened. I immediately laid the gun down on the shelf, afraid
that it might explode belatedly. My teacher tested the gun and concluded
that it was malfunctioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sent a
trickle of “I told you so” creeping into my mind. “Even if you are super
vigilant, you can never be 100% sure!” I told myself, a concept I sometimes
take to the extreme. This is what scares me about handguns: there is no
guarantee of perfect safety. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I looked around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There on the firing range, with a barrage of used
shell casings flying like popping corn, muzzles spat red flames and serious, focused men
sweated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sheer certitude that
permeated the room wore away at my impossibly high standard. These guys
were willing to accept slightly less than 100%, and so, I decided, I was too.
This change allowed me to move a little more freely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no longer jumped at every
shot. I had grown acclimatized to the environment, surrendering to the
general consensus of every other sane person that this place, this activity,
was pretty safe – as safe as you can get with 24 loaded guns in action.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I moved to the Glock 19. This
is the gun I had practiced with. I popped the mag into the grip and racked
the slide, going through the same steps as before. Except this time, when
I was finally ready to see if I could make a bullet exit the barrel and hit the
piece of paper in front of me, I did. My squeeze was met with a noise -
not as loud as the other guys' guns - and a small black circle appeared on the white paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the only evidence that anything had
happened at all.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That worried me. I put the gun
down to think. I had just shot my first bullet and the only result was a
small hole in a thin piece of paper. No one screamed. No one
bled. The gun didn’t jump out of my hands. The force didn’t knock
me backwards. It was way too easy. So easy that one could get
complacent. I took a deep breath, conferred with my teacher and reached
down to continue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I shot 10 to 12 rounds before I grew
a little shaky from the concentration of focusing so intently. I took a
break, placed my gun on the firing shelf, and we flipped the switch to bring
the target back to us where we could see it better. My shots, all except
the first one, were relatively close together, most of them in the outer black
circles of the target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was in the
red. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My teacher took his turn while I
rested my brain. We shot a few magazines worth, and my tension steadily dissipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, my teacher unzipped his rifle case and
placed a beanbag support on the firing shelf. He loaded XX cartridges
into his Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were much smaller than the handgun rounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sent the target out to 25 yards and emptied
a mag into it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the paper came back,
the shots were uniformly high, so he adjusted the sight. After a while,
he invited me to try it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rifle was configured like an AR-15, with a
red dot sight. It was a little longer than my arm, made from plastic and steel
like the others, but with numerous unfamiliar parts and switches that I made
sure not to touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat down, placed
the handguard of the rifle on the support and I sighted the target at 15 yards.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pressed the butt into my shoulder,
lined up my hands and set the little red dot in the sight on the bull’s eye of
the lower right hand target. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I squeezed. There was no recoil.
The rifle was even easier than the handguns. My teacher said, “Wow!”</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I kept firing and got in about 10
shots before I wanted to rest again. We brought the target back in close
and he pointed to the hole in the red. </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That was your first shot,” he said
proudly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have to admit, even though it was
probably luck, I was proud too.</span></div>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-30611968677730943062014-02-27T21:53:00.001-08:002014-02-27T21:53:03.272-08:00Guns - Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a newfound love of all that is different and new, not
because what I already know isn’t good enough, but because not knowing as much
as possible is not good enough. I know all about the beliefs I have
now. I am very familiar with what I have thought and how I have
interacted with the world up until today. Now it is time to learn what it
is like not to be the me that I have been for all these years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To understand things anew, I need to try new things. To make
the impact significant, I have to choose areas with significance. This is
more than just switching to a new brand of cereal or buying into a different
fashion statement. I have to go straight to my core beliefs and challenge
them seriously; really test my assumptions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Impact also depends on emotion, so I have picked
something that scares me to death: guns.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before today, the old me held the belief that guns are bad,
no matter who carries them or how they are used or protected or stored.
Handguns are made to kill people, and that is bad. Handguns are a threat to me
and my family, and that is bad. I have gone so far as to cross the street
when I see a police officer with a weapon on her hip. Like leprosy, their mere
proximity made me feel unsafe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But today, I am discarding all prior judgments and
conclusions. Today, guns are neither good nor bad; their existence
neither increases nor decreases my safety; killing people is neither a sin nor
a blessing. Today, handguns no longer embody derogatory, aggressive
insecurity. They are simply another device I pass by in my daily life –
coffee maker, bicycle pump, Smith and Wesson. I am opening my mind
to the possibility of changing a strongly held belief that may or may not need
changing. It’s a check-in, a re-evaluation to find out if 44 years of
life can alter my perspective, soften my hard stances, allow me to get outside
myself and maybe even be someone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, with some trepidation, I asked
my gun-owning friend to introduce me to a handgun and be my teacher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My fear of handguns is not irrational. Chances of
death by handgun go up dramatically when there is a handgun in the house.
Any other tool, if mishandled, doesn’t have quite the potential for unintended
harm. It isn’t the armed criminal that puts me on edge; it’s the
careless, overconfident or forgetful friend that gets my heart to
palpitating. Numerous tragedies occur because of unsafe handling, or
storage, or a lack of vigilance, or just plain ignorance. Consequently,
this endeavor – my education in guns – may serve a second purpose. I will
no longer be completely ignorant. Perhaps in some small way, I can
contribute to the collective wisdom on gun handling, and just maybe decrease
the chances of a senseless gun accident.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That is, if I ever get past my visceral aversion of picking
one up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The lesson began. My teacher brought to the coffee
table a black, neoprene mat covered in diagrams of weapon components and safety
messages. He placed a heavy black Glock 19 on the mat, slide open and
magazine removed. The sight of it sent a wave of apprehension through my
body, but I didn’t blink or look away. I watched it from where I was on
the couch, getting used to its presence from afar. It didn’t jump up and
bite me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My teacher named all the parts and opened and closed the
slide to show me the mechanisms involved. The fact that it had plastic
parts was disconcerting. How could something so serious be made from the
same material as most toys? He showed me how to check that a gun is
unloaded, by sticking your finger in the chamber to see if a round was loaded,
in through the ejection port to feel if there were any rounds in the upper
magazine well, and in the bottom of the magazine well to see if a magazine was
inserted; then visually checking the chamber.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As he finished his guided tour of the piece, I started to
feel more comfortable. I was 90% convinced that his repeated testing
proved that there were no rounds inside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, he showed me a single round from the gun that he wears
on his hip every day and explained how a jacketed hollow point cartridge is
built. At the front is the bullet, a lead projectile with a hollow tip
designed for maximum damage upon impact. The bullet is seated in a brass
casing, which also holds the gunpowder and detonator, called a primer.
When hit by the firing mechanism, the primer ignites, which in turn lights the
gunpowder afire, sending the bullet whizzing down the barrel of the pistol.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After this description, my teacher immediately left the room
and took the live ammo away. Best practice says all live ammo needs to be
in another room entirely when you are working with the handgun. When he
returned to the room, he carried a small handful of practice rounds and dumped
them onto the neoprene mat in front of me. He assured me that these were inert
and couldn't be fired.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nevertheless, I had the impulse to count them and line them
up on end, neat and under my control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did not want to let them out of my sight. Some had an orange, plastic
top. Others were completely maroon from tip to base. These were practice
rounds, he explained, designed not to do anything when struck by the
hammer. They didn’t have gunpowder inside. They don’t even exit the
chamber when the gun is fired. That didn’t stop me from wincing as they
rolled around on the mat like a haphazard collection of pocket change. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As he loaded the plastic practice rounds into the magazine,
I shrunk back, hiding behind his shoulder for protection. Crazy freak
accidents, caused by implausible scenarios, flooded my mind. What if the
manufacturer put powder in one cartridge by accident? What if my teacher
was color blind and the designated color for fakes was supposed to be blue?
What if there was a live round hiding somewhere inside the gun that we hadn’t
found? As ridiculous as the possibilities appeared - even to the crazy
one who thought them up – the consequences could be dire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My teacher inserted the full magazine into the grip with a
thump and drew back the slide, loading a shell into the chamber. At this point,
I was cowering and near tears with anxiety. There was a round in the
chamber of a gun within 2 feet of me. It was the closest I had ever been
to a weapon designed and ready to kill humans – to kill me. The gun was
loaded: loaded with immobile, plastic rounds, but nonetheless, I was working
myself into an emotional frenzy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And then, he pointed the gun at the densest part of the
apartment wall, and he pulled the trigger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It made a mechanical click, like any tool or toy might
make. Nothing flew out of the muzzle. No white smoke drifted from
his hand. No big bang reverberated in my ears. The round had done
exactly what he said it would do: nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After my heart rate returned to normal, the lesson sunk
in. I realized that it was not guns I was afraid of, although the heavy
menacing look of a compact killing machine was daunting in its own right.
It was not people with guns that scare me – I could have been afraid of my
friend turning crazy at that very instant and pointing the gun at me, but that
thought never crossed my mind. It was bullets that scare me. Once that
totally benign piece of plastic and metal met its receptacle, I felt fear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My irrational, persistent urge to count those little plastic
containers clued me in. I wanted assurance, certainty; a perfect 100%
guarantee that a stray shell wasn’t hiding in the gun. I feared,
regardless of my intense precautions, that I would send one flying, burrowing
and exploding into a fellow human being.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think I will be able to pick up the gun during my next
lesson. But inserting real cartridges - holding in my hands the power to
take a life – that won’t be easy.</span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-59269532324762958062013-12-07T13:53:00.000-08:002013-12-07T13:53:42.465-08:00KATU Covers Hastie's Carsharing Experiment<h2>
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/2013/05/katu-covers-our-columnists-carsharing-experiment/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to KATU covers our columnist’s carsharing experiment">KATU covers our columnist’s carsharing experiment</a></h2>
Last winter, Portland Afoot low-car lifestyle columnist Cathy Hastie conducted a <a href="http://portlandafoot.org/2013/02/mood-to-move-my-great-zipcar-vs-car2go-experiment/">grand experiment</a>: she parked her family van for two weeks and used Zipcar and car2go for all her auto trips.<br />
The results were so interesting (and <a href="http://portlandafoot.org/2013/02/zipcar-vs-car2go-part-ii-freewheelin-but-fretful-with-car2go/">well-documented</a>
by Cathie, complete with her total costs per mile, trip hour and day)
that local ABC affiliate KATU saw them and ran a 4-minute report on the
endeavor in their newscast last week, complete with cost breakdowns and
(AMAZINGLY) a bobble-head version of Cathy.<br />
The information here won’t be news to people who are already familiar
with carsharing, but it’s a charming look at Cathy and her husband’s
low-car thinking:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.katu.com/news/problemsolver/Rent-your-ride-Putting-car-sharing-services-to-the-test-207633621.html?tab=video&c=y">KATU’s text version of the report is here</a>, and if you want to sign up for the $200-credit Getaround share-your-car study mentioned at the end, you can do that by <a href="http://www.katu.com/news/problemsolver/Rent-your-ride-Putting-car-sharing-services-to-the-test-207633621.html?tab=video&c=y">registering your own vehicle for sharing</a> via their service.<br />
<div class="post_date">
<br /></div>
<div class="post_date">
<br /></div>
<div class="fin_story_body">
KATU Article PORTLAND, Ore. – Cathy Hastie called herself a car addict, but she decided to end her addiction for a week.<br />
<br />
“It was taking a whole week and pretending like I didn’t own a car,” she said.<br />
<br />
AAA says the average price of owning a car is a little more than
$9,000 per year, or about $25 per day. As the cost of owning a car
increases, many Portlanders are trying car sharing instead.<br />
<br />
Could it work for you? It depends on how much you drive.<br />
<br />
Cathy tried different car sharing services to get around.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.zipcar.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Zipcar</strong></a><br />
With Zipcar, Cathy picked up a car near her house and returned it nearby. She paid by the hour for the entire trip.<br />
<br />
She said the cost for her was about $7 per hour, but only for the
hours she actually used the car. Her total was about $15 per day. Less
money, but not necessarily less stress, she said.<br />
<br />
“When it’s costing you money, you think twice. Is it worth it to stop at the store?” Cathy said.<br />
<br />
She had to plan ahead to get Zipcar reservations.<br />
<br />
“That was always looming over my head, getting it back in time not to get the 50 dollar charge.”<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.car2go.com/" target="_blank"><strong>car2go</strong></a><br />
Cathy picked up a car by her house and could drop it off anywhere.
When it was time to leave, she found another car2go to get home.<br />
<br />
“I found out they’re very popular,” she said.<br />
<br />
She paid by the minute. Cathy said her cost was about $23 per hour during driving time. Her total was about $5 per day.<br />
<br />
She believes she’d have to buy a smartphone to easily locate the
cars. She said she felt stress wondering if there would be a car nearby
when it was time to go home.<br />
<br />
“If you were going to class and you absolutely needed a ride home,
you’d better keep the car signed out to use so it’d be there when you
get back. So you’d have to pay by the minute while you were in class.”<br />
<br />
<strong>Other services</strong><br />
Cathy looked at other services too, like <a href="http://www.getaround.com/" target="_blank">Getaround</a>, where you can rent other people’s personal cars. The owners set their own prices.<br />
<br />
It’s the same for <a href="https://relayrides.com/search?location=portland%2C+or#location=portland,%20or&page=2" target="_blank">Relay Rides</a>, with local car owners offering their vehicles for $4 to $12 per hour.<br />
Cathy said she hasn’t given up on car sharing. Her husband uses
Zipcar for his job at a consulting firm. Plus he can ride a bike to work
and save money on parking.<br />
<br />
She said she may be willing to make the change once their second car finally dies.<br />
<br />
“I have a sense that it would be worth it,” Cathy said.</div>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-39214253704305501702013-12-07T13:45:00.000-08:002013-12-07T13:45:41.041-08:00'Those Arrogant Bikers', And Why I'm One Too (as seen on BikePortland.org), Complete with Reader Comments<div class="post">
<h1 id="post-98074">
<a href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Lifestyle column: 'Those arrogant bikers,' and why I'm one too">Lifestyle column: 'Those arrogant bikers,' and why I'm one too</a></h1>
<div class="date">
Posted by <a href="http://bikeportland.org/author/cathyh/" title="Posts by Cathy Hastie (Lifestyle Columnist)">Cathy Hastie (Lifestyle Columnist)</a> on December 4th, 2013 at 10:23 am </div>
<div class="entrytext">
<div style="float: right; font-size: .95em; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px;">
<img align="right" alt="lifestyle columnist Catherine Hastie" border="0" height="184" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cathyhastie_thumb.jpg" title="lifestyle columnist Catherine Hastie" width="244" />
<div align="center">
Lifestyle columnist Cathy Hastie.</div>
</div>
<em>Cathy Hastie is BikePortland's <a href="http://bikeportland.org/author/cathyh/">lifestyle columnist</a> ... even when she says things we wouldn't all agree with.</em><br />
<br />
Some people say that bikers are an arrogant group. I am the first to
admit that I am a card-carrying member. Portland has its coffee snobs
and its beer snobs, and me — I'm a transportation snob.<br />
<br />
I ride my bike past rows of motionless overheating cars with my nose
in the air, flaunting my obviously better commuting choice. I crow to my
officemates about how little I spend on gas and how I <em>never</em>
pay for parking. My ego precedes me as I fill the elevator at the office
with my bulky two-wheeler. I take advantage of the ambiguity bicycles
are afforded in respect to sidewalks, driveways, streets and bike lanes.
If I can ride on it safely, I will.<br />
<span id="more-98074"></span><br />
<br />
I am also the first to recognize how lucky I am. I have a well-paying
job that allows me to live close to work. I am able-bodied. I live in a
city that can afford to build amenities to make biking safe and
pleasant. It is a privilege not to drive.<br />
<br />
But, alas, there are some ignominious people who have forgotten this.
Their self-absorbed, self-righteous behavior makes me look like a
junior member of the Arrogance League. They weave through downtown
traffic, handless and shirtless. They hover jerkily in clumsy track
stands, inches from geriatric pedestrians in crosswalks. Their impatient
posture appears to sneer, "What's wrong with you? Pick up that walker
and get a move on so I don't have to put my foot down." They are rudest
of all to other bikers, passing on the right and cutting in front of the
line at four-way stops. They thumb their noses at moderation, common
courtesy and traffic signals.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://ads.neighborhoodnotes.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?oaparams=2__bannerid=700__zoneid=107__cb=57127897ce__oadest=http%3A%2F%2Fmarkelinsuresfun.com%2FBicycle+Display+2013%2Fbikeportland" target="_blank"></a><div id="beacon_57127897ce" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;">
</div>
<div id="beacon_57127897ce" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;">
<img alt="" height="0" src="http://ads.neighborhoodnotes.com/openx/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=700&campaignid=255&zoneid=107&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fbikeportland.org%2F2013%2F12%2F04%2Flifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fbikeportland.org%2F&cb=57127897ce" style="height: 0px; width: 0px;" width="0" /></div>
</div>
</div>
This is a special class of bicycle rider. Arrogance imbues the way
they ignore the flashing yield light on the tail end of TriMet buses;
buses that each carry 40 workers to their jobs. Add it up: there is no
way that a single bike rider's time is more valuable, even if he were a
lawyer. Some squeeze through the small gap next to the hulking
behemoths, testing fate and stretching their luck — because they can.<br />
<div class="callouts">
<div class="callout">
<br /></div>
<div class="callout">
Perhaps they think that, because they are saving the environment at
lightning speed, the world owes them the sweet spot on the road and the
head start at every intersection, ahead of all "competitors."
Occasionally, an especially egregious hedonist can be heard yelling
livid profanities at drivers, seeming to enjoy himself in the process.
Erratic, frequently unlawful behavior on the road looks almost as if it
is meant to startle and piss-off drivers. Is it a game? Is it a
challenge?</div>
<div class="callout">
<br /></div>
</div>
Arrogance even permeates cycling fashion. Expensive bike gear and
"members only" attire boasts, "I am an athlete doing some serious
training here! Don't get in my way!" People blow thousands on equipment
as if to say, "Who cares about starving children in Africa? I need to
shave 12 seconds off my time."<br />
<br />
I must say, though, that the king of arrogance is the biker without a
helmet. He is announcing to the world that he is too skilled to allow
himself to be hit by a car. Obviously, when a semi-truck overturns in
the adjacent lane, or a chain reaction fender-bender causes the car
behind him to suddenly lunge forward, he will sprout wings and fly.
Helmetless people are among those seen "flying" through red lights
too...<br />
<br />
Arrogance is a sense of superiority and self-importance. Some people
who ride demonstrate their arrogance by making life miserable for the
rest of us. But even mild-mannered, middle-aged pacifists like me are
pretentious bigheads when it comes to riding our bikes. My
transportation choice IS healthier, quieter, smaller, cleaner, funner -
better! Arrogance is knowing that, without a doubt, my way is the best
way. And sometimes, I am right.<br />
<br />
<em>Editor's note: This is Cathy's perspective and, after much
discussion, we're publishing it because she's a smart, thoughtful member
of the community and it reflects what she (and we assume lots of other
people) think.</em><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Update 11:30 pm:</strong> Cathy has <a href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481041">responded in the comments</a> to some of her critics.</em><br />
</div>
<strong></strong></div>
<div class="comment-title">
Comments</div>
<ul id="commentlist">
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480793">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480793">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/212d83728675d7390b5934e09a4e57a7?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Blake</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:28 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"the king of arrogance is the biker without a helmet." = "Other
people get killed in crashes (caused by cars or bumps in the road), not
me." (this is the attitude of teenagers, not normal adults)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480793" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480793-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480793#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480793">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480824">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480824">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7c13719322a7bb20e06d3e2f318e4313?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">jeff</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:22 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Most folks simply dont' realize how little it takes to send you
flying to the pavement and how it's often not a decision, but a gear
failure, a terrain feature you don't plan for or see, etc.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480824" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480824-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480824#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480824">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480918">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480918">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/212d83728675d7390b5934e09a4e57a7?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Blake</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:28 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yup, happened to me 6 years ago, was wearing helmet. 2 nights in the
hospital and a huge appreciation for what a helmet does to save your ass
(head) you when least expect to need it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480918" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480918-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480918#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480918">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481366">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481366">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/706e94eca835eb7caa85ca81bc4b7ab8?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://chain-whipped.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">Chainwhipped</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:59 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yup . . . unless it doesn't. We all know way too many dead cyclists
who were wearing helmets when they died. Turn on your lights, ride on
the right side of the road, stay the hell off the sidewalk, and live
longer.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481366" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481366-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481366#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481366">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480795">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480795">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:31 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Bikes are the new skateboards...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480795" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480795-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480795#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480795">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480797">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480797">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/898f019a2414e6e79bda0e3ab4a14482?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Chris I</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:39 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This is comment bait.<br />
Damn. You got me.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480797" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480797-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">30</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480797#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480797">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment byuser comment-author-michaela even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480812">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480812">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/15d2f024bbabf0e5d38b8116b628be55?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikeportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Michael Andersen (News Editor)</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:04 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Ha! But seriously, since conversation is part of the whole point of
BikePortland, I wouldn't call this bait. I'd call it a meal (or
hopefully an appetizer).<br />
In my opinion, this site is (among other things) a place for people
to share what they think about bikes, and read what other people think
about them. Neither Jonathan or I would have written this column, but
that's the whole point of having Cathy on the team. We didn't publish
this to provoke. We did it because these ideas are worth talking about.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480812" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480812-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480812#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480812">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480826">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480826">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6345214bc0883ede312767b6073ecbae?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Adam H.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:24 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I disagree that these are worth talking about. This article is just
repeating all the stereotypes that people who ride bikes are frequently
labeled with by mainstream media. This article does nothing to further
progress towards safer ways to ride a bike, nor will encourage
productive discussion. I'd expect better from this site.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480826" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480826-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">71</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480826#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480826">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480909">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480909">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:10 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I have a hard time understanding all the offense taken at the
article, which I think was written by the author with her tongue firmly
planted in her cheek. I read the article as an attempt to amuse by
poking a little fun at the stereotypes of the arrogant cyclist that we
all likely perpetuate to some degree. Does everything on BikePortland
have to have some higher purpose than humor?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480909" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480909-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480909#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480909">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480920">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480920">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/206992df1b838faeb903c7b8ec15f73f?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Bill Walters</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:33 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Clues toward humor are scant in the article. One such clue is often
self-deprecation, however sly --- but the opposite seems to dominate in
this piece.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480920" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480920-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">16</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480920#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480920">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481293">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481293">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b2e9631c1b28cadff1ad382b899c84e5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">jd</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 2:51 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
another such clue is that the article is actually amusing<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481293" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481293-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481293#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481293">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment byuser comment-author-michaela odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480913">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480913">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/15d2f024bbabf0e5d38b8116b628be55?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikeportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Michael Andersen (News Editor)</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:18 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Adam, I appreciate and respect your perspective (and those of the
many folks here who agree) but disagree that these ideas aren't worth
sharing. Here's why I think that: As she's stated in earlier columns,
Cathy is a bike-lover who's barely driven a car to work in <em>decades</em>
and regularly gets around with a bicycle. She's also (if you happen to
meet her) a disarmingly honest and upbeat person, curious about ideas
different from her own and unusually self-aware. And until she wrote
this piece and we talked about it, I don't think Cathy had thought
deeply about most of these issues from your perspective or from mine.<br />
If Cathy doesn't already agree with you or I, who will?<br />
I don't think the problem is that Cathy is dumb or unobservant,
because I know she's not. I think the problem is that your perspectives
and mine are, unfortunately, held by a pretty small minority of people
in the United States. Without forthright discussion of this and efforts
to understand the perspectives and causes of this, it will never, ever
change.<br />
The point here isn't to change Cathy's mind personally; she can and
should continue to say what she thinks (and if she's comfortable
weighing in here in the comments, I hope she will). And Cathy's
enjoyment of bikes doesn't mean that anyone's wrong to disagree with a
bunch of the things she says (and obviously I and Jonathan and lots of
people here do disagree with a bunch of things she says). Similarly, our
own enjoyment of bikes doesn't mean that we're right. What it means is
that there's a huge gulf of misunderstanding and poor communication
that, in my opinion, isn't improved if we were to create a sort of
internet terrarium where differences of opinion on these things don't
exist.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480913" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480913-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480913#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480913">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480943">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480943">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<blockquote>
What it means is that there's a huge gulf of
misunderstanding and poor communication that, in my opinion, isn't
improved if we were to create a sort of internet terrarium where
differences of opinion on these things don't exist.</blockquote>
I agree with that. This is part of why I am so disappointed with this
article. I don't see that it is successful in improving the "poor
communication" just because it raises the issues. I am completely at a
loss to why you (et. al.) think repeatedly telling various types of
cyclists and all cyclists in general that we are a bunch of arrogant
jerks and every deviation of our riding behavior, our gear, and our
opinion from Cathy's own moderate ideal is a sign of our selfishness and
arrogance is could possibly lead to any improvement in communication.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480943" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480943-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">24</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480943#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480943">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4480974">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480974">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:45 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Paul in the 'couve:<br />
"telling various types of cyclists and all cyclists in general that
we are a bunch of arrogant jerks and every deviation of our riding
behavior, our gear, and our opinion from Cathy's own moderate ideal is a
sign of our selfishness and arrogance is could possibly lead to any
improvement in communication."<br />
Paul, maybe I am just being thick, but I don't think Cathy's
criticisms were in earnest. I think she was just pointing out the grain
of truth that lies at the base of the stereotype of the arrogant
cyclist. I can't speak for everybody, but I have to admit, while I try
to keep in it check, to a little bit of smugness about the moral
superiority of my chosen mode of travel. Again, while I try to contain
such base impulses, I have also not been above judging other cyclists as
being arrogant or rude because they ride differently than me.<br />
I think Cathy would agree with most of us that the stereotype is way
overblown, particularly in mainstream media, but she is also, not so
subtly pointing out many of us exhibit arrogance to some degree on some
occasions and are also not above finding it in others. I read the piece
as a humorous attempt to inspire reflection on our own motivations and
behavior while at the same time pointing out the ridiculousness of the
stereotype used by bike haters to justify their vitriol.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480974" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480974-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480974#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480974">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480945">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480945">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:28 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
IDK if she hasn't thought about them before. Let's look at her last
few columns... in her tallying the numbers column, she digs on people
wearing lycra twice, the second time she really lays into them. is she
kidding every time? how many more times before i'm allowed to take
offense? in this same column, she posts two pictures of individuals. the
one she calls smartly dressed is not wearing a helmet, the dude she is
calling out as being a "pro-biker wannabe" is... so now i'm confused...
who's arrogant here?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480945" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480945-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">21</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480945#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480945">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480951">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480951">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:40 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
In full sarcasm mode, gosh, has BikePortland finally come around to
agree with Amanda Fritz that bicyclists need to police themselves? <br />
Seriously, every point Hastie made has been covered and hashed out
many times over many years on BikePortland. The easy, obvious issues
already have widespread concensus (and, in some cases, well argued
dissent) and the divisive issues have legitimate arguments on more than
one side. Just what is Hastie adding to the dialogue that's going to in
any way enlighten those discussions or otherwise lead to peace and
harmony on the streets of Portland? <br />
I certainly understand why you and Jonathan hesitated to post that
piece. What I don't understand is why you overrode your hesitations.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480951" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480951-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">17</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480951#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480951">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481022">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481022">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:30 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...This article is just repeating all the stereotypes that people
who ride bikes are frequently labeled with by mainstream media. ..."
Adam H<br />
Negatively stereotyping, in general...people that drive, seems to be
one of the favorite practices of many people posting comments to
bikeportland stories. When the tables are turned, in the form of a
bikeportland lifestyle column, criticizing ways some people bike, the
stereotyping doesn't seem to be received so well. In other words: 'they
can dish it out, but they can't take it'. <br />
It's very common in comments to bikeportland stories, for people to
effectively deny that anyone riding a bike can do anything wrong...or if
they do concede that 'yes, sometimes cyclists do things wrong.'...it's
somehow justified by the actions of people driving, the people it would
seem they generally deplore.<br />
There's lots wrong with the way many people ride as they use the
roads, in Portland and elsewhere. People that aren't prepared to be more
actively self-critical of their riding practices, in positive ways,
with the objective of improving them so as to be safer, more effective
road users, are not helping to promote significant increases in biking
as practical transportation. <br />
Cathy Hastie's lifestyle column is interesting to me. The writing
style is kind of quaint, humorous. Plenty of good, constructive points
made in it for people not trying their best to misconstrue it as
invasion into a bikeportland they seem to think should be their
personal, protected womb.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481022" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481022-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481022#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481022">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481254">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481254">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:58 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
" Plenty of good, constructive points made in it..." - wsbob<br />
Can you elaborate on which points you think are good and constructive
to an active transportation conversation that is the basis for this
blog?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481254" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481254-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481254#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481254">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480827">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480827">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:24 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
If I was served this as a meal, I would ask for a refund, and demand to speak with the Chef.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480827" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480827-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">31</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480827#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480827">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment byuser comment-author-michaela odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480839">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480839">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/15d2f024bbabf0e5d38b8116b628be55?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikeportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Michael Andersen (News Editor)</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:33 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Heard and appreciated!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480839" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480839-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480839#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480839">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480828">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480828">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/98c3e770a3edaf82d7e3d305c36e448d?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Justin</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:26 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Perhaps a meal of salt or red pepper flakes.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480828" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480828-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480828#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480828">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480853">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480853">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:51 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Sorry - this article is a very clear low point in the BikePortland
continuum. Props for working hard, taking chances and trying. Keep up
the good work, but please - don't publish more of this. In fact, just
pull this article before the world outside of the BP multi-time-a-day
readers notice it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480853" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480853-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">31</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480853#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480853">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480861">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480861">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:03 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I can't wait for BikeSnobNYC's take on this "lifestyle piece"!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480861" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480861-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480861#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480861">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480867">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480867">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:09 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
see below down thread... I think we'll be seeing this one brought up frequently for the next few months...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480867" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480867-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480867#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480867">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4480883">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480883">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:27 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Awesome. This article was the equivalent of saying his name five times.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480883" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480883-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480883#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480883">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480902">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480902">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:53 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Why not have a WebTrends style blog post asking:<br />
"Should CARS have to pay road tax?"<br />
Think of all the O traffic that would be funneled here! A page view
is a page view. If we got all the angry O commenters here the post
comment count could top 1,000!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480902" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480902-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480902#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480902">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment byuser comment-author-michaela even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480916">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480916">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/15d2f024bbabf0e5d38b8116b628be55?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikeportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Michael Andersen (News Editor)</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:23 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
For the record, BikePortland doesn't sell ads based on pageviews and
it's not our agenda to inflate them at the expense of actual
interestingness or quality. Traffic is sometimes an indicator of
quality, but not always, and it's not the way we work as a business or
as a media outlet.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480916" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480916-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480916#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480916">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480936">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480936">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:06 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thank you for your reply.<br />
I accept what you say as true. <br />
In the absence of that disclaimer this type of article specifically
written to inflame opinions and readers would seem to be tailor made to
increase advertising revenue; it could reasonably be argued that this
sort of article serves no other purpose.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480936" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480936-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480936#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480936">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480798">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480798">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:44 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This is exactly the kind of articles we do not need about cycling.<br />
I mean really, I am sorry you published it...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480798" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480798-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">44</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480798#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480798">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480807">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480807">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:53 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
And what exactly, about it do you object? It appears Ms Hastie put a
fair bit of thought into writing her guest article. The least
bikeportland readers should be able to expect from people commenting in
response to it, are thoughtful, constructive answers with some substance
to them, rather than a simple pc remark.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480807" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480807-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480807#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480807">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480856">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480856">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:53 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"It appears Ms Hastie put a fair bit of thought into writing her guest article." - wsbob<br />
I disagree completely. This is a diatribe. Something spewed forth.
Thought is not included. Only emotion based on her perception of her own
superiority is used to caste shame and fault at those she finds
different or other.<br />
Absolute crap.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480856" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480856-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">30</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480856#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480856">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480857">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480857">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:54 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Constructive criticism:<br />
Cathy,<br />
Please refine and clarify your thesis. Is you point that we are all
arrogant in our own way? That there is a line between acceptable and
unacceptable amounts of arrogance? If so, where is that line? More
importantly, what do you suggest should be done? Should we all mimic
your level of arrogance? To what end?<br />
I think you present some worthwhile ideas to explore. But as written
this "lifestyle" column/editorial muddies the waters, fails to have a
clear point, and, as a result, appears to just repeat various
stereotypes without a meaningful purpose.<br />
I have to agree with the others who have said they expect and hope for better in the future.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480857" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480857-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">18</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480857#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480857">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480847">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480847">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4a8a4bc68db94b23bbc2f45cce8849f5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">9watts</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:43 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Similar but different.<br />
<a href="http://bikeportland.org/2011/05/16/reader-comment-opposition-to-urban-cycling-is-class-based-52930" rel="nofollow">http://bikeportland.org/2011/05/16/reader-comment-opposition-to-urban-cycling-is-class-based-52930</a><br />
Personally I think looking at misunderstandings about bicycling,
resentment of others who bike through the lens of social class, paying
special attention to MIDDLE CLASS anxieties about status, is more
interesting.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480847" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480847-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480847#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480847">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480800">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480800">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:47 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Cathy Hastie is BikePortland's lifestyle columnist ... event when she says things we wouldn't all agree with."<br />
Lifestyle? So, that old saw about "people riding bikes" got thrown
out with the trash? Now, because I've occasionally enjoyed riding a bike
for the past 50+ years, and because I think they're a tool towards a
good end, I'm suddenly a subject of fashion whims, bad science and
apologists? Are we all bicyclists in a closed community?<br />
You can (and normally do) do better, BikePortland.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480800" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480800-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">22</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480800#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480800">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480801">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480801">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:47 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"... shirtless..."<br />
This would be more of a patriarchal repression / male privilege issue. <br />
But as I repeat from a long stolen quote "the problem with nude beaches is quality control"; be careful what you ask for.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480801" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480801-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480801#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480801">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480948">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480948">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:32 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
next time I'm weaving through traffic with no hands I'll be sure to wear a shirt so that nobody thinks I'm arrogant...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480948" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480948-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480948#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480948">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480804">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480804">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a69f21e37c77591be0673042a9f3c0c6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:49 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I have to disagree with this article sorry.... I ride alot and think
downtown car and ped traffic is far worse....oh and we can't lable ppl<br />
drivers are already pissed!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480804" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480804-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480804#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480804">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480805">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480805">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:50 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy, <br />
I was with you most of the way until the helmet point. Choosing to
not to wear a helmet is not inherently arrogant. Sure, If you happen to
be racing, or mountain biking or aggressively weaving through traffic,
then not wearing a helmet may be arrogant. But if you ride a moderate
speed, on quiet greenways, or along waterfront park, there's nothing
arrogant about skipping the helmet.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480805" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480805-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">31</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480805#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480805">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480817">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480817">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:13 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Let's try that with seat belts!<br />
"But if you drive a moderate speed, on quiet streets, or down Naito
Parkway, there's nothing arrogant about skipping the seat belt."<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480817" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480817-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480817#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480817">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480821">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480821">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6345214bc0883ede312767b6073ecbae?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Adam H.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:20 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cars are inherently dangerous. Bikes are not.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480821" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480821-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">15</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480821#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480821">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480851">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480851">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/014a4f4f59a5074908ce3cc9464bd467?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Hillsons</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:48 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cars are not dangerous, people operating cars at high speeds are
dangerous. If I were to idle my car around an empty pasture at a crawl, I
could scarcely find a way to injure myself, save for being hit by a
meteorite. And then, my seatbelt isn't going to help me now is it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480851" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480851-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480851#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480851">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480852">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480852">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6345214bc0883ede312767b6073ecbae?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Adam H.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:50 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
A car is far easier to operate in a manner than endangers both the user and others around them.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480852" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480852-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480852#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480852">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4480876">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480876">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/de78ae331a21de29b7002df8189b0607?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">MaxD</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:22 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Adam,<br />
Cars have a lot of safety features and a steel cage. It is their ability
to operate at high speed that makes them dangerous. Bikes are
inherently dangerous: they require balance, enable high speed and have
very few safety features. It is easy for even experienced cyclists to
take a fall due to tracks, leaves, gravel, broken axel/flat tire,
missing a curb, etc. Unexpected stuff can easily happen on a bike, and
while a helmet will not do much to protect you if a semi overturns on to
you, it will protect from head injury from the most common bike
crashes.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480876" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480876-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480876#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480876">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4480888">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480888">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6345214bc0883ede312767b6073ecbae?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Adam H.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:32 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Let me restate: cars are far more dangerous to people not in the car, than bikes are to people not on the bike.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480888" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480888-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">16</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480888#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480888">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4480892">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480892">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/de78ae331a21de29b7002df8189b0607?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">MaxD</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:40 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Adam,<br />
I agree that cars are the most dangerous things on the road for everyone
else on the road (including other car drivers) People on bikes
typically only get hurt by cars, poor conditions, or hurt themselves.
Helmets can help protect the rider when the unexpected happens<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480892" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480892-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480892">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4480890">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480890">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a0fcd6c9544cb2132845cfa158afbef2?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dweendaddy</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:36 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
If cars were so safe, and bikes so dangerous, and if wearing a bike
helmet significantly decreased your likelihood of head injury, it would
be easy to prove, yet the data are so mixed about this!<br />
I say: walk, bike or drive for transport without a helmet. They are not
that dangerous, but bad things can happen while walking (4000 deaths a
year), biking (600 deaths a year) or driving (35,000 deaths per year).
Some of the deaths and head injuries from walking, biking or driving
could be prevented by wearing a helmet, but we just can't bother every
time we walk, bike or drive for transportation! All three should be
common and fairly safe.<br />
Now,<br />
If you go over 35 mph, consider a helmet.<br />
If you ride in the drops, consider a helmet.<br />
If you race, consider a helmet.<br />
If you are on a the same road as cars going over 35 mph, consider a helmet.<br />
But for NORMAL, every day walking, biking and driving, I am not convinced that helmets are necessary.<br />
I sometimes wear one in the conditions listed above,<br />
Edwin<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480890" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480890-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">18</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480890#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480890">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4481250">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481250">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/329f1542888d1a777cac397736683298?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">dr2chase</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:41 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
If you're driving, you're already wearing a car, why not wear a
helmet too? You can't complain that it makes your head sweaty like
someone who's actually using their legs, and cars are a major source of
serious head injuries (about half!), and head injuries are a major
source of death while driving.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481250" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481250-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481250">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4481354">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481354">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/8024b6c02e80c56771e9410683b2f4de?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Zen Punk</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:08 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I agree in general, although I've gotta say I think your 35mph
threshold is pretty damn high. A fall at 15 mph will probably hurt real
bad, especially if you hit your head. A fall at 25 mph can result in
serious injury.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481354" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481354-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481354">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4481121">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481121">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/936b6f46e22d956f640cd09a94f56f68?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Terry D</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:45 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
In my case, due to my poor depth perception and my inherent
clumsiness while walking...I tend to trip a lot and bump into things
like poles and walls.....Bicycling is by far the safest form of
transportation. I do not trust my driving anymore.<br />
That stated, I still wear a helmet riding. There have been two falls
in 25 years that if I would have NOT been wearing one I would have been
brain splattered all over the pavement. In one case it would have been
NO fault of my own...poor infrastructure on Barbur... but I digress.
Instead, I had a sore neck and back for a few days.<br />
Life is all about risk taking...some are worth taking, others are not.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481121" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481121-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481121#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481121">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4480935">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480935">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/014a4f4f59a5074908ce3cc9464bd467?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Hillsons</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:03 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Only because it's socially acceptable to do so.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480935" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480935-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480935#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480935">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480897">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480897">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:45 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Rephrase it as "guns don't kill people, people kill people" and see
how it flies. If you want no gun control that society needs Star Trek
TNG or better mental health care; if you can't prevent people from being
"wacko" then the mere presence of firearms is dangerous. <br />
So too with cars: IF everyone was trained to NASCAR & Formula 1
levels of driving skill AND no one ever became distracted THEN cars
would not be dangerous. Because there is no formal training, barely any
standard and imperfect humans everywhere with access to cars autos are
by default dangerous. <br />
An open can of gasoline and a campfire are both negligible risks
apart, doomed to firey failure together. This is our automotive
ecosystem: an imbalanced equation programmed to be unsafe st any speed.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480897" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480897-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480897#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480897">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481058">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481058">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/664c1cff76b361282a0f202de579f616?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">gutterbunnybikes</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:32 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Don't kid yourself, of all the things man kind has invented, hands
down the most dangerous and destructive device we have ever invented is
the internal combustion engine. <br />
Not a single man made thing before or after it has caused so much
damage in it's use, manufacture, maintience, or supportive infrastucture
to people or the environment.....ever. And it's only getting worse
since we're well past peek oil.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481058" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481058-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481058#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481058">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4481078">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481078">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:32 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Gunpowder<br />
Absolute Laissez Faire Capitalism (the concept that greed is our friend,
just stop worrying and let the corporate interests do anything they
want)<br />
Planned obsolescence (the intentional design of products to fail when
equal manufacturing resources could make the product function for orders
of magnitude longer)<br />
Militant fundamentalism (ideological, religious, political, economic,
others) and its push to nearly every war in the history books. <br />
These are all things with a higher body count than the automobile.<br />
Besides, I wasn't saying that autos are harmless, only that they are capable of not being dangerous.<br />
The problem with automobiles is the self created environment they exist within :<br />
() too many for the available square footage needed to store and operate causing bad interactions<br />
() most drivers are unskilled at their task<br />
() many drivers are incapable of keeping their attention focused on the task of driving<br />
() a gutted and neglected public transit infrastructure that insures
that of a person can commit driving infractions but still drive because
there is no reasonable alternative.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481078" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481078-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481078#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481078">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480952">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480952">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:44 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Cars are not dangerous"<br />
kind of like how a road isn't dangerous? one like Barbur Blvd?<br />
a car could at any time malfunction and easily kill other people...<br />
a bike could at any time malfunction and possibly hurt somebody...<br />
I say that anything that's in most public spaces, easily
malfunctions, and those malfunctions easily and often result in death is
inherently dangerous...<br />
there just aren't enough safety devices to make cars safe when
something goes wrong... yes, it's usually driver error, so probably the
self-driving cars will be much safer...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480952" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480952-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480952#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480952">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4480971">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480971">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:34 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cars are only dangerous when operated badly, or at all. A car with no operator is immobile and very safe.<br />
Barbur Blvd. is only dangerous when cars are operated badly.<br />
A Barbur Blvd. with no cars, is safe.<br />
In fact with cars operated properly, it is still safe.<br />
So neither cars, nor Barbur Blvd. themselves are directly dangerous.<br />
It is the actions of the operators that are....<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480971" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480971-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480971#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480971">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4480976">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480976">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:51 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I acknowledge that this is getting into semantics, but I honestly think it (what I am about to type) is worthwhile. <br />
"Cars are only dangerous when operated badly" No, cars are always a
DANGER anytime they are moving at a speed great than a horse and buggy.
Roads with cars on them are dangerous places. Obviously. Standing in the
middle of Barbur or 82nd or Sandy is dangerous precisely because that
is where cars are moving at speed. Standing isn't dangerous. Standing on
a smooth paved surface of a roadway isn't dangerous. Moving cars are
dangerous. It doesn't matter if they are operated properly. Sure they
are less dangerous is operated properly and more dangerous if operated
carelessly. However, they are also inherently dangerous. <br />
Now my use of standing is deliberately provocative, and in the middle
of the road also, but ... Walking on the sidewalk or crossing the
street both involve necessarily being in close proximity and often in
front of moving cars which is inherently dangerous because of the cars
are for no other reason. <br />
As far as safe operation from the perspective of a vulnerable road
use it just doesn't matter that SOME cars may be under safe operation
because 1) there will always be some unsafe driving 2) There is no way
to predict which cars in which place at which times won't be operated
safely <br />
Thus walking along, crossing or just being near any road with car
traffic is dangerous. The more traffic and the higher the speeds, the
more danger.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480976" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480976-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480976#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480976">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4481033">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481033">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:59 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Paul,<br />
You missed my point.<br />
The car is not causing the danger. The person putting their foot on the
accelerator and hand on steering wheel is. Car not dangerous without
driver. 'Cause car can't go without driver. So driver at fault not car.<br />
A bicycle is not dangerous by itself, but a bicycle operator can make it dangerous.This applies to so many items we use.<br />
It is in how things are worded, especially when fingers are being pointed.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481033" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481033-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481033">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4481037">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481037">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 7:23 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Sorry Dabby, I did indeed miss your point. I'm mulling it over a bit.
I can see your point, and maybe agree with it but am not there yet. <br />
Would you say a loaded gun is dangerous? I'm guessing given above you
would say no. Am I right? A gun sitting on the table just laying there
isn't dangerous. It's only become dangerous when someone picks it up.
And even then it really only dangerous is someone hold it in there hand
and points it at you. I can buy that to a degree. maybe.<br />
But clearly there is a difference between my chess piece, my bicycle,
a gun and a car. I suppose it is possible to hurt oneself or other with
a chess piece (choking hazard maybe) but if a chess piece sitting on
the table next to a gun I say the gun is a hazard - is dangerous. The
chess piece is not. Yes, the danger of the gun, as long as it is sitting
there is only potential, it isin't actualized, but it is an object that
has great destructive power. It is hazardous to anyone who handles it
without knowledge and practice of how to handle a gun safely. <br />
Maybe from a strictly philosophical point of view you are correct. <br />
From a practical standpoint I feel comfortable saying guns are
dangerous. Similarly, cars are dangerous. Even sitting parked, a car is a
dangerous object. Just like a loaded gun. Just sitting there in the
driveway.<br />
BTW my younger sister was hit and severely injured as a child when a
parked car rolled down a sloped driveway with no one operating it. I
will admit however that that example is about as extreme as the examples
of how a bicycle can be dangerous. <br />
Thanks for the discussion.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481037" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481037-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481037">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4481012">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481012">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:12 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
And it's a mistake to look at other cyclists through the filter of
your own ability and risk-aversion level. When I whip by people in a
bike lane going 30 in the river of traffic I am not only having a blast
but am cycling in a manner that is demonstrably safe. (~150K of miles
without <b>causing</b> a single accident or injury.)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481012" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481012-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481012#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481012">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481169">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481169">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1d23880b8062ac9c3906e38788ab16?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Tim T.</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:00 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Tell that to my wife, who needed a full bridge put in her mouth after
getting hit by an errant cyclist. As a newcomer to this site, I'm
noticing some serious hyper-sensitivity to Cathy's editorial. I feel
like her viewpoint is a valid one, and written quite charmingly. The
'truth' doesn't exist in 'opinion pieces'- there's no need to be
caustic.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481169" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481169-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481169#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481169">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481251">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481251">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/329f1542888d1a777cac397736683298?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">dr2chase</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:51 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Tell that to me, who spent a week in the hospital after getting hit
by an errant car decades ago. Tell that one of my thesis advisors years
ago, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver.<br />
The fundamental problem with criticism of cyclists in this country is
that it utterly fails the "compared-to-what" test. Cyclists are claimed
to bne rude/arrogant/errant/inconsiderate, yet for all these alleged
faults, almost harmless in practice. Compare to drivers -- kill
thousands, noisy, tax-subsidized. "Polite" people don't kill thousands
of pedestrians per year. And drivers are a majority -- if drivers felt
that there was a problem with killing thousands of pedestrians per year,
we live in a democracy, they could vote for change. They don't. Instead
we get laws that marginalize formerly legal behavior, like "jaywalking"
for the greater convenience of cars.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481251" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481251-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481251#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481251">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480836">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480836">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/25aadf8892cb2d32dc17bf1e34057687?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pete</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:32 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This is the way it used to be. When I was growing up seatbelts were
optional and rarely worn. When states tried to make them mandatory, the
laws were repealed repeatedly by voters (3x in MA), and the general
public believed the government was trying to take away our freedom to
choose. It wasn't until the federal government - under pressure from
insurance lobbies - threatened to withhold highway improvement funding
to states without a mandatory seatbelt law... now all 50 states require
them.<br />
The overall safety that a seatbelt provides hasn't changed much, but
the public's perception of them being 'necessary' to operate a car
safely has.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480836" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480836-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480836#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480836">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480910">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480910">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/53f51cf421abdfa8451556371a5cc639?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">lavie.lama</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:12 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
New Hampshire law still allows unbuckled drivers actually.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480910" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480910-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480910#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480910">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481063">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481063">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/25aadf8892cb2d32dc17bf1e34057687?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pete</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:17 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Ah, the live free or die state... I stand corrected! They don't
require helmets for motorcyclists either (like a few other states), if
I'm not mistaken. Thanks!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481063" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481063-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481063#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481063">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480840">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480840">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4a8a4bc68db94b23bbc2f45cce8849f5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">9watts</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:33 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
+ seatbelts protect you from yourself/your own vehicle.<br />
+ a helmet--as we see in the Netherlands where they have seatbelts but
for the most part manage without helmets--is a defensive device meant to
protect you from a transportation culture that doesn't understand how
to interact safely with people on bikes.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480840" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480840-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480840#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480840">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480864">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480864">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:05 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Seatbelts protect other occupants in the vehicle from hitting each
other and they keep the driver behind the controls where she has a
chance of avoiding (more) collision(s).<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480864" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480864-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480864#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480864">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4480950">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480950">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:36 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Seatbelts protect other occupants in the vehicle from hitting each other "<br />
tell that to the kids in the back seat...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480950" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480950-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480950#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480950">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481126">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481126">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/936b6f46e22d956f640cd09a94f56f68?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Terry D</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:54 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
If I would not have been wearing a helmet while riding the "clear
bike lane" on Barbur ten years back I would be dead now. A tree limb had
fallen over the side barrier and was leaning over the bike lane at head
height. I was riding home from work at 11 pm and did not see it in the
dark until it knocked me off my bike at 25 MPH....then I landed on the
pavement in the travel lane.....30 seconds later a car came around the
curve. I had just enough time to think "get out of the street" before he
hit me.<br />
If I would not have been wearing a helmet I would have been knocked
out completely and brain splattered. Not my fault...you can blame the
narrow bike lanes or the tree limb, but the point remains. I am here
because of a helmet...hence, I always wear one even if it has only saved
me once in 30 years of riding. It was a pain though when I had a Mohawk
and I wanted to put my hair up.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481126" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481126-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481126#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481126">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480848">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480848">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:47 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Two things:<br />
First "moderate speeds" on a bicycle are far lower than what is
considered a "moderate speed" in a car. If you drove a car at a maximum
of 10-15 mph, I think there would be very little need for seatbelts.<br />
Second, Naito parkway IS NOT the car-equivalent of the waterfront park multi-use path for bicycles.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480848" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480848-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480848#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480848">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480949">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480949">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:34 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Let's try that with seat belts!"<br />
ok, I'm on it!<br />
"But if you ride a moderate speed, on quiet greenways, or along
waterfront park, there's nothing arrogant about skipping the seatbelt."<br />
that was easy...<br />
seems that there's still no reason for me to wear my helmet OR my seat belt while riding my bike...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480949" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480949-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480949#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480949">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480912">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480912">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/c15799151c12562e9bbd7f578eb68a39?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Erinne</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:16 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
+1<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480912" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480912-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480912#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480912">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480808">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480808">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0f2144c4675c73259f2c84ab001ef12b?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Good Old Jer</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:56 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Good article bikeportland.com! And to all you haters, sometimes its
tough to look in the mirror. You just might not like what you see.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480808" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480808-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">11</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480808#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480808">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480928">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480928">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:55 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I wondered if criticizing a single article on BikePortland made me a
"hater" so I looked in the mirror. I didn't see a bicyclist. I didn't
see a motorist. I didn't see a pedestrian. I saw someone who does hold
opinions as well as someone who tries to consider many facets of
reality, but I didn't see any exaggeration of my importance or
abilities. It was easy to do and I'm fine with what I saw.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480928" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480928-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480928#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480928">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480810">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480810">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/817c0448f48b44610abd819918637e8d?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Brian Davis</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:57 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Wow, this reads more like an Oregonian opinion piece than a
BikePortland piece. We've got the usual run-of-the-mill stereotypes
about fixie riders, people riding pricey bikes with kits, etc. Throw in
some digs about signal compliance (which recent PSU research has shown
is likely a made-up problem) and a dose of helmet-shaming, and this
column is truly worthy of the "O."<br />
To be clear, I don't consider myself any better than anyone else
because of my transportation choices, nor do I consider myself any worse
because of the gear I do or don't choose to wear. Indeed, the whole
notion of an "interested but concerned" population that has guided
Portland's bicycle planning for the last decade-plus suggests that there
are a great number of people who would love to make the same choices
Cathy and I do but cannot for some reason or another. Let's figure out
how to get them to do so in lieu of patting ourselves on the back for
beating them to it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480810" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480810-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">53</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480810#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480810">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480879">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480879">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/58a12b4d0195bbb7f2f063c1430e25c0?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">timo</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:25 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I really take issue with folks who read this as a blanket indictment
of cyclists. She's not saying "(All) Bikers do this behavior and are
bad;" she's saying "(Some) Bikers do this behavior, and it's selfish and
inconsiderate." Is there a reason we should not acknowledge that some
people traveling by bike are inconsiderate, and should we not tell them
to knock it off?<br />
I agree with the basic premise here 100% - no matter how you travel,
don't be a jerk. Don't cut-off the bus because you think your 5 seconds
is more important than those 40 other peoples'; don't terrorize
pedestrians by acting like you're about to run over them; act
predictably on the road.<br />
I take exception with the helmet prescription, even though I wear one
(except in Manhattan), but I see that as a separate topic. And I
welcome Brian's call for an "adult conversation" (thoughtful, subtle,
nuanced) - perhaps at a BP.org meetup?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480879" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480879-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480879#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480879">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480934">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480934">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e3049a2b6eb9cc48940ef1844cccf928?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">davemess</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:02 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Can some explain to me what is selfish and inconsiderate of doing a
track stand at a light, or passing stopped cars at a light on the right
(which the law gives me right to do legally)?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480934" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480934-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">13</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480934#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480934">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481266">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481266">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f2779c8c517fc28145c392f4a7434ae3?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Nathan</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:26 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
To the columnist, this appears arrogant.<br />
The list of things that appear arrogant include:<br />
Weaving through traffic, handless and shirtless;<br />
trackstanding in front of people with walking assisting apparatuses;<br />
passing on the right while cutting in line at intersections;<br />
disrespect for traffic signals;<br />
seeming to ignore Trimet yield signs;<br />
squeezing by buses;<br />
yelling at drivers;<br />
unlawful behavior;<br />
expensive bike gear;<br />
helmetlessness.<br />
I suspect there was some hyperbole used by the author to liven up an
otherwise boring rant, so maybe one can look past some of the more
ridiculous seeming flourishes. <br />
Still, the flow of this piece was poor. The listing of "bad" behavior
goes nowhere, then a concluding paragraph is tacked on to say something
about the author's thinking they are right. Of course, you think you're
right. You just spent 6 mini-paragraphs calling out where you think
some "other" person is wrong.<br />
The essay is self-indulgent and was not enjoyable to read due to
content (just a list of stereo types with strong language, which doesn't
impress me) and the lack of cohesion or purpose. <br />
Better title: Stereotypical jerks are jerks and I am right. Here are a few hundred words wasted in saying such.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481266" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481266-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481266#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481266">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481326">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481326">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 4:59 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...Better title: Stereotypical jerks are jerks and I am right. Here are a few hundred words wasted in saying such." Nathan<br />
Well, Nathan...you did at least try a little to offer some
substantial criticism of the column, even if you couldn't resist
bringing a whiny putdown into it. Waiting for your guest column. Perhaps
you can better than she.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481326" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481326-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481326#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481326">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480970">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480970">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:32 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
many of the behaviors criticized are not illegal and are not necessarily harmful or unsafe.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480970" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480970-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480970#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480970">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480811">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480811">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ef7c9cf58df669b984df07545fba8fcd?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spencer</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:58 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
off base and inflammatory<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480811" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480811-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">13</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480811#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480811">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480813">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480813">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:10 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Because responding to what other people think about us is of critical importance!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480813" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480813-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480813#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480813">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment byuser comment-author-michaela odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480845">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480845">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/15d2f024bbabf0e5d38b8116b628be55?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikeportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Michael Andersen (News Editor)</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:41 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Todd, who's the "us" here? Who's the "other"?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480845" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480845-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480845#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480845">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480854">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480854">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:52 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I agree that Todd's comment is opaque but what's clear to me in both
his comment and this article is that "us" is The Bicyclist
Community...you know, the one that Jonathan has always preached does not
exist.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480854" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480854-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480854#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480854">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480869">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480869">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:13 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
The "other people" are those that rant about people on bikes. "Arrogant" is one of the things with which they commonly label us.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480869" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480869-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480869#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480869">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480814">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480814">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6817461f4123ec42eeead41e8da45ea8?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Brandon Van Buskirk</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:10 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't feel arrogant toward people who drive cars. I do feel some
animosity toward drivers who make self serving choices that put
pedestrians and people who ride bikes in danger. I don't wear a helmet
because I don't want to live in a world where I should have to.
Furthermore, a helmet is not going to help when a semi truck overturns.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480814" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480814-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">14</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480814#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480814">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480819">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480819">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/04ba5e90869557196b4dedfa30892068?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">VTRC</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:15 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I ended up in two bike/bike crashes in July. And in both cases the
other person wasn't wearing a helmet and bled a lot from what could have
been a minor crash. Things happen and most things you can bump in the
city are hard.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480819" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480819-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480819#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480819">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480833">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480833">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a94211082f7d45c7a2c7a15fe9017bb2?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://spindulys.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">Dave</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:31 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
...and I've been in a bike/bike crash where I wasn't wearing a
helmet, got rear-ended by someone who was, and they were the one who
ended up bloodied, dazed and disoriented, I just had scrapes on my
knuckles. There are more factors involved than just the helmet.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480833" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480833-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">15</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480833#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480833">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480998">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480998">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/04ba5e90869557196b4dedfa30892068?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">VTRC</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 5:01 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yep! There are lots of factors.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480998" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480998-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480998#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480998">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481551">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481551">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/329f1542888d1a777cac397736683298?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">dr2chase</cite>
<span class="date">December 7, 2013 at 5:40 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Oh, I've had that happen to me, too! I was running up some old
basement stairs once without a helmet, someone stepped in front of the
opening right at the top just as I was about to emerge, I stopped hard
and popped up on my toes and smacked the top of my head into the
ceiling. Blood everywhere. Should've been wearing a helmet. Another
time, I flopped down into a couch with a wall-mounted bookshelf it,
whacked my head into a corner of the bookshelf, and blood everywhere.
Should've been wearing a helmet then, too.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481551" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481551-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481551#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481551">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480815">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480815">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a69f21e37c77591be0673042a9f3c0c6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:11 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
haters? really?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480815" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480815-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480815#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480815">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480818">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480818">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/993425c907b5730365ed2d0f2e19ec0e?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mindful Cyclist</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:14 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Ooooohhhh, the helmet debate!!!!<br />
Anyone want to guess how many comments the post has by 5 pm? I am going to guess 89.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480818" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480818-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480818#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480818">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480823">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480823">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:21 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
>100 but it's too easy to rig<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480823" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480823-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480823#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480823">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480923">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480923">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:39 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"89 comments<br />
Latest: 1:33 PM by Bill Walters"<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480923" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480923-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480923#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480923">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480944">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480944">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/993425c907b5730365ed2d0f2e19ec0e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mindful Cyclist</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:27 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yep, I was way off!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480944" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480944-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480944#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480944">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480820">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480820">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6345214bc0883ede312767b6073ecbae?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Adam H.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:18 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Okay.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480820" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480820-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480820#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480820">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480822">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480822">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e4f870293dad61001800cfc049462695?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Allan</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:21 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I disagree with 99% of what is written here. However bikes are neat. Go bikes<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480822" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480822-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">22</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480822#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480822">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480830">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480830">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be2cf34405ac0e7c574c60372e4dc8c1?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">mikeybikey</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:27 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
As King of Arrogance, I expect all of my helmeted subjects to pay
tribute. Those little chocolate coins with the gold wrappers will do.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480830" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480830-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480830#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480830">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480831">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480831">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a94211082f7d45c7a2c7a15fe9017bb2?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://spindulys.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">Dave</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:28 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This article is 99% ignorant stereotypes and surface assumptions about different types of people.<br />
Well done.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480831" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480831-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">24</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480831#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480831">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480834">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480834">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3878ecc831910d93e65c79bcb46ded64?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ScottG</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:31 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thanks for having the courage to post this, I think it's thoughtful
and there's a lot of truth and insight in it. There's nothing wrong with
being pro-bike while acknowledging/confronting problems in our
community. I think it also shows a healthy degree of humility to
acknowledge one's own arrogance and privilege.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480834" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480834-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480834#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480834">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480954">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480954">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e3049a2b6eb9cc48940ef1844cccf928?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">davemess</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:45 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
See the "problem" with this piece is that many of the "problems" that
she sheds light on are not really "problems", but more just things she
doesn't like/understand/appreciate. Most of them are subjective (even
things that are legally allowed!).<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480954" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480954-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480954#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480954">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480962">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480962">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/898f019a2414e6e79bda0e3ab4a14482?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Chris I</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:08 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
The biggest problem in our community: over 30,000 people killed every
year by cars. Everything else is small potatoes, including everything
mentioned in this piece.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480962" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480962-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480962#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480962">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480837">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480837">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/93ecaadb34d49b0c1c240a3930340b92?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Goretex Guy</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:32 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I'm special and I can do what I want. When I'm driving I'll speed and
blow stop signs because I can, and complain about cyclists and walkers
who do the same thing. When I'm commuting on my bike I'll blow stop
signs and complain about cars and pedestrians who do the same. When I'm
walking I'll cross in the middle of the block and ignore red lights, but
I'll complain about those cyclists and drivers who do the same. Only I
get to do that stuff, because I'm special. Everyone else has to obey the
law.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480837" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480837-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">24</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480837#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480837">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480838">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480838">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/209f0d70796542f997b4278a3b212d86?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">BikeSnobNYC</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:32 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy,<br />
You know what I find arrogant? People who feel superior because they
wear little plastic hats with stickers that say "I love my brain" on
them when they ride to Whole Foods. I appreciate the victim-blaming
though. It's a reminder that, despite superficial appearances, Portland
is in fact very much a part of America.<br />
--BSNYC<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480838" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480838-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">72</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480838#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480838">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480898">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480898">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:48 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thank you BikeSnob!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480898" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480898-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480898#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480898">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480963">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480963">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/898f019a2414e6e79bda0e3ab4a14482?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Chris I</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:10 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Hey, hey... we prefer New Seasons here.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480963" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480963-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480963#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480963">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481116">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481116">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:33 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Given the 54 "likes" I suppose it's heresy to question the Bike Snob,
but can anyone please point me to the part of the article where the
author engages in victim blaming? <br />
Bike Snob, you know what I find ridiculous, people who assume they
can characterize an entire city based on one bike blog article and
associated comments.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481116" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481116-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481116#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481116">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481184">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481184">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:23 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Re-read the article, if you can not see it, re-learn how to read.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481184" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481184-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481184#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481184">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481199">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481199">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:49 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thank you for proving the author's point about arrogance. Instead of
being a jerk about it why don't you simply answer my question? If it is
so blindingly obvious, it shouldn't take any longer to cut and past the
relevant portion than it took to write your insult.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481199" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481199-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481199#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481199">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481220">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481220">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:30 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cutting and pasting the article would have been excessive. Re-read
it. Since you took it as an insult, I apologize, but everything you need
is in the article.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481220" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481220-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481220#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481220">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481227">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481227">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:48 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I didn't "take" anything as an insult. Telling me that I need to
learn how to read again because I am incapable of seeing what you think
is obvious is an insult. If you want to offer a real apology, I would be
happy to accept, but I don't really care. All I would ask is that
consider refraining from insults the next time you disagree with another
poster.<br />
As far the whole article being an exercise in victim blaming, that's
not an answer. There is nothing in the article in which she says,
suggests, implies or even hints cyclists deserve to be hit because they
are arrogant. I imagine you have seen many examples of real victim
blaming related to injured or killed cyclists in the comments section of
our local paper.<br />
I suppose some might see her comments regarding helmets as victim
blaming, but I think that's an overreach. She doesn't say people deserve
to get hit because they are not wearing a helmet, just that she thinks
people are arrogant to think they will never be hit so don't need a
helmet. I think that it's ridiculous to assume that's why people don't
wear helmets, but it's not an exercise in victim blaming.<br />
On a different note, I find the Bike Snob, who makes his living
writing snarky, opinionated things about bicycling, and cheesesteaks
apparently, hypocritical when he devotes a substantial portion of his
blog today to criticizing someone else expressing an opinion about
bicycling<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481227" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481227-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481227#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481227">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4481255">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481255">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:05 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
She implies that if a truck overturns, there will be a difference if you are wearing a helmet or not.<br />
If a truck falls over on you, you are the victim and it will not matter one bit if you are wearing a helmet or not. <br />
Simmer down JRB. We are on a blog here, not friends drinking coffee
together. The internet is not a place to take offense. I don't know you
from Adam. If I used an obtuse point to illustrate a mistake I saw in
your logic, it was to encourage you to see that mistake, or disprove my
logic. It was not to insult a collection of ones and zeros with a screen
name attached to them.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481255" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481255-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481255#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481255">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480841">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480841">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1c75dc0c717d606af5f0dee6c93976c2?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">sigh.</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:34 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't have anything terribly constructive to say, I'm just annoyed
by this opinion piece. On the one hand, I'm annoyed that she apparently
rides on the sidewalk. On the other hand, I'm sore that she's bashing my
gear and bringing starving children into the conversation????
(SERIOUSLY?!). My bike booties may have been expensive, but they totally
saved my feet this morning in the 21 degrees and I've had them for 2
years and counting. We all get annoyed with other cyclists, cars,
pedestrians, people in general, but it generally doesn't change anything
to write a self-righteous opinion piece about it. It just annoys
people.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480841" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480841-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">27</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480841#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480841">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480843">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480843">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/25aadf8892cb2d32dc17bf1e34057687?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pete</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:37 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Here's another "lifestyle column" I recently came across:<br />
<a href="http://castrovalley.patch.com/groups/ken-martins-blog/p/bp--blog-enough-with-defending-bicycle-riders-the-worb06fc1ccb9" rel="nofollow">http://castrovalley.patch.com/groups/ken-martins-blog/p/bp--blog-enough-with-defending-bicycle-riders-the-worb06fc1ccb9</a><br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480843" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480843-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480843#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480843">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480844">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480844">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f6bd91a5d5a78e17fddeea7ef4bf681b?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Oliver</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:38 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Was sure loving my thermal fleece and (particularly the) wind stopper
this morning. Even the stupid high vis shoe covers felt like a minor
miracle. However, the frost on the ground made it difficult to maintain
any pretense of 'serious training'. <br />
;-)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480844" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480844-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480844#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480844">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480846">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480846">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/faee748e36fadfa7bb4e34e10230a39e?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dwayne Dibbly</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:42 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I can't wait for the Oregonian to pick up on this. I don't expect them to understand nuance or intelligent discussion.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480846" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480846-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480846#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480846">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480938">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480938">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:09 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
:-P Is any of this nuance or intelligent discussion? ;-)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480938" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480938-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480938#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480938">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480855">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480855">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/131b80c4d1ba0117936b1cf56db14fb3?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">pdxpaul</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:53 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Great piece, love it! And I love the stir it's created. Keep up the great work!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480855" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480855-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480855#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480855">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480862">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480862">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/8a75268bcd326fccd4936c8470985b65?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Granpa</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:04 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Get off of my lawn!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480862" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480862-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">11</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480862#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480862">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481044">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481044">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b31540a6d910a117b4320d666f677049?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://opusthepoet.wordpress.com/" rel="external nofollow">Opus the Poet</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 8:08 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
OK I chuckled a bit at this one.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481044" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481044-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481044#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481044">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480863">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480863">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/8d6c505d18e7c8b242c555542ef3b797?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pink Bike</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:04 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
The article and some of the comments made for interesting reading.
That said, just because I have fancy bike clothes does not mean I do not
care about kids starving in Africa and wearing cheap clothing will not
automatically give them food.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480863" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480863-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">14</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480863#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480863">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480955">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480955">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:49 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"wearing cheap clothing will not automatically give them food."<br />
but it might give them a job making more cheap clothing...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480955" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480955-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480955#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480955">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480870">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480870">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/61b01c73c11fc698f0c557b909e4c34a?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">GlowBoy</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:16 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Well, damn right we're self-righteous. <b>Our lives are endangered every single day by bad drivers and by bad roads that don't allow for safe cycling. </b> It's a daily battle out there.<br />
Anyone who wonders why we sometimes get a little militant has no clue what we have to deal with all the time.<br />
When people accost me about (mostly other) cyclists' behavior or how
the roads allegedly now favor bikes over cars, I tell them to try riding
to work and doing their other daily business just ONE DAY A MONTH - for
one year, so they've tried it every month of the year - before whining
at me. That usually shuts them the hell up.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480870" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480870-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">15</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480870#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480870">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480871">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480871">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:16 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I admire people that don't wear helmets because they're not living their lives in fear...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480871" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480871-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">14</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480871#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480871">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481133">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481133">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/936b6f46e22d956f640cd09a94f56f68?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Terry D</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 9:05 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't live my life in fear. I know that ten years ago I would have
been brain splattered....or bankrupt at least since I was uninsured at
the time. I do not knock anyone who does not wear a helmet, but saying
that those who do "live in fear" is very NOT true.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481133" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481133-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481133#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481133">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480873">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480873">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/61b01c73c11fc698f0c557b909e4c34a?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">GlowBoy</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:22 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"People blow thousands on equipment as if to say, "Who cares about
starving children in Africa? I need to shave 12 seconds off my time.""<br />
Is this somehow worse -- or even as bad -- as someone who blows <i>tens of thousands</i> on an SUV or luxury car with air-conditioned leather seats so they can shave 12 seconds off their commute in comfort?<br />
This and much of the other behavior described in the article is no
better or worse among drivers or the public at large than it is among
cyclists. Widespread belief to the contrary can be chalked up to
availability and confirmation biases combined with xenophobia. In any
group of people you're going to have a certain percentage of
self-centered, reckless assholes. That's not "cyclist arrogance", it's
the human condition.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480873" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480873-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">19</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480873#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480873">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480957">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480957">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2d4810b045ee007fb577c9eb35bf4127?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://easilyamused.com/" rel="external nofollow">Spiffy</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:51 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
wait, cyclists are human? somebody inform O'live!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480957" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480957-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480957#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480957">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480874">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480874">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/830a3e6200679f0748331950c936e1df?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">fasterthanme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:22 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I never understand why people get upset when I don't wear a helmet.
I'm glad she brought this up because this towards the top of the
standard litany of bike grievances i hear from folks who are adamantly
anti bicycle. <br />
The only thing I can think of is auto liability. These folks aren't
thinking about potential brain damage, or loss of life, they're only
thinking "if I hit and hurt this person, what's it going to cost me".<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480874" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480874-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480874#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480874">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480891">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480891">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:37 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This statement sometimes helps to shut them up.<br />
"Keep your ideals off of my head!"<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480891" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480891-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480891#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480891">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480875">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480875">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/206992df1b838faeb903c7b8ec15f73f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Bill Walters</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:22 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thoughtful? No, hackneyed --- which is nearly the opposite. Not least
because it seems to endorse old bigotry that "ignominious people" and
arrogance itself are somehow specific to bikes and not rather evenly
distributed among all modes. This really does drag BP down to the O's
level, which is sad to see.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480875" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480875-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">14</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480875#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480875">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480878">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480878">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:24 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Arrogance even permeates cycling fashion. Expensive bike gear and
"members only" attire boasts, "I am an athlete doing some serious
training here! Don't get in my way!" People blow thousands on equipment
as if to say, "Who cares about starving children in Africa? I need to
shave 12 seconds off my time."<br />
I think I figured out why this lifestyle column needs tweaking...
statements like the above run counter to what I would expect a cycling
lifestyle columnist to think about bike gear. <br />
I WANT my lifestyle columnist to be a gear nerd.<br />
I WANT my lifestyle columnist to know that Castelli and Rapha's US
based headquarters are here in Portland and that people riding around
town in their gear provides local jobs.<br />
I WANT my lifestyle columnist to be able to spend a day at the
Lumberyard and a day at PIR and not just write about how weird
everything seems... (MT Bikers wear baggy pants, but road racers wear
lycra... How crazy is that? Bikers sure are an odd bunch!)<br />
I WANT my cycling lifestyle columnist to not write like he or she is seeing everything for the first time. <br />
you know those columns where they stop somebody on the street and ask
about their clothes and where they got them and how much they paid? Do
that...<br />
You know those slideshows of pro's bikes at races and all the cool
doodads they add? Do that with average bikers downtown, or some working
class racers...<br />
You may learn a thing or two about the lifestyle of the average
reader of this blog. you may also learn a thing or two about the things
you, so far, have shown disdain for. you may learn that somebody's lycra
kit has been put together after a few years of hunting down bargains or
getting a jersey for raising money for charity, not all bought off the
rack brand new at once...<br />
You may learn that a racer's frame was won at a raffle, and they have been using it to get some consistent top 10 placings.<br />
There's stories out there... go find them.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480878" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480878-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">47</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480878#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480878">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480881">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480881">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:27 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
While this is misguided and unfunny satire, it still merits a response:<br />
<i>“They weave through downtown traffic, handless and shirtless.”</i><br />
Riding no-handed is a terrific way to develop balancing skills which can make a difference in an emergency. <br />
<i>“They hover jerkily in clumsy track stands, inches from geriatric pedestrians in crosswalks.”</i><br />
A track stand is a fine way to develop balancing skills which can make a
difference in an emergency. Moreover, as long as the cyclist has not
entered the crosswalk this behavior is perfectly legal. Perhaps the
author is simply jealous of others' track-standing/sitting skills.<br />
<i>'Their impatient posture appears to sneer, "What's wrong with you?
Pick up that walker and get a move on so I don't have to put my foot
down." '</i><br />
Or...maybe...just maybe...it's actually safer and more convenient to trackstand/sit (especially when one uses clipless pedals).<br />
<i>They are rudest of all to other bikers, passing on the right and cutting in front of the line at four-way stops.</i><br />
Oregon vehicle statutes specifically allow cyclists to pass vehicles
(including bikes) on the right. If you do not agree with the law then
you are welcome to attempt to change it. Fat chance.<br />
<i> They thumb their noses at moderation, common courtesy and traffic signals.</i><br />
It is sometimes courteous and safe to violate traffic signals. Why
should motorists wait for more nimble bike traffic that can quickly and
efficiently clear a lumbering jam of motorized vehicles? Why should
cyclists sit in an intersection waiting for traffic to accumulate when
they can quickly and safely clear an open traffic-less intersection?<br />
<i>“Occasionally, an especially egregious hedonist can be heard
yelling livid profanities at drivers, seeming to enjoy himself in the
process.”</i><br />
Oh...the inhumanity of livid profanities! <br />
“Erratic, frequently unlawful behavior on the road looks almost as if
it is meant to startle and piss-off drivers. Is it a game? Is it a
challenge?”<br />
It's a challenge and a game. Some would even call it a war.
Unfortunately, it's one where almost all the casualties (human, animal,
and environmental) are on one side. <br />
“Expensive bike gear and "members only" attire boasts,”<br />
The idea of saving thousands of dollars a year in ,b>both motorvehicle and gym expenses is doubly outrageous!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480881" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480881-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">22</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480881#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480881">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480929">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480929">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:56 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
You hit it on the head there.<br />
"misguided and unfunny satire".<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480929" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480929-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480929#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480929">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480933">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480933">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Wait, I do think it is funny to imagine cyclists spending a bunch of
money on, then wearing, "Members Only" jackets to ride around town.<br />
But she certainly was not referring to 80's Member's Only Jackets, so it quickly is not funny again.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480933" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480933-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">11</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480933#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480933">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480882">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480882">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a94211082f7d45c7a2c7a15fe9017bb2?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://spindulys.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">Dave</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:27 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Ok, here is some more constructive commentary...<br />
"It's a privilege not to drive..."<br />
I'm pretty sure this is backwards. Despite our intentional ignorance of
this issue, even the Oregon driver's manual says it is a privilege TO
drive, and that this privilege can be taken away (though that rarely, if
ever, happens on any permanent basis).<br />
It is a *choice* not to drive. It is a heavier choice not to own a
car (for those who *can* actually afford to own one), but still a
choice. This is a choice that anyone can technically make (except of
course, as I said, those who can't afford to own a car in the first
place). Depending on your own personal circumstances, you may have a
better or worse set of options in this choice, but it is a choice.<br />
I can also see how the majority of people would see not owning a car,
not as a privilege, but as a severe handicap. Because in Portland, in
some ways it really is. Our public transit is spotty at best, and our
bicycle accommodations are nearly non-existent, in the overall scheme of
things. If you get outside about the SE/NE 50's, you start running into
areas with no sidewalks, and just over Marquam Hill in SW you have the
same issue.<br />
Sure, you save money, and you can more easily skip traffic, but in a
city that is 90% suburbs (granted, old suburbs, but suburbs
nonetheless), there is a notable hit in convenience and feeling of
safety unless you are able to and decide to make very specific decisions
about where/how to live.<br />
--------------------------<br />
So, both people who wear few clothes (shirtless), and people who wear
expensive clothes (expensive bike gear) are arrogant? What if the
person is wearing a tailored 3-piece suit? That could be at least as
expensive as a high-vis suit, potentially quite a bit more. Is that
arrogant? Did you ever think that maybe someone who has $2,000 to blow
on bike gear might also have another $2,000 to give to charity? <br />
Also, you seem to be awfully concerned with peoples' money...<br />
---------------------------<br />
I'm not even going to get into the helmet issue, except to say that
the statement "the king of arrogance is the biker without a helmet" is
spoken like a true captive with Stockholm Syndrome.<br />
---------------------------<br />
"Helmetless people are among those seen flying through red lights, too..."<br />
As are people driving cars, people in sunglasses, people with shoes
on, people with *blue eyes* (god forbid), and people wearing helmets!<br />
Incidentally, helmetless people are also among those who generally
obey rules (as are people driving cars, people in sunglasses, people
with shoes on, people with blue eyes, and people wearing helmets), and
they're swarming all over the sidewalks too. You see them in cafes
having normal conversations and you see them at desks in important
offices.<br />
----------------------------<br />
This article... I just don't get it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480882" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480882-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">25</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480882#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480882">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481350">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481350">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a961c1c4c8f0fd10245d61cdee0e5f39?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Art Fuldodger</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 7:43 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Well said. Thanks, Dave.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481350" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481350-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481350#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481350">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480893">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480893">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2b199e9bf0b4105a1d1a1c9dcaea5486?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pizza Face</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:41 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Why are people so concerned with what I do? When I die, if I die. Ill
be dead! Its ok, going happen to all of us. Enjoy your ride! Don't
concern yourself with over opinionated people.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480893" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480893-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480893#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480893">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480895">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480895">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2b199e9bf0b4105a1d1a1c9dcaea5486?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Pizza Face</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:42 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
And step up the stories please.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480895" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480895-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480895#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480895">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480899">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480899">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/40bf7ce2383b125191e5a919e10d9edf?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">David E</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:48 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I used to visit this site at least once a day.... This reinforces why I stopped.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480899" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480899-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480899#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480899">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480901">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480901">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 12:50 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Mike, Jonathan, and Cathy, <br />
I made a pretty negative comment above and it is incumbent on me to
provide some constructive criticism rather than just a harsh expression
of my opinion. <br />
I think this piece really fails to live up to the kind of quality
journalism that Bike Portland tries to provide. I think the biggest
issue is that this particular piece ends up as an undefined genre
somewhere between Lifestyle and Opinion. Lifestyle implies that we
shouldn't expect it to be a rigorous news article. It is acceptable for
lifestyle columns to be fluffy and frivolous, humorous and entertaining,
and not be rigorous with facts and logic . However, this lifestyle
column dives in to a number of serious controversies both between and
within various groups. It really reads much more as an opinion piece.
Simply put Cathy expresses strong opinions about several controversial
topics, while broadly and indiscriminately disparaging other cyclists as
arrogant, self-righteous, and ignominious. Apparently this is supposed
to be justified because Cathy admits at the start that she is herself
arrogant. Thus it is acceptable to skewer everyone else's perceived
arrogance? Besides it's just a "Lifestyle" piece, don't take it so
seriously.<br />
Yet, the approach is totally stereo-typical, and largely repeats the
same tropes we hear over and over again in anti-cycling (allegedly
serious) opinion columns that are sloppy journalism in the Oregonian and
other newspapers both prominent institutions like the NY Times and the
Wall Street Journal and tabloids. <br />
The result is just a muddle. The column is not funny, light or "in
good spirit." At the same time it does not add anything to the
discussion of the issues raised, and instead mainly speculates on the
great selfishness all those inferior cyclists. <br />
Don't give up. Try again. <br />
Sincerely<br />
Paul (you know who I am) in the 'Couve<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480901" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480901-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">29</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480901#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480901">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480905">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480905">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1fcd3edb1b18921718df4a91a7269590?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alex Reed</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:01 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I like Cathie's other work, but not this article.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480905" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480905-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480905#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480905">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480906">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480906">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6d6f0f85d77c1f61067b7cb1dd37afc9?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Justin</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:02 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
So, because I can afford the right equipment to bike with, such as
waterproof gear (jacket, bag, boot covers, etc.), quality lights and a
cyclocomputer, instead of using pen-sized barely visible lights and
wearing 8,000 layers of clothing in an attempt to stay warm or dry, that
makes me arrogant? <br />
And, because I want to pass you, due to the fact you and I will NEVER bike at the same speed, that also makes me arrogant?<br />
Get a clue Cathy! Reading this column is five minutes of my life I'll never get back. Thank God for the comments section.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480906" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480906-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">18</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480906#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480906">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480914">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480914">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2f0319a77eb8d53245f5be1b34fe305d?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">colton</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:21 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
My bike attire certainly doesn't *smell* fancy!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480914" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480914-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480914#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480914">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480915">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480915">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0d03b0b8fe65ca59378b2284ee2b2f6d?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alexis</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:23 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
This piece has no redeeming value that I can see; it neither informs
nor inspires (except for inspiring ire toward itself). It's merely a
rehash of all the worst stereotypes that people who don't ride have
about people who do, with an added dose of self-righteousness toward
other riders making different choices from the writer.<br />
Bike Snob took down this lazy, biased way of thinking about riding
behavior recently in his excellent and much-shared post Shafted Again (<a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/11/shafted-again.html" rel="nofollow">http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/11/shafted-again.html</a>),
which profoundly changed my approach to coexisting with other riders
whose behavior I feel is unsafe or believe is illegal. The idea that
anyone riding should be spending a lot of effort telling another rider
how to behave, when all of us are struggling with much larger forces in a
system that is not designed to keep us safe or make our travel
convenient, is, I realized, absurd.* I used to think I was accomplishing
something, at least, by disapproving of people riding in ways that I
consider unsafe. Understanding that by doing so I was spending my energy
on something that ultimately causes very few problems, and that I was
contributing to the impression that such behavior is common and
problematic while diverting my own and others' focus from the serious
systemic issues at play, made me realize that it's at best pointless and
at worst seriously counterproductive. Apparently this author hasn't
gotten there, and if this post has any value at all, maybe that's it:
for the responses to help at least one more person move past that common
and Stockholm syndrome-esque misconception.<br />
Based on my experience with BikePortland, I believe that it shares
the belief I've just articulated: that there are serious systemic issues
that have to be addressed to make bicycling safe, and that those issues
deserve our focus and attention. This column stands for exactly the
opposite of that belief, and for that reason I don't think it's
appropriate material for this site. But if it's not to be removed as
likely to cause more harm than good, I at least hope that the responses
may have the small but salutary effect of changing the writer's mind.<br />
*I exempt sincere, systematic efforts at education from this
statement; those are trying to remedy the genuine problem of people not
being aware of the best ways to ride.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480915" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480915-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">19</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480915#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480915">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480922">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480922">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1171406d0a11e0f046bebc5e30154d06?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">younggods</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:34 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Calling bikers without helmets the "kings of arrogance" is more
arrogant than the bikers without helmets. Cathie Hastie comes across as a
sad, old, worrying, miserable lady. Please don't let her guest article
again.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480922" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480922-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480922#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480922">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480924">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480924">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a41ba38d0ae05b02a79c92c82c5c4d3b?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Glenn</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:44 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy,<br />
I applaud you for your courage and candor in writing your article. I
commute daily from Clark County to my job at PDX. Although I live in a
semi-rural area with scenic routes, on weekends I really enjoy riding
into Portland for its great infrastructure, interesting sights and
people, and wonderful old neighborhoods. I have observed many of the
attitudes and behaviors you describe. I try to be safe, considerate to
others, and somewhat of an ambassador on my bike, as a counter-response
to the negative attitude that many motorists have toward cyclists (in
many cases, I suspect that that attitude did not just self-create, while
in other cases there are people who are just born jerks). As I was
reading your piece, I would have hoped that it would give cause for
self-reflection for some, but I just knew it would elicit a flood of
aggrieved protests. On the other hand, if you toss a rock into a flock
of geese, you know who you hit 'cause he's gonna holler.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480924" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480924-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480924#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480924">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480926">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480926">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:51 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't think that riding a bike makes me a member of a flock.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480926" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480926-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480926#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480926">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480940">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480940">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a6fced35eb1c7086da3c11ca78bd4160?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dabby</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:13 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
If you toss a rock into a flock of Geese, you aren't doing it to hear who is gonna holler...<br />
You are doing it to try to hurt as many Gesse as possible with the least effort.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480940" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480940-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">14</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480940#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480940">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480931">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480931">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/122688a02a425cf0c347b146e5978cd5?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">obo</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 1:56 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<blockquote cite="GlowBoy">
<cite>GlowBoy</cite><br />
Our lives are endangered every single day by bad drivers and by bad roads
</blockquote>
signed, pedestrians, bus riders, safe drivers, and everybody else who uses any public transportation infrastructure<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480931" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480931-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480931#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480931">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480939">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480939">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d68af5a6f1d7156a3d0c77dfbbf49308?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Syzlak</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:12 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I fail to see what's arrogant about not wearing a helmet. I ride at
12mph, obeying all traffic laws, and never wear a helmet. How am I
arrogant? Are Dutch people arrogant for not wearing helmets?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480939" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480939-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480939#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480939">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480956">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480956">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/df44420c4c3e23b39be546444bcdc286?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dave</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:49 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Is no one going to say it? "Funner" is not a word.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480956" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480956-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480956#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480956">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480959">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480959">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1e446f79ad03a4e5a4a6075ebea67b91?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://www.bikearoundbend.com/" rel="external nofollow">Lucas Freeman</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 2:55 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I enjoyed the piece but for two of the last three paragraphs. Of
those, if you'd cut two and kept the final, I don't think the story
would have suffered; might have been stronger even and not engendered
all the silliness.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480959" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480959-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480959#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480959">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480967">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480967">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f748e24f6dba0a4b5912fd91f76ec02f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">TOM</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:22 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
when I made an honest comment, it got moderated off into the either. So I'll go the opposite way.<br />
Great, insightful article, Cathy , one of the best ever to appear on BP.org<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480967" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480967-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480967#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480967">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480968">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480968">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:30 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<blockquote cite="Paul in the 'couve">
<cite>Paul in the 'couve</cite><br />
<blockquote>
telling various types of cyclists and all cyclists in
general that we are a bunch of arrogant jerks and every deviation of our
riding behavior, our gear, and our opinion from Cathy's own moderate
ideal is a sign of our selfishness and arrogance is could possibly lead
to any improvement in communication.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> 4
</blockquote>
Paul, maybe I am just being thick, but I don't think Cathy's
criticisms were in earnest. I think she was just pointing out the grain
of truth that lies at the base of the stereotype of the arrogant
cyclist. I can't speak for everybody, but I have to admit, while I try
to keep in it check, to a little bit of smugness about the moral
superiority of my chosen mode of travel. Again, while I try to contain
such base impulses, I have also not been above judging other cyclists as
being arrogant or rude because they ride differently than me. <br />
I think Cathy would agree with most of us that the stereotype is way
overblown, particularly in mainstream media, but she is also, not so
subtly pointing out many of us exhibit arrogance to some degree on some
occasions and are also not above finding it in others. I read the piece
as a humorous attempt to inspire reflection on our own motivations and
behavior while at the same time pointing out the ridiculousness of the
stereotype used by bike haters to justify their vitriol.</blockquote>
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480968" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480968-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480968#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480968">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480979">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480979">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 3:56 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
So the point is to make me feel guilty? not really what I want in a lifestyle column.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480979" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480979-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480979#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480979">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4480981">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480981">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 4:05 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I think the fact that it is a lifestyle column has little to do with
your reaction, nor did I suggest the point was to make anyone feel
guilty. I suggested that the article was intended to get people to
think. Whether it makes anyone feel guilty is that individual's choice.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480981" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480981-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480981#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480981">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4480984">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480984">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 4:10 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
really? because your comment sounds like a confession at an abstinence-only seminar. <br />
"I can't speak for everybody, but I have to admit, while I try to
keep in it check, to a little bit of smugness about the moral
superiority of my chosen mode of travel. Again, while I try to contain
such base impulses, I have also not been above judging other cyclists as
being arrogant or rude because they ride differently than me."<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480984" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480984-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480984#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480984">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480988">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480988">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 4:20 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I am really curious why you are so offended by this article that you
feel you need to insult me because I have a different take on it on you.
If nothing she or I said applies to you, why do you care so much? Why
do you think admitting to my own arrogance is an attempt to "make" you
feel guilty?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480988" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480988-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480988#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480988">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4480991">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480991">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 4:29 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
It very much applies to me. if she saw me riding down the street, she
would have pre-conceived notions about me that are false. Notions that
she has repeated in another column. You don't think she is being
earnest, but Jonathan implies otherwise on Twitter. and that's just the
thing, if you can't tell if it was sarcastic or not, it probably wasn't.<br />
I care because if somebody was reading this blog for the first time,
say somebody that is thinking of visiting Portland, they would think to
themselves "Portland bike riders sound like jerks", when really, the
author is just trying to be sensational... or something...<br />
I'm making fun of you because you really shouldn't be having all
these thoughts about arrogance, but the author has made you ask, "Geez,
am I arrogant too? maybe just a little..." that is unfair to you.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480991" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480991-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480991#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480991">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481002">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481002">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cc6a045c200403fef32808f2570f4b6e?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JRB</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 5:11 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
She may have very well meant every word she said and my
interpretation is wrong, but even accepting that as true, I still don't
share the outrage many have expressed. If someone doesn't think they
ride arrogantly, why should they care about what me, you, or Cathy
Hastie thinks. <br />
I used to be one of those folks who got annoyed at other people who
did stupid things on bikes because I thought it reflected badly on me
and other people who ride bikes. I was persuaded to a different point of
view, mostly from reading comments on BikePortland, that anybody who
thinks they know something about me just because somebody who pissed
them off also rides a bike is not someone whose opinion matters to me.
The same for anyone who is going to form an opinion on bicyclists in
Portland by reading one article.<br />
The author hasn't made me do anything. Without any prompting I do
think about how I can be a more considerate road user, whether I am on a
bike, behind the wheel or on foot, in much the same way that I
sometimes think about how I can be a better spouse, parent, citizen etc.
That I think I can be better doesn't mean I think I am bad. Nothing I
expressed here were thoughts I never had prior to reading the piece.<br />
I have to head off to work. If you respond and I don't, it's not
because I don't care about what you have to say. I hope you stay warm
and enjoy your next ride.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481002" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481002-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481002#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481002">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480990">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480990">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/88b8e3e4adcca0760eeef18e5950e9d4?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">pruss2ny</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 4:26 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
i think goretex guy "got it" when he paraphrased : i'm special
and get to do whatever i want, OTHER people have to follow the law. she
highlights her own shortcuts, which are allowable, but then tears into
other people who dare take other shortcuts.<br />
this was lightweight doodling posed as a non-conscious admission of guilt in that most heinous of crimes: biker on biker.<br />
not sure how it broke down in comments into argument on whether or not
stationary cars in the middle of a field are safe or not (trick
question, the field is gmo corn) or whether wearing a helmet is safe or
not (there is no argument, its simply not safe biking w/o a helmet in
the streets…the only argument is whether it should be personal choice to
do so)<br />
i drive.<br />
i get hacked off at some bike behavior in the roadway<br />
i lurk on this site (and especially the comments) b/c it actually is
helpful in pointing out to me where "the other side" is coming from.
its a really helpful forum in that regard, for someone who doesn't bike.<br />
but i do see some humor in how i read the article (as bikers ripping
bikers), and how the comments have played out (as bikers ripping bikers,
and the author, a biker)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480990" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480990-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480990#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480990">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4480996">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4480996">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/de5ba954fc288c8ba732163c89b3c4cb?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">jyl</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
On this site, when you dare point out antisocial, illegal, or
negligent behavior by cyclists, you get your head bitten off. That
censorship is the real message of all these comments.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4480996" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4480996-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4480996#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4480996">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481000">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481000">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/8a75268bcd326fccd4936c8470985b65?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Granpa</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 5:03 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"lifestyle" reporting might serve the blog well if it dove into
the sub-cultures, got to know people and reported on who they are, what
they do, how they fit into the mosaic of Portland, and how they don't
fit. We have all these sub groups who don't know the others, and
because the others are not like us they are less than us for being
different, or so stereotypes would allow us to believe. Fred vs. Lance,
Hipster vs. Shift, commuter vs newbie, etc. etc. Lots of us do indeed
incorporate cycling into our lifestyles, but how many of us fold other
cycling lifestyles into our lives. How about some lifestyle JOURNALISM.
the opportunity will present itself to be clever and funny when
reality is the subject. Try it.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481000" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481000-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481000#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481000">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481009">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481009">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/83341eafd32c9071010ddded9f3125f6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">AG</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:02 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
as I said about an earlier column of Cathies, ick.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481009" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481009-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481009#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481009">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481010">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481010">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ca72e9173bdf66d94699683048fcd73f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Charley</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:04 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I think this was fun to read. Keep at it, Cathy!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481010" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481010-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481010#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481010">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481020">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481020">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/70524cc4b1efa58c97596237a7521443?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://rebelmetropolis.org/" rel="external nofollow">Hart Noecker</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 6:25 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"I must say, though, that the king of arrogance is the biker
without a helmet. He is announcing to the world that he is too skilled
to allow himself to be hit by a car"<br />
You're absolutely right I am.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481020" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481020-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481020#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481020">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481041">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481041">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b8a6023f0ea5d55003dd3e9bc2152917?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">cathyhastie</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Hello BikePortland Readers, <br />
In reading the comments, I see a lot of angry-sounding words. I am
not surprised - the article was meant to be edgy (lucky for you, my
editor took out my reference to little dicks). But perhaps I left you
all wondering: 1) "Who the hell is she?" and, 2) "What the hell is she
trying to say?" <br />
Here are your answers:<br />
1) I am an enthusiastic, unpaid writer who happens to bike. I love
the low-car lifestyle and all of the great opportunities Portland offers
to live it. In my opinions, I draw from my personal experiences, am
beholden to no one, and do not strive to be an advocate, a leader or a
mover and shaker in the biking world. I just write about what I love;
and in this article, the behaviors that make what I love less pleasant.
<br />
2) My message? <br />
A) We are all arrogant in some way. Some of us in ways that make it unpleasant for others, unfortunately. <br />
B) I don't like rude behavior. I don't like it when a person cuts in
line at the grocery store. Do you? Similarly, I don't like it when a
biker comes from behind me at a four-way-stop and passes me and the
other 4 vehicles who have waited patiently for our turns. If a person
behaves in a non-rude way, but, for example, passes me on the right (be
careful, that is the direction I spit when I have a cold), I don't mind
at all. Skilled track standers are great; the unskilled ones that
threaten to fall on peds as they cross nearby are, well, kind of rude.
Practice a few feet further back please. <br />
C) I find expensive lifestyles somewhat distasteful. It's a
childhood hangup I know, but I can't escape it. Call me a tightwad, but
any vehicle or hobby that costs more than $6,000 (yes, including cars)
makes me wonder - is that really necessary? <br />
D) I know there is a heated debate about the benefit to a cyclist of
wearing a helmet. I hate helmets. I would much rather feel my hair
flying in the wind. But in the off-chance that my helmet on my head
might save my husband and my children from a lifetime of feeding me
through a tube and changing my diapers as I stare blankly at the wall, I
will wear one - for them. <br />
E) As for riding without hands or shirt, I do both, just not downtown
in heavy traffic - I don't want my boss to see my titties. Everything
in moderation! <br />
So there you have it, for anyone who cares... I know many of you
don't, and that's OK. Really. I don't write to gain approval, although
it is nice for BIkePortland if you want to read the stuff they post.
It's not my job to worry about what people think of my opinions - they
too are just opinions. But if we want to be heard, it is our job to
speak up! (I hope that cyclist who almost mowed me down as I biked up
SE Clinton Street heard this!) Comment Away!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481041" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481041-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">15</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481041#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481041">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481057">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481057">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4c55019b18eccadcb01d0be7ce6ff801?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mike</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 10:14 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Quoting Cathy:<br />
"I find expensive lifestyles somewhat distasteful. It's a childhood
hangup I know, but I can't escape it. Call me a tightwad, but any
vehicle or hobby that costs more than $6,000 (yes, including cars) makes
me wonder - is that really necessary?"<br />
Well... since the editors have cleared you (and by extension, us) to
be "edgy" and to chronicle the things that "make what (we) love less
pleasant", then YES, I think it is necessary, even desirable. And YES,
you are a tightwad.<br />
So there you have it, if you care... I know you don't, and that's OK.
Really. I don't write to gain approval, although it is nice for
BIkePortland if folks stop to think about our "discussion". It's not my
job to worry about what people think of my opinions - they too are just
opinions. But if we want to be heard, it is our job to speak up!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481057" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481057-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481057#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481057">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481069">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481069">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:39 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy...nice work. You seem to have a thick skin...good for
expressing provocative ideas that need airing amongst people that would
rather not consider such ideas...and thick hair...when it's long, not so
good for wearing bike helmets. <br />
On arrogance displayed by road users, on bikes, in motor vehicles,
etc.: I suppose all people have the potential to be arrogant, though
many generally manage to keep that reasonably in check, whatever it is
they do. <br />
The failure or unwillingness on the part of certain road users, to
keep their arrogance reasonably in check, is I think what has become a
big bone of contention amongst road users...particularly amongst the
majority road users that use the road with motor vehicles, with regards
to arrogant road users of the vulnerable sort, that...tah-dah!...ride
bikes with varying degrees of arrogance and disdain for most any road
users but themselves. <br />
Not every person riding a bike on the road, behaves like an arrogant
jerk, and I didn't gather from your column that you intended anything of
the sort. Yet notice the number of bikeportland readers commenting
here, that seem to have automatically jumped to the conclusion, without
any particular support for it, that this was exactly what you were
implying. <br />
That suggests something seriously missing in their thinking and attitudes, rather than yours.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481069" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481069-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481069#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481069">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481201">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481201">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:49 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...without any particular support for it..." - wsbob<br />
Surely you are not going to comment on people commenting without
supporting their points without supporting your point. Are you wsbob?
Why is your assumption about her intention any more valid than anyone
else's?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481201" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481201-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481201#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481201">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481233">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481233">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:58 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...Why is your assumption about her intention any more valid than anyone else's?..." Scott<br />
I've implied no such thing. Re-read her column. You and anyone else,
are entitled to draw any conclusion from it you choose, and it seems you
have.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481233" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481233-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481233#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481233">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481270">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481270">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:33 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
You responded to a small piece of my comment, as you often do,
in an attempt to dodge the question. You stated that people were making
comments unsupported by anything other than their opinion and I asked
you why your comment was not supported by anything other than your
opinion. Why is your comment not supported by anything but your
opinion?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481270" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481270-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481270#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481270">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481322">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481322">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 4:43 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...Surely you are not going to comment on people commenting
without supporting their points without supporting your point. ..."
Scott<br />
Maybe you understand what you wrote there. I sure don't, except that
it's kind of funny reading, like Jabberwocky, so I suppose you can count
that as some kind of a win. Congratulations!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481322" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481322-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481322#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481322">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481328">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481328">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 5:05 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"I sure don't [understand],..." - wsbob<br />
Case closed.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481328" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481328-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481328#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481328">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481076">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481076">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/18099b0e198d6e2cd64f0963549f8d28?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">pengo</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:59 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
ProTip: the surest way to produce a piece of writing devoid of
"edge" is to attempt to be "edgy". Referencing "little dicks", for
example, is not "edgy". Provocation for its own sake is usually boring.
I'd probably recommend focusing instead on producing writing that
doesn't lead everyone to wonder "What the hell is she trying to say?".
You may not care what anyone thinks (being a member of the edgy set and
all), but coherent writing shouldn't fall victim to that indifference.<br />
Also, regarding cycling clothing: Do you not understand what it's
for? Do you just think it looks funny? Are you not aware that a lot of
it can be acquired fairly inexpensively? One could buy a pretty
impressive amount of gear and not come anywhere near your arbitrary (and
somewhat exorbitant considering what we're talking about here) $6000
threshold for appropriate hobby spending. Maybe you just like to dump on
activity appropriate attire (can we also find you down at the
bouldering gym snarking at everyone's stupid little shoes?) but your
continued preoccupation is strange coming from a "cycling lifestyle
columnist".<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481076" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481076-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">29</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481076#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481076">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481174">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481174">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:08 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...<br />
Provocation for its own sake is usually boring. ..." pengo<br />
For you, apparently not in this case though, because here you've gone
ahead and written something in response that really is boring. Next
time, try to write something that has a little more to offer than
anxious sarcasm.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481174" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481174-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481174#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481174">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481190">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481190">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:30 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...because here you've gone ahead and written something in response that really is boring." - wsbob<br />
Some of the old pot calling the kettle black, eh wsbob?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481190" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481190-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">18</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481190#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481190">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481228">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481228">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:49 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Oh, you must be bored by what I write, but not so bored you can't resist responding to what I write. Thanks!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481228" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481228-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481228#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481228">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481288">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481288">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 2:35 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Not bored by it, but it was boring to read.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481288" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481288-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481288#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481288">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-7 with-avatar" id="comment-4481320">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481320">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 4:35 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yet here you are, avidly following what I write. I'm sorry that
boredom is all you're getting out it, but if that's so, enjoy your
boredom!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481320" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481320-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481320#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481320">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-8 with-avatar" id="comment-4481331">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481331">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 5:17 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Don't flatter yourself wsbob, I am responding to responses in a
comment thread. "Avidly" is certainly not a word I would use to
describe my feelings at reading your comments.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481331" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481331-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481331">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481249">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481249">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/18099b0e198d6e2cd64f0963549f8d28?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">pengo</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:39 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Will do, Bob. I cooked up a more anodyne version just for you:<br />
"Your words lead me to believe that while there was a point you were
trying to get across, style was prioritized over substance and that
point became lost. This often happens when there's a self-conscious
desire to be provocative. You seem to have acknowledged that your piece
failed on a basic level, and this may be a large part of the reason for
that. You can be clear and coherent while still being 'beholden to no
one'.<br />
You also appear to hold some very basic misconceptions regarding the
utility of athletic attire and your attempt to clarify accomplished the
opposite. You cite financial reasons, but don't seem to know what
anything costs. Some of it is expensive, a great deal of it is not. You
further don't seem to understand that most cycling clothing serves a
purpose above and beyond broadcasting athletic prowess to the world.
Given your acknowledged well paying job, it's possible that you live a
much more expensive lifestyle than somebody who owns a lot more cycling
gear than you do. It's troubling that this needs to be pointed out to
someone attempting to be a cycling lifestyle columnist."<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481249" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481249-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">18</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481249#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481249">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481321">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481321">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 4:36 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
pengo...better. Not very good, but better. Thanks for the effort!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481321" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481321-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481321#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481321">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481379">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481379">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/18099b0e198d6e2cd64f0963549f8d28?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">pengo</cite>
<span class="date">December 6, 2013 at 12:06 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Anytime, champ!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481379" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481379-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481379#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481379">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481087">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481087">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a0fcd6c9544cb2132845cfa158afbef2?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dweendaddy</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 6:06 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
You are crazy to respond to any of these comments.<br />
As for the helmets, yes, wearing one may (the data are unclear, but
it seems to make sense) reduce the chance of you getting a head injury
in an accident, which is why they are required in bike and car racing.
If you wear one while biking, you should consider wearing one while
driving, "in the off-chance that my helmet on my head might save my
husband and my children from a lifetime of feeding me through a tube and
changing my diapers as I stare blankly at the wall."<br />
I love the fury that your column brought about here in virtual Portlandia.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481087" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481087-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481087#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481087">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481185">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481185">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/04ba5e90869557196b4dedfa30892068?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">VTRC</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:24 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
The passing on the right at a 4 way stop has bothered me for a while, but this actually prompted me to go look it up. <br />
<a href="http://www.stc-law.com/bicycle_archive19apr06.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.stc-law.com/bicycle_archive19apr06.html</a><br />
It's perfectly legal and working as intended. <br />
It frustrates me to see people do it in situations where cars and
bikes will pass back and forth over and over. But I guess all I can do
as a driver or rider is do it well and safely and hope people learn from
the example.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481185" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481185-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481185#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481185">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481257">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481257">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e3049a2b6eb9cc48940ef1844cccf928?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">davemess</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:15 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I consider it one of the perks of being on a bike. I am narrow
and don't take up much road, therefore I can go to the front of the
light or stop sign line. I don't feel bad for cars, they'll just pass
me later down the road because they have a faster max speed than I do.
There are pluses and minuses to riding a bike. Not having to wait in
long car lines and traffic jams is definitely one of the big pluses.
Does that make me arrogant? Not in the least. I'm following the law,
and I don't doubt that pretty much any person stuck in their car would
do the same thing if on a bike.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481257" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481257-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481257#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481257">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481193">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481193">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:35 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Being sexist is not edgy. It's boring and backwards.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481193" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481193-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481193#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481193">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481215">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481215">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7b043985c996e6a9a4acdd8b5bba7339?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://www.pedalportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Kirk</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:19 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Regarding Comment D - bingo! And I sure hope you use that same
logic when you get off of your bike and decide to keep that helmet on,
as we obviously know all too well that there are great risks when being
exposed to cars and just life events in general - when walking on the
sidewalk (<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/students-hurt-out-of-control-car-queens-article-1.1453331" rel="nofollow">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/students-hurt-out-of-control-car-queens-article-1.1453331</a>), being inside buildings that are near the street (<a href="http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/23550181/2013/09/27/1-killed-after-car-crashes-into-gilbert-spa" rel="nofollow">http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/23550181/2013/09/27/1-killed-after-car-crashes-into-gilbert-spa</a>), going up stairs (<a href="http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/03/stairs-are-dangerous-wear-helmet.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/03/stairs-are-dangerous-wear-helmet.html</a>). Sometimes I even wear mine to bed, knowing that I could fall several feet and end up with irreversible brain damage (<a href="http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/10259200.Man_died_after_falling_out_of_bed_at_Basildon_Hospital/" rel="nofollow">http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/10259200.Man_died_after_falling_out_of_bed_at_Basildon_Hospital/</a>). If you don't follow that logic, then I guess you must just be arrogant. Not my words.<br />
But seriously, this is such a frustrating label to have to deal with -
sometimes I wear a helmet, sometimes I don't. It depends on the
situation, and if you are a type of person that is going to bike more
and drive less primarily because you have a protective shell on your
head - then by all means strap that helmet on and get out there on your
bike! THAT is what I love seeing, and to me that person is absolutely
gorgeous! Talk about a beautiful lifestyle :)<br />
However, please don't label others as arrogant for their own personal
choices that have absolutely no effect on you. Otherwise it'll be that
much tougher to be able to advance our region's transportation system to
become safer for the community as a whole, such as the Netherlands -
who by the way are brimfull with a bunch of arrogant people, apparently (<a href="http://www.streetfilms.org/groningen-the-worlds-cycling-city/" rel="nofollow">http://www.streetfilms.org/groningen-the-worlds-cycling-city/</a>).
Ugh, gross. Yeah, let's not be like them. Let us instead talk about
what other people should dress like so we can all be a uniform 'bicycle
community' without any individual character. That'll attract the new
'interested but concerned' riders in no time!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481215" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481215-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481215#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481215">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481231">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481231">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:55 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Call me a tightwad, but any vehicle or hobby that costs more
than $6,000 (yes, including cars) makes me wonder - is that really
necessary?"<br />
I've been car-free or car light for decades, I'm vegan, I've
voluntarily limited my spending to $15K/year for many years, I take
energy efficiency to extremes, I share 700 square feet out of choice
(not poverty), I avoid jet travel, and I give thousands a year to
non-religious and non-governmental NGOs. <br />
Nevertheless, these choices do not give me the right to piss all over
people who eat meat, spend/consume more than I, live in a 1st world
inner SE mcmansion, or jet off on vacays. And even if I wanted to
criticize these behaviors I'm smart enough to realize that you don't get
much traction by being a judgey hypocrtical @#$%&.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481231" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481231-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">24</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481231#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481231">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481238">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481238">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/579900c0fd655c3e7b01a7f5407cff1b?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Paul in the 'couve</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:10 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Thank you! All around. Nice comment.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481238" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481238-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481238#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481238">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481317">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481317">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6ab17ffd4656e00ea4b3d6f2f9bde59c?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Jeff M</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 4:18 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"I find expensive lifestyles somewhat distasteful."<br />
If people don't adhere to your concept of budgetary constraints, then *they* are the arrogant ones?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481317" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481317-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481317#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481317">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481042">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481042">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4380e7917cb38fc197d06a44371c582f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">NG</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 7:46 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I love the article and wholeheartedly agree. I am an avid
road/mt biker and bike commuter into my downtown clinic and can relate
to many of her points. The reckless hipster/fixie contingent riding
through downtown helmet-less and poorly illuminated with no regard for
traffic laws does nothing to further our cause as cyclists in Portland.
Almost daily I find I am defending my choice to ride to people who refer
to me as "one of those arrogant cyclists who runs stop signs/lights."
No, I am a law-abiding cyclist with 2 600 lumen headlights, 3 taillights
and reflective clothing who has a wife who worries about me commuting
through downtown on my bike. As I said, great article with very many
valuable points and funny as well.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481042" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481042-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481042#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481042">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481045">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481045">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4380e7917cb38fc197d06a44371c582f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">NG</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 8:09 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
In response to Sylzak's comment re: Dutch not wearing helmets,
perhaps that is because their infrastructure and judicial system
actually supports alternative modes of transportation such as cycling
and walking. They have elevated cycle paths, narrow streets designed to
curtail speeders in addition to a legal system that actually punishes
motorists when they hit walkers/cyclists.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481045" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481045-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481045#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481045">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481046">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481046">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bc4e46af10cf0ee9bff86dc4e8977e10?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">MJ Franck</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 8:33 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I am not a biker. I admire those who have the physical ability
and the dedication to be. But please, bikers, please step back and
acknowledge that a lot of people, most of them not bikers, have
wonderful and unique talents and toils to contribute to this planet. You
are not special. You just happen to have a talent that others don't
have. Maybe you're not so good at singing opera or climbing mountains or
teaching first-graders to read or finding a cure for AIDS. It's not a
contest. We all just do the best we can on the good days.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481046" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481046-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481046#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481046">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481099">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481099">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 7:46 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"the best we can [do]" is poisoning and destroying our shared environment.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481099" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481099-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481099#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481099">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481109">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481109">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/898f019a2414e6e79bda0e3ab4a14482?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Chris I</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:18 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I think about 90%+ people have the "physical ability" to ride a
bike. It's more of a question of how much time they choose to set
aside to ride a bike. Especially with e-bikes now, pretty much anyone
can ride. Stop making excuses.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481109" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481109-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481109#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481109">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481259">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481259">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e3049a2b6eb9cc48940ef1844cccf928?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">davemess</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:17 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
My thought exactly. Riding a bike doesn't require some special
talent that only a select few inherited through the genetic lottery. I
mean, the vast majority of 8 year olds can pick it up pretty quickly.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481259" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481259-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481259#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481259">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481268">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481268">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:26 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
So what? Maybe MJ Franck is one who doesn't fit that 90%
bracket. Maybe MJ could ride a trike or a handcycle or something, but
then again, maybe not. Do you disagree with MJ's basic point?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481268" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481268-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481268#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481268">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481300">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481300">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1020ef4532a15a8351c6248dc53cb3ca?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dimitrios</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 3:25 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't agree with her point. Yippee. She's comparing the
level of skill or uniqueness of skill required to ride a bike to
"singing opera or climbing mountains or teaching first-graders to read
or finding a cure for AIDS".<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481300" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481300-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481300#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481300">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481301">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481301">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/1020ef4532a15a8351c6248dc53cb3ca?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Dimitrios</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 3:26 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Not sure how MJ Frank became a "she". My subjective subconscious took over. Apologies.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481301" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481301-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481301#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481301">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-6 with-avatar" id="comment-4481365">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481365">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:07 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I take MJ's point to be that many people have valuable
qualities and skills, and I agree. I don't care for the whole arrogant
bicyclist prejudice but I take MJ's post in that context of Hastie's
article. I don't think MJ meant those things you quote as equivalent
skills to riding a bike, just examples of alternative achievements of
worth.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481365" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481365-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481365#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481365">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481048">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481048">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f3079a0a82f3ea321dd43d03541c92ba?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe Adamski</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 8:36 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Seven blind men of Hindustan ( written over 100 years ago, no
bias intended) stumbled upon an elephant and each had a different
understanding and experience <a href="http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Blindmen_and_the_Elephant" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Blindmen_and_the_Elephant</a><br />
much like our shared experience with cycling. To excoriate Ms Hastie
because her experience is not like yours misses that point. It is what
we say it is. She simply chose to speak out about her experience.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481048" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481048-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481048#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481048">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481050">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481050">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ad3d76893c0cb64e77cce5d483e96424?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">gracie</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 9:02 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Oh for heaven's sake, lighten up, haters!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481050" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481050-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481050#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481050">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481051">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481051">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6af7b40642f3680b87b502dcaca91880?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Kathy</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 9:07 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
The message I got from this article is that all bicyclists are
arrogant and that some levels or forms of bike arrogance are okay and
others are not. I reject this message. I see all kinds of people riding
bicycles for all kinds of purposes, making all kinds of choices. But I
don't presume to know that any of them are arrogant.<br />
A few months ago, my children--the parents of my
grandchildren--prevailed upon me to wear my bike helmet, after I was hit
by an unlicensed driver driving a car that he did not own. I did hit my
helmet-free head on the pavement when I went down and suffered a MINOR
head injury. So I now wear my helmet under duress (spelled with
sticker-letters on my helmet). But on those hot, humid, hazy days last
summer, sometimes I removed my helmet and took my chances with possible
head trauma over certain heat stroke were I to keep the helmet on.
Sometimes, when I'm in certain neighborhoods or on certain streets, or
on our city's half mile of protected bike lane, I ride without the
helmet.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481051" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481051-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481051#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481051">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481052">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481052">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a889dad4487ee1dd1cbc6d933da84db6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mossby Pomegranate</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 9:14 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
An article seemingly custom built to stoke the fires on Bike
Portland. I'm not arrogant, I just want to get to work and back home in
one piece. Very hard to be arrogant on my bicycle when I can so easily
be taken out by the flick of a steering wheel.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481052" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481052-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481052#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481052">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481054">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481054">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/01eef3e8a68a298089f58f1f85524175?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mike H</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 9:49 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I thought I was reading an article in The Oregonian for a second.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481054" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481054-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481054#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481054">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481067">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481067">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/fa18c9e5afb8268bec402d9a2088bec5?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">V$</cite>
<span class="date">December 4, 2013 at 11:27 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Preach!!!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481067" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481067-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481067#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481067">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481074">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481074">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0346b451578f021eeab2d285d620c91f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Erin</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:40 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I often don't wear a helmet while riding. It's not because of
arrogance, but because I don't wish to perpetuate a culture of fear.
When I wear a helmet, I send a message to others that cycling is
dangerous. That fear might preclude some from ever trying out cycling.
It is my desire that everyone give active transportation a try when
possible; helmets simply do not work toward that end.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481074" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481074-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481074#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481074">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481106">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481106">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d2573c023cd3befdd8e6474c61c96863?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Todd Hudson</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:13 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Should this read “underlying health conditions”? I’m ok with
either, but I thought we used the term underlying health conditions…"<br />
Holy cognitive dissonance, Batman!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481106" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481106-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481106#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481106">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481179">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481179">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:14 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...When I wear a helmet, I send a message to others that cycling is dangerous. ..." Erin<br />
Then take that expression of fear off your face when you're riding,
because it's certainly not use of bike helmets that's conveying a
message that cycling is dangerous. Upon those using them, bike helmets
convey a sense of good judgment and responsibility taken.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481179" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481179-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481179#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481179">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481181">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481181">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4a8a4bc68db94b23bbc2f45cce8849f5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">9watts</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:18 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"because it's certainly not use of bike helmets that's conveying a message that cycling is dangerous."<br />
have you considered that to some people (those who drive, walk, take
showers without helmets, to name just a few) it is possible to draw the
conclusion that somehow biking is uniquely dangerous because of all
those activities it is the only one where helmets are mandated,
considered necessary, etc.? <br />
all those activities' dangers fall on a scale, yet no one is seriously proposing that people who engage in them wear helmets.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481181" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481181-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481181#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481181">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481206">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481206">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:59 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Then take that expression of fear off your face when you're riding..." - wsbob<br />
Do you know Erin? This seems like an unsupported presumption that is not based in reality.<br />
"...bike helmets convey a sense of good judgment and responsibility taken." - wsbob<br />
Also, completely unsupported and based solely on what you think.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481206" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481206-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481206#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481206">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481223">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481223">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:38 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Erin is probably a nice enough girl, but she provided the
support for my gently chiding response, by making a direct statement
that when she's wearing a bike helmet, she's sending a message that
biking is dangerous:<br />
"...When I wear a helmet, I send a message to others that cycling is dangerous. ..."<br />
She didn't say it was the helmet that was sending the message. She said it was herself that was sending the message.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481223" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481223-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481223#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481223">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-5 with-avatar" id="comment-4481258">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481258">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/be616c906aca1a17593a325f58b1e7d5?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Scott</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:17 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"Erin is probably a nice enough girl,..." - wsbob<br />
"Erin"'s statement is gender neutral. Why have you decided that the poster is female? Am I missing something?<br />
"She said it was herself that was sending the message." - wsbob<br />
By wearing a helmet, not because of a facial expression.<br />
"you can get busy and go find the majority support you seem to think
exists for the contrary opinion, if that's what you think you need." -
wsbob<br />
I know plenty of people that ride without helmets on both motorcycles
and bicycles. If this is opinion only, based on personal perception,
you will need to present data supporting your assertion of majority
support for helmets.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481258" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481258-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481258#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481258">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even depth-4 with-avatar" id="comment-4481225">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481225">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:46 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Sorry, didn't respond to your second claim:<br />
"..."...bike helmets convey a sense of good judgment and responsibility taken." - wsbob<br />
Also, completely unsupported and based solely on what you think." Scott<br />
Not based solely on what I think, but also upon what many thousands
of people in our area, in Oregon, and millions of people in the U.S. and
elsewhere in the world, also think. But you don't have to take my word
for it...you can get busy and go find the majority support you seem to
think exists for the contrary opinion, if that's what you think you
need.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481225" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481225-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481225#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481225">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481202">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481202">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7b043985c996e6a9a4acdd8b5bba7339?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://www.pedalportland.org/" rel="external nofollow">Kirk</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:50 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Why you gotta be so arrogant - thinking of the overall safety of a community before your own personal safety? ;)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481202" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481202-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481202#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481202">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481092">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481092">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b86c55fc365d55431b386be6f4ffaa5c?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">J_R</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 7:22 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I enjoyed the article/opinion piece. Some of you commenters take things far too seriously.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481092" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481092-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481092#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481092">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481376">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481376">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:57 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Perhaps if this "article" was hosted on The Onion we might be
taking it less seriously. It wasn't; it was on Bikeportland.org which as
far as I know has a ZERO story track record satirical drivel. Our
comments are filled with excrement and diamonds, stand-up and diatribes,
on a daily basis but the site posted articles show the skill and
craftsmanship that journalism school teaches.<br />
That seems to be missing here. <br />
If Bikeportland.org is going to start posting Onion-like satire we
could stand to be warned first if the website is switching formats from
news to entertainment.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481376" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481376-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481376#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481376">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481100">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481100">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/afe65273b5c3a62331dbf49a063bf2a5?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">bobcycle</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 7:46 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I ride quite a bit, and don't run into many arrogant cyclists.
There are a few but they are the minority and hardly worth commenting
about. Thinking of all the cyclists out there that do so much good
would have made an interesting write for your lifestyle columnist. I
read a bit as well and lately am troubled by those arrogant authors who
throw their opinions around willy nilly with no care as to how it
effects others.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481100" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481100-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481100#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481100">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481112">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481112">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/229cbae959b14a25af23b128b2a1f779?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Oregon Mamacita</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:26 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"My transportation choice IS healthier, quieter, smaller,
cleaner, funner - better! Arrogance is knowing that, without a doubt, my
way is the best way. And sometimes, I am right."<br />
Gee Cathie, what the heck were you thinking by writing lines like that?<br />
In a previous article, you claimed that the new light rail bridge was "a
bridge for me." This article is the very picture of liberal white
privilege.<br />
I too have had lucky breaks in life, but try not to gloat, and I try to
be sensitive to the folks who had less luck and must struggle more.<br />
Many people contribute to society in different ways.<br />
This elevation of biking to a great civic virtue is... just sad.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481112" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481112-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">10</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481112#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481112">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481256">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481256">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/206992df1b838faeb903c7b8ec15f73f?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Bill Walters</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:11 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Given this, the lifestyle vs. opinion dilemma and the author's
own response comment: Maybe Hastie just needs to be recast in somewhat
the style of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIY5Vyj4YM" rel="nofollow">Howard Beale</a>.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481256" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481256-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481256#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481256">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481118">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481118">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a69f21e37c77591be0673042a9f3c0c6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:44 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
hahahah to funny<br />
<blockquote cite="Dabby">
<cite>Dabby</cite><br />
Wait, I do think it is funny to imagine cyclists spending a bunch of
money on, then wearing, "Members Only" jackets to ride around town.<br />
But she certainly was not referring to 80's Member's Only Jackets, so it quickly is not funny again.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> 6
</blockquote>
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481118" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481118-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481118#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481118">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481122">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481122">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a69f21e37c77591be0673042a9f3c0c6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:45 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
can you move over so I can hang my bike please.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481122" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481122-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481122#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481122">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481127">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481127">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a94211082f7d45c7a2c7a15fe9017bb2?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://spindulys.blogspot.com/" rel="external nofollow">Dave</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:55 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
For those of you making a case for why you wear helmets, I hope
you see that your very reasonable commenting is diametrically opposed
to the statement "the king of arrogance is the biker without a helmet".
Nobody is saying you shouldn't wear a helmet, or that you are irrational
for wearing one, but the statement "the king of arrogance is the biker
without a helmet" is just so beyond crazy that I don't even know where
to start.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481127" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481127-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">19</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481127#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481127">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481142">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481142">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/29f8de20e9a35e1786edde6ee64866e0?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Zoe</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 9:22 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Judging from the outcry, I think a little bit of
self-reflection in the community might be in order. Cathy's comments
have more than a bit of hyperbole (not my style), but for the most part,
I was with her until the helmet comment. I disagree with her on that
point, as I think that's a personal choice [and I think our bike
infrastructure should be made safer and should be separated, so that we
don't need helmets a la Denmark (where I used to live) or the
Netherlands.] <br />
I think there's a demographic/generational element at work in her
column and the responses that no one's really picked up on. I'm an
older female and an occasional cycling commuter who otherwise takes
transit. One of the reasons I did not enjoy my cycling commute that
much (on the Eastbank Esplanade and downtown) was the cyclists on the
Esplanade (usually in logo-covered clothing) who would not yield when
their direction was blocked and instead would come straight at me,
forcing me to brake suddenly. Or those who would pass me unsafely (too
close, on the right, no heads' up.) <br />
If cyclists obey the laws and treat those of us who are outside your
(overwhelmingly young and/or male) demographic like we belong on the
road with you, maybe some may not be so apt to call you arrogant. (And
if you don't like the laws, then work to change them - I'll be right
along side you!) Plus, we know you're faster than us and you'll pass us
- that's not the point! -- it's how you demonstrate your prowess. If
you're faster, be the big person and pass safely, being considerate of
the slower/older/younger. On an aside, I think cycling should be
made/viewed as a "normal" part of life for everyone, as in Northern
Europe, and should not be a "culture" in and of itself. One of the
downsides of promoting cycling as a culture is that those outside it may
be more quick to associate [bad] individual behavior with the
collective. I would argue that a culture of arrogance is one that the
cycling community (which I'm part of) does not want to be associated
with. This should be a wake-up call to that effect (that one of our own
is calling us on the carpet) rather than an opportunity to squelch
other perspectives that differ from the majority's.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481142" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481142-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481142#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481142">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481240">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481240">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90c1a58381e9fc537ea8f4e7db9e85dc?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">spare_wheel</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:11 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"If cyclists <b>obey the laws</b> and treat those of us who are outside your (overwhelmingly <b>young</b> and/or <b>male</b>) demographic..."<br />
*ageist<br />
*sexist<br />
*authoritarian<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481240" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481240-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">7</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481240#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481240">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481143">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481143">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/45d0b2d1b510bfb0639161db87292068?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JonathanR</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 9:25 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Amen, Cathy. Most of us follow the rules; the few arrogant idiots give the rest of us an undeserved bad reputation.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481143" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481143-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481143#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481143">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481263">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481263">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e3049a2b6eb9cc48940ef1844cccf928?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">davemess</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:21 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
See you misread the piece. Cathy thinks that MOST of us are the arrogant ones.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481263" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481263-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481263#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481263">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481148">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481148">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ad99ef0f46b9f59b9615719b4f736a23?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Clarence</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 9:36 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Okay, what is wrong with shirtless?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481148" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481148-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">9</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481148#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481148">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481377">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481377">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:59 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
We don't look near as sexy as we think we do. Too many look nauseating.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481377" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481377-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481377#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481377">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481177">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481177">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7ab48da5d5bafcb779910cd194a55061?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Erik</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:10 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
this article does nothing to move "urban cycling" forward, in any way.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481177" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481177-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481177#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481177">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481178">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481178">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e86c6efa4baea25daf545c5e2cd482b3?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Jonathan Gordon</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:12 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<i>Call me a tightwad, but any vehicle or hobby that costs more
than $6,000 (yes, including cars) makes me wonder - is that really
necessary?</i><br />
I sometimes do things that aren't necessary but sure are fun!<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481178" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481178-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">8</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481178#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481178">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481182">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481182">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:19 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
After more reflection, I think this "article" really just suffers from two basic problems:<br />
(1) Miscategorization. This is an opinion piece and should have been labeled as such. It is not a lifestyle column.<br />
(2) Lack of Clarity. Effective opinion pieces should never leave you
guessing as to what the author's point is. Here, Cathy comments and
admits that her writing left people wondering "What is she trying to
say?" That's a failure. Even once Cathy attempts to clairfy what it is
she is trying to say, she has a laudry list of four points, some more
developed than others.<br />
Next time, Cathy, pick one: Write a piece about why you wear a
helmet. Write a piece about "rude" behavior by people on bikes. Write a
piece about "expensive lifestyles". Write a piece about riding without a
shirt. Or write a piece about riding with no hands.<br />
But what you wrote (and what BikePortland chose to publish as a
column rather than as an opinion piece) is just a jumbled mess of ideas.
Instead of provoking informed debate about your opinions in any sort of
ordered way, you lost credibility, muddle the issues, and instead of
intelligent discussion, we get 170+ comments that are criticisms of you,
rather than discussion of the issues.<br />
Do better next time.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481182" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481182-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">28</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481182#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481182">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481246">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481246">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/45d0b2d1b510bfb0639161db87292068?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">JonathanR</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 12:24 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy:<br />
Next time, please write as simplistically and dumbed-down as possible,
so that Ciaran can follow it without really having to think.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481246" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481246-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481246#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481246">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-3 with-avatar" id="comment-4481307">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481307">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 3:39 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<blockquote cite="JonathanR">
<cite>JonathanR</cite><br />
Cathy:<br />
Next time, please write as simplistically and dumbed-down as possible,
so that Ciaran can follow it without really having to think.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> 1
</blockquote>
It's always best to use the simplest language capable of accurately communicating your ideas.<br />
Cathy's writing fails to communicate her ideas. As a result, readers
have had to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what it is Cathy
was trying to say, rather than thinking about what they think of her
ideas. Ineffective communication--as exemplified by Cathy's column--does
not serve the author or the reader well.<br />
I love writing that makes me think...about the author's actual ideas.
But I despise writing that forces me to think about the writer's lack
of skill.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481307" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481307-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">12</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481307#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481307">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481188">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481188">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bffac8f67d5af7924d6166313b55bf1a?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">wsbob</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:29 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
"...Thinking of all the cyclists out there that do so much good
would have made an interesting write for your lifestyle columnist. ..."
bobcycle<br />
Fine, except it seems that about 90 percent of what bikeportland
publishes is that type of thing. Not enough focus is directed towards
acknowledging and changing the behavior of people on their bikes in
traffic, that are mucking up efforts to bring biking about as a more
common, practical means of transportation.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481188" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481188-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481188#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481188">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481189">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481189">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ad99ef0f46b9f59b9615719b4f736a23?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://www.streetfilms.org/" rel="external nofollow">Clarence Eckerson</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:29 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Ciaran, just don't write a piece about riding without a shirt. It will make me mad. And then I'll cry.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481189" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481189-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">3</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481189#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481189">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481308">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481308">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a7ad7dd1dbffaca3c42711efeb604dd6?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Ciaran</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 3:46 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I don't plan to. But if a "lifestyle" columnist wanted to write
about riding without a shirt in the context, say, of WNBR or of
exploring the injustice of society prescribing different acceptable
levels of public nudity for each gender, that *could* make for an
interesting read.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481308" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481308-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481308#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481308">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481198">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481198">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a69f21e37c77591be0673042a9f3c0c6?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Joe</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 10:48 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
bicycle rights :)<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481198" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481198-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">0</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481198#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481198">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481213">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481213">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa6cf3742bd84e085a85ab5834c58fb0?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">ChamoisKreme</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 11:12 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
and then BikePortland got Bike Snob NYC'd.... good to see he included my points about local industry...<br />
<a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/12/inside-450-nearly-identical-and.html" rel="nofollow">http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/12/inside-450-nearly-identical-and.html</a><br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481213" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481213-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481213#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481213">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481264">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481264">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4c55019b18eccadcb01d0be7ce6ff801?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Mike</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:21 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Methinks after 200+ comments that Fonzie is starting to line up his water skis...<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481264" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481264-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481264#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481264">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481274">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481274">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/42195112e1544af629dbcd2d1338bcda?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Alan 1.0</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 1:49 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
That happened on December 4th, 2013 at 10:23 am.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481274" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481274-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">6</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481274#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481274">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481349">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481349">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f748e24f6dba0a4b5912fd91f76ec02f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Tom</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 7:13 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
It APPEARS that some confused mod doesn't like my posts on this
subject. I submit posts that go immediately to "awaiting moderation"
..then they "go away" .<br />
This is interesting as my posts are much milder than many that are published. weird.<br />
Are potential posts scanned by NAME, IP address or key word scanned ? Are certain posters tagged to be approved before posting ?<br />
What is BP so scared of ?<br />
I'll be amazed if this goes through and is still up tomorrow.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481349" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481349-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">5</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481349#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481349">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481378">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481378">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 6, 2013 at 12:04 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Yes on all.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481378" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481378-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481378#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481378">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481355">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481355">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/664c1cff76b361282a0f202de579f616?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">gutterbunnybikes</cite>
<span class="date">December 5, 2013 at 8:32 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Cathy Hastie ---Andy Kaufman would be proud...(I think--- just like most of Andy Kaufmans stunts).<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481355" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481355-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481355#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481355">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481527">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481527">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f748e24f6dba0a4b5912fd91f76ec02f?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">TOM</cite>
<span class="date">December 6, 2013 at 6:02 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
<blockquote cite="q`Tzal">
<cite>q`Tzal</cite><br />
Yes on all.
</blockquote>
I posted this afternoon on the Cold Weather thread that C.H.'s ears
must be warm , and it did post. But then a couple of minutes later it
was gone.<br />
I **think** that JM is a stand up guy and wouldn't do this CS editing/deleting , but dunno ??<br />
Posting on other subjects go thru fine.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481527" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481527-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481527#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481527">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<ul class="children">
<li class="comment even depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481533">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481533">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 6, 2013 at 7:49 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Despite repeated requests over the years Bikeportland
steadfastly adheres to a policy of treating the comment moderation
system as an evil Pandora's Box that never is to be touched.<br />
Even when asked directly for any indication of what consistently will
get a comment rejected JM & friends keep silent. It would seem they
enjoy the ambiguity. <br />
We know that if a you get a comment removed it seems to put you on a
mandatory screening list for some period of time, like a day or so. So
too for some profanity and some innocuous keywords. If you are a
consistent agitator of the staff or tr011 the comments in a particularly
big0ted manner you can get on long term list that automatically drops
your comments in moderation hell. <br />
But nothing is solid because they won't explain anything on the topic ever.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481533" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481533-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481533#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481533">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt depth-2 with-avatar" id="comment-4481534">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481534">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-32 photo" height="32" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/72ab3c79e57be463e2743e569b3e8473?s=32&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32&r=G" width="32" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">q`Tzal</cite>
<span class="date">December 6, 2013 at 7:50 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
Also it seems to key in on names of past offenders, possibly to avoid a fl@m3 war.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481534" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481534-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481534#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481534">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481544">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481544">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/9d897c1ea5935f38216b69f60c549e22?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn"><a class="url" href="http://facesoffatalities.com/" rel="external nofollow">Kristi Finney-Dunn</a></cite>
<span class="date">December 7, 2013 at 12:38 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I wish I were as "thick-skinned" as Cathy. I wish I felt like I
had any protective skin at all right now. If I were smart, I'd probably
wait till morning to write anything. But instead, I'm going to admit
that one small paragraph has me feeling protective of my dead son and
victimized all over again. "Was he wearing a helmet?" was the first
question of most media when Dustin was killed by an underage, drunk,
hit-and-run driver who slammed into two people in the bike lane. He
wasn't, so many people voiced that he "kind of asked for it." Two years
later I feel like I'm hearing the same thing again. But I admit, I'm
still tremendously sensitive after suffering the worst devastation of my
life. I'm angry about it still, too. And I am happy that Dustin was
riding just as he wanted to in his last moments of life before being
killed by an injury no helmet could minimize: whiplash. (But please wear
a helmet, it CAN help in some cases, like with the other rider who was
"clipped").<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481544" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481544-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">4</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481544#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481544">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481554">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481554">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/425b7cd2856021147fcce79353206484?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">Duncan</cite>
<span class="date">December 7, 2013 at 7:06 am</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
wow I guess that means that The Netherlands is a country filled with arrogant cyclists?<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481554" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481554-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">2</span> </div>
<div class="comment-buttons">
<a class="comment-reply-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074?replytocom=4481554#respond" rel="nofollow">Reply</a> <a class="comment-button comment-link" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#comment-4481554">Link</a> <a class="comment-button" href="http://bikeportland.org/2013/12/04/lifestyle-column-those-arrogant-bikers-and-why-im-one-too-98074#">Quote</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1 with-avatar" id="comment-4481570">
<div class="comment-body" id="div-comment-4481570">
<div class="comment-author-avatar">
<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-64 photo" height="64" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3d0f0754e4001d1941cd76d49a4fec00?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G" width="64" /><span class="avatar-overlay"></span></div>
<div class="comment-content">
<div class="comment-meta">
<cite class="fn">mike</cite>
<span class="date">December 7, 2013 at 1:04 pm</span>
</div>
<div class="comment-text">
I think I just threw up in my mouth a lil'.<br />
<em>Recommended</em> <img alt="Thumb up" id="up-4481570" src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/plugins/comment-rating/images/2_14_up.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px;" title="Thumb up" /> <span id="karma-4481570-up" style="color: #009933; font-size: 10px;">1</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-40080336027144347332013-11-30T18:16:00.001-08:002013-12-07T14:34:35.711-08:00To Stop or Not to Stop<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">My friend,
a recent bike-commuting transplant from the Midwest, was describing his 35-mile
round trip commute during the misty, quiet of the early mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sets off in the dark, living his ideals,
even on those days when he doesn’t really want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His impressive commitment put me in awe, but
what he wanted to talk about was stop signs.</span><br />
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“What do
people here in Portland do?” he asked, eager to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At 4 AM, when no one is around, do you
stop?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At first, I
thought he was joking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there any place
in the US where cyclists stop at stop signs at 4 in the morning when no one is
around?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he seemed earnest, awaiting
my sage response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I am a
Portland native and a 25+ year bike commuter, he must have thought I have some insider
track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I considered his question,
I realized that I am but one single biker with my own opinions of right and
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had he asked my 13 year old
daughter, an avoid rule-follower, he would have gotten a completely different
response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a feel for what I see around me, but what
is the official Portland ‘culture’ when it comes to stop signs?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The only
way to find out was to dust off my college anthropology-class tools – a trusty pad
of write-in-the-rain paper and some wool socks - and observe the natives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I found a
significant observation point from which to gather data for my Stop Sign
Obedience Observation Study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
meaningful because the Portland police often choose Ladd Circle in SE Portland
as a place to set up large-scale infraction crackdowns aimed at bicycle
riders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had recently made a narrow
escape from the stop-sign crackdown - I turned before the cop writing tickets
could wave me over to the side of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figured my study might serve two purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could answer my friend’s question and
determine whether the cops’ focus on stop sign-blowers at the Circle was
well-placed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I set up
shop early one sunny afternoon, leaning my bike against a concrete utility housing
and hopping up on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat
cross-legged in my yellow bike slicker, facing SE Ladd as cyclists rode towards
me from downtown on their way home for the evening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I tracked
all vehicles as they approached the intersection of Ladd with the Circle, where
a red octagonal sign stood, clearly telling them that traffic law required them
to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no ambiguity here,
but what I witnessed surprised me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the one hour I sat there, less than half of all vehicles actually stopped, and
by ‘stop’ I mean wheels stopped turning, a standard I would later
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Thirty-six percent of cars
failed to stop and 71% of bikes, which averaged 60% non-compliance among all
vehicle types.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference between
the behavior of people when they sat behind a steering wheel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and when they sat atop a bicycle seat was significant:
34% more bikes disobeyed the law than cars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As I sat
there, easily identifiable as a biker by my attire and accoutrements, and
obviously taking note of my fellow cyclists, I got a variety of responses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many tried to behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few were successful, others were not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They put down a foot to imply ‘halt of
forward progress,’ even as they continued to roll, or they squeezed on the
brakes all of a sudden when they saw that I was tallying up their actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few sneered and made unkind remarks from
afar as if my presence was some sort of a threat or proof of an alliance with
Big Brother or the fuzz.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I tut-tutted
the high rate of disobedience as I watched, but all along, I knew that my own
traffic behavior was no different from those I observed, both on 2 wheels and
4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt no guilt for my own infractions, nor
did I judge any of the vehicles harshly, because, despite the overwhelming
number of tallies in the ‘no stop’ column, I did not witness a single dangerous
traffic interaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, traffic
never slowed and not a single driver or biker seemed uncertain about what those
around them were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lack of a
full complete stop didn’t have much effect on the success of the
intersection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Indeed, the
traffic circle configuration itself is a serious tease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traffic circles are meant to speed traffic
along without forcing a stop or the ‘look left-look right-look left’ that is
required at four-way intersections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Bend, the traffic circle is meant to be entered and exited without stopping. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My data collection point, I decided, was not the
typical intersection on which I could base conclusions about Portland bikers in
general. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As I wrapped up an hour of data
collection, I knew that further study was required to fully answer the question
about what Portland cyclists do when faced with a stop sign.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I found two
additional, dissimilar observation points along the same bike corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One has a flashing red stop light on a
four-way intersection with decent bike traffic and relatively low
cross-traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is situated on SE 34<sup>th</sup>
and Clinton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other data collection
spot is relatively high cross-traffic intersection along the same bike
corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the four-way stop at SE
26<sup>th</sup> and Clinton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I also figured
I needed to measure behavior at different hours of the day to have a
well-rounded definition of how Portland bikers, as a group, behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I selected 15 minute increments in the
morning rush hour and similar periods in the afternoon rush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all, I tallied up 16 sessions of 15
minutes each, a total of 240 minutes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Data</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I tracked </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2,517
vehicles; 1,523 cars and 994 bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was also one skateboarder, but I didn’t count him (he didn’t
stop).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The busiest intersection was 26th
and Clinton, with 1,474 vehicles, followed by Ladds Circle, with 701.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intersection at 34th and Clinton had 342
vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I measured vehicles from all directions at
the four-way intersections, whereas I had only measured the one direction, the
typical commute pattern, at Ladd’s Circle due to visibility issues.)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The statistics
varied by time of day and by intersection type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most extreme sample was on a slow morning, during which 92% of all vehicles
failed to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at Ladd’s Circle:
95% of bikes did not stop and 83% of cars did not stop (I guess the cops had it
right).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the people who did stop, it
appeared that they did so only because there were pedestrians in or near the
crosswalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving behavior and biking
behavior was more similar in this sample than in any other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, no one thinks it is important to
obey the stop sign in the morning when there is very low traffic, regardless of
what conveyance is used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my
observations of the sparse, one-directional commuting traffic at that hour, it
made perfect sense to me too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Overall
Traffic Counts at all Three Locations</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Morning
Rush</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In the
mornings, bikers did not stop much: 75% didn't stop at 26<sup>th</sup>, with
somewhat heavy four-way action; 85% didn't stop at 34<sup>th</sup>, a quiet
residential street that nevertheless has a blinking red light; and 95% didn't
stop at Ladd's Circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drivers followed
the same pattern, with 26<sup>th</sup> being the most stopped-at intersection
and Ladd’s the least:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>45% didn’t stop at
26<sup>th</sup>; 56% didn’t stop at 34<sup>th</sup>; and 83% didn’t stop at
Ladd's (i</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">f
the Portland police are looking to write a lot of tickets, Ladd’s Circle is
indeed an area technically ripe with violators)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Conclusion:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>drivers don’t stop
much either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the 938 morning vehicles
at all locations, 33% came to a complete stop and 67% did not (S</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">toppers =
313, No stoppers = 625)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But on average, bikes</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> glided
through the stop signs 34% more than cars did, and surpassed cars in this
measurement for every time period observed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:59;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Intersection</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bikes –
No Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cars – No
Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTAL NO
STOP</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">26<sup>th</sup>
x Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">75%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">45%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">53%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">34<sup>th</sup>
and Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">85%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">56%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">68%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ladd’s
Circle</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">95%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">83%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">92%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTALS</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">86%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">52%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">67%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Afternoon
Rush</span></u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
afternoon commute brought slightly different results. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1,579 vehicles, 983 were cars and 596
were bikes, a surprising number because I always thought there were as many
bikes as cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two hundred and thirty
bikes did not stop (61%), and 297 cars did not stop (30%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On average, afternoon commuters did not stop
at stop signs 42% of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
location, cars did not stop at Ladds 36% of the time and bikes 71%; cars did
not stop at 34th 46% of the time and bikes 71%; cars did not stop at 26th 28% of
the time and bikes 48%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, bikers
rolled through more often than cars for every location and every period, on
average 31% more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Intersection</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bikes –
No Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cars – No
Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTAL NO
STOP</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">26<sup>th</sup>
x Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">75%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">45%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">53%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">34<sup>th</sup>
and Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">85%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">56%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">68%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ladd’s
Circle</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">95%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">83%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">92%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTALS</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">61%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">30%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">42%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:59;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Even at the
heaviest traffic of the afternoon at 26<sup>th</sup> and Clinton, 32% of all
vehicles did not stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I saw no
accidents, no near misses, not even that “you go – no, you go – no, you go”
behavior that sometimes results from ambiguity among those who share the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Morning
Traffic Counts per Location<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Afternoon
Traffic Counts per Location </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br /><u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></u><img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Totals AM
and PM Rush Hours </span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Intersection</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bikes –
No Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cars – No
Stop</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTAL NO
STOP</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">26<sup>th</sup>
x Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">57%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">33%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">39%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ladd’s
Circle</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">79%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">49%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">71%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">34<sup>th</sup>
and Clinton</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">83%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">53%</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">64%</span></u></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 135.9pt;" valign="top" width="181">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TOTALS</span></u></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="138">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Definition
of “Stop”</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I used the
legal ‘complete stop’ threshold for determining whether behavior qualified as
stopping or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I tallied up
hundreds of commuters, this standard revealed itself as less and less useful
when comparing cars and bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
of their slower overall speed, bike riders have just as long, if not longer, to
approach an intersection, observe the participants and determine whose turn
comes next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part, they slow
down sooner and move slowly for longer as they evaluate the timing and safety
of crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rarely does this require a
complete stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a bike were to stop,
it takes longer for them to get started again than it does for a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As drivers,
we approach intersections faster, decelerate later and faster, and spend less time
gathering data about the likely traffic pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are also able to accelerate quicker when
we start up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of these more
dramatic differences in auto travel speed, acceleration and deceleration, when
a car approaches a stop sign and rolls through without actually coming to a
complete stop, it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">looks</i></b> more like a stop than when a cyclist does the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About halfway through my study, I realized
that I was guilty of this bias in perception, causing me to question my
data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I persevered, consciously
noting the movement of spokes and hubcaps as a way to focus more accurately on
a halt of forward motion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if
police officers have a trick to overcome this bias.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As traffic
participants, however, I don’t think we care much about stopping perfection in
our own behavior or in that of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do appear to understand and accommodate a slightly different set of
physical and logistical factors when bicycles are part of the equation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact – I think all bikers have experienced
this on occasion - some drivers motion for bikes to go ahead even if it is not
their turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For
this reason, I believe that experienced Portland drivers and bike riders
probably agree that not stopping can be the most courteous thing to do at
intersections: it allows the next intersection participant to make their move
sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference between people’s
behavior when they are in cars versus on bikes is simply one of degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are almost all guilty of not executing
textbook stops as required by the law, but it is much easier to do so, or
appear to do so, when in a car.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Results</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
compiled data from all locations, mornings and afternoons, supports this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">49% of all vehicles stopped: 62% of
cars stopped and 29% of bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The only
vehicle type with a perfect stop score was TriMet busses.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
busiest intersection had the most stoppers in both cars and bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 26<sup>th</sup> and Clinton, 61% of
vehicles stopped – 67% cars and 43% bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Curiously, I saw close similarities between people in cars and people on
bikes in the extreme opposite situation as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During both the heaviest traffic and the lightest,
bikes and cars behaved more similarly than in moderate traffic scenarios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across all times and vehicle types, the
intersection at 34<sup>th</sup> and Clinton, where cross-traffic was minimal
and total vehicle counts were the lowest, saw the highest incidence of not
stopping:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>84% of bikes did not stop and
53% of cars did not stop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
data tells me that a little over half the time, Portlanders technically obey
the law at stop signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But functionally,
most of the interactions I observed worked as the intersection designers
intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the people I saw took
the following steps:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they approached the
intersection, slowed considerably, looked both ways, allowed the waiting cross
traffic to proceed if they were there first, and then continued to creep ahead
until it was their turn, then accelerated through the crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I marked all of those people as non-stoppers,
even though they treated the other vehicles respectfully and, I like to think,
made the entire interaction more efficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not have a special tally mark for rude intersection non-stoppers –
people who zoomed through without waiting their turn or in such a manner that
the smooth, expected <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flow of traffic was
interrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had I, there would only
have been 10 hash marks in that column, and all of them would have been
2-wheeled travelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Out
of 2,517 vehicles, 1,229 stopped (51%) and 1,288 did not (49%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nine hundred forty five of those that stopped
were cars and 284 were bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five
hundred and seventy eight cars did not stop while 710 bikes did not stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portlanders, when on their bikes, tend not to
execute perfect stops at a significantly higher rate than when they are in
their cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Now
I can answer my out-of-town friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half
of Portlanders stop, whether in a car or on a bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most bikers don’t stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottom line is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like marijuana, ignoring stop signs is
illegal, hence it carries the risk of a ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does that make it dangerous?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Let your conscience
be your guide.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /><br /><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:59;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-468194720240655982013-11-30T18:09:00.000-08:002013-11-30T18:09:06.162-08:00Dancing with Strangers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband Matt and I had overnight guests this weekend – my
sister Shawn and her new husband Frank drove up from California for the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pulled up in front of our house hauling
a 16 foot trailer built in 1966.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a nice addition to our existing collection of over-the-hill vehicles, older
than my sister by one year, and beating out our antique Dodge mini-van I bought
off my former employer by 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the trailer was safely tucked into place on the large concrete
apron in front of our garage, it was a few accessories short of the perfect
kitschy/trashy look needed to send our neighbors off the deep end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went to the garage and pulled out the rusty
fire pit and a camping chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made
Shawn and Frank pose in front of the set – a trailer-trash mecca, an urban
camping scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made them guzzle beer
and pretend to roast marshmallows in broad daylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we needed were some mangy dogs and an old
tire to gather water for prime mosquito larvae infestation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a weak attempt, but it was temporarily
exhilarating pretending to mount a tiny challenge to the societal norms of
neighborhood propriety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had our fun, then went inside for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank, an amiable, dark haired 50-year old
auto-mechanic with anti-government sentiments, picked at the shrimp etouffe suspiciously
and seemed intimidated by the pumpkin soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’ve never had this before,” he admitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he eventually seemed to warm to it and,
over second servings, conversation turned to the housing market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank lamented the burden of owning a house
that was worth less than what he paid for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It’s a dead weight”, he complained. “We would like to have a little
freedom, get out on the road and see the country.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He and my sister had purchased the trailer and fixed it up
in the hopes of circling the US, seeing something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, our house in Portland, Oregon was as
far as they had gotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a start!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before the newlyweds arrived, it had been decided that we
would go salsa dancing that night with our other sister Margaret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event was a Meetup – a social outing
organized online for like-minded strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This one was to practice our Spanish, take a salsa lesson and do a
little dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The description reminded
us that salsa dancers like to look spiffy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So at 8pm, Shawn excused herself to go hole up in the trailer and doll
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went upstairs to do the same,
putting on makeup for the first time that summer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having seen women dancing at other Latin parties, I knew
what kind of attire to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a
hard time deciding between raunchy, skin-tight or just sexy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was practical – a form-fitting pair of
black slacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was sweat tolerant –
a dressy tank top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, in the end, I
settled on an old dancing standby – a blue and white print dress that was
tightish at the torso, but which flew out in almost a full circle during spins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived at Aztec Willie’s at around 9 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main room had been cleared to reveal a
decent-sized dance floor with the traditional wood floor boards like in a
school gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place was only sparsely
populated with a handful of 20-somethings – most of them friendly, nerdy types,
none of them speaking Spanish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned
out the organizer had combined three Meetups for the same event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was for Spanish language practice,
another for Latin culture appreciation and the third was a singles group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I counted only 4 other Spanish speakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up not speaking much Spanish at all,
not even Adrian, Margaret’s Puerto Rican husband.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Margaret and Adrian had taken dance lessons before and knew
the basics of salsa, but the rest of us were newbies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood around trying to find something in
common with the youngsters as we waited for the salsa lesson to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scheduled for 9:30 pm, the lesson would be an
essential element to our enjoyment of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we waited and waited, until finally at
10:15, a short stocky Latina woman put on a headset microphone and introduced
herself to the now crowded room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
she got us organized, there must have been 30 women lined up on one side of the
room, and a similar number of men on the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked around, but couldn’t see either Matt or Adrian among them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The instructor paired us up, one boy, one girl, just like in
high school gym class – whoever was directly in front of you was your
partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started with one of the Meetup
boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and put some effort into
learning the very simple steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a
bit clumsy, but good natured about it. After 10 minutes, all the men moved one
partner to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next dance
partner was Miles, from Argentina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
spoke to me in beautiful Spanish that sent a chill up my spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was obviously not in need of lessons, and
augmented the teacher’s bare-bones repertoire with a few simple spins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was patient, explaining to me what he was
about to do and how I should interpret his physical indicators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just about melted at the combination of his
sexy accent ringing in my ears and the structure of his firmly-held upper body
guiding me into and out of each turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
girlfriend, who danced to my right, probably felt the same way, because when he
moved on to her, she couldn’t keep her mouth off of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young love is sweet, and it was especially touching
watching them because she was new to salsa, a bit klutzy and goofy with smooth
Miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two of them laughed at her
deficiencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point, she fell against
his chest and wrapped her arms around him mid-step amidst gales of giggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My third partner was a young Korean man, one of the
singles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He counted out loud as we stepped
back and forth monotonously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an
agreeable guy, trying to learn something new and have a good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naively, neither he nor I could have
predicted that that which lay ahead would inevitably drown us both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have done my research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out, the level of dance at Aztec
Willies’ is famously top caliber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
would be so far over our heads that we might as well have skipped the paltry
lesson and just done the Hand Jive instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The teacher was done before she even got started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lesson was 30 minutes shorter than
promised, an hour behind schedule, and so crowded, it was pretty much
worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked away knowing how to
step forward and step backward to the beat, nothing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sorely disappointed, and totally
unprepared for the rest of the evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The teacher gave a plug for her dance studio in Hilsboro, and
just like that, we were on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
song started up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised when
Matt approached me for the first dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had figured if he didn’t take the lesson – lame as it was – he wasn’t planning
on dancing at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here he was, apparently
hoping I would teach him what I just learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t sure if he avoided the lesson on purpose to avoid dancing with
strangers, or if it was just coincidental that he had been getting a beer the
moment the lesson began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case,
here he was, 30 fewer minutes of practice than he needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have done him some good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brave, but perhaps foolish, husband offered
himself up as my partner, putting something precious and delicate in my clumsy hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank god the song wasn’t too fast.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We joined hands in front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lay my palms on top of his and curled my
fingers into the mirrored ‘C’ shape of his fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right away, I had to loosen his anxious grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we began:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped backward and he stepped forward on
one side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we returned to center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One, two, three, and…” I instructed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped forward and signaled that he
should step backward on the other side. “Five, Six, Seven, and…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kicked me in the shin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I smiled and ignored our fumbling start, but decided to try it
half-paced so it would be super easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, my body was having a hard time with the math.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We futzed around a bit, then I figured the
music didn’t really matter anyway and we should just try to master the
movements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pulled off 4 solid steps,
but then it all crumbled away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had mastered the rhythm during the lesson, but
barely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first practice songs were
quite easy, hand-picked for us novices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
already, the music had become difficult to feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no thumping bass beating me over
the head with an insistent 4/4 count like in my favorite funk tunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The instruments all sort of blended together
in a melodically pleasant but rhythmically subtle composition my ears couldn’t
decipher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not the Commodores’
“Brick House,” or Michael Jackson’s jamming “Don’t Stop til You Get Enough”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Losing
one’s place in the rhythm was dangerous: it was next to impossible to hear when
to start back up again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was my number one salsa handicap for the evening –
being out of touch with the rhythm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
second was a complete inability to read cues from my partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my third was my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was having a hard time - me, who keeps
the dance floor interesting on disco night - just imagine how Matt felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admits he has no rhythm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a hard time step-touching to a rock
and roll song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, couples-dancing was not one of his top ten favorite activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave up on trying to instruct him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really know what I was talking
about, and he just argued with me about how he couldn’t do it anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we fumbled along, bumping toes and looking
as graceless as a drunken dog with three legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tried to encourage him, but my heart wasn’t in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was determined to be unhappy and there was
nothing I could do to change that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
got angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got exasperated – I had not
come to a salsa night to trip over his feet and jerk about haltingly like a
broken toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the song ended, it was
with relief that we moved back to the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I wasn’t ready to just sit down for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had learned a little, I wanted to use it –
and learn more!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I let Matt sit down and then stood alone in front of our table,
facing the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have been
wearing a sandwich board that read, “Dance with me!” and it would have been
just as subtle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small pinkish man in a
Scottish beanie, perhaps in his 60s, held out his hand to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought this would be an easy transition from beginner status because
he was short, old and a little effeminate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surely he would be an easy-going dancer, not a threat to my husband’s
bruised ego in the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looks can be deceiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old guy took my hand and snapped me instantly into a spin, catching
my waist expertly before he twirled me furiously the other way and began to
lead me about like a yo yo on a string.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He set up residence for the duration of the song in a narrow corner
where he whirled me within inches of close-set tables loaded with drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were hemmed in by onlookers, furniture and
booze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a miracle I didn’t fly out
of his grasp and land face-first in the beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously, his skill set was well above Matt’s, but that I
couldn’t keep up with him surprised me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was a little shocked at my ineptitude and what was required of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I have to move my hips in a sexy
way, I had to read every tilt of his torso and snap of his wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He helped me along by pushing my hips through
the arch he created with my own arm over my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it wasn’t like swing dancing, which I can
fake my way through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consistently
missed the beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His cues would probably
be considered heavy handed by a woman who knew what she was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very patient as he valiantly tried to camouflage
my flagrant ignorance – it was only my second salsa dance after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the song, he thanked me and
walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t ask again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suddenly felt exposed as an impostor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to stand like a ballerina (some say with
a stick up my ass).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I move gracefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look like I might be able to dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing there in my tight dress with the
great flared skirt, attentive and eager, I might have seemed a good
prospect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when he tested me out, the
old guy got a glimpse of the actual goods and crossed me off his list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted, like everyone there I suppose, a
partner that was of his caliber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
didn’t want to babysit, just as I hadn’t wanted to try to teach Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beanie man wanted a partner who could hold
her own, respond appropriately and make him look good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He simply wanted someone who knew what the
hell she was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried me
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He threw me away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, this was the repeating theme of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new guy would come in, ask me to dance, and
be sorry he had. The slicker the lead, the clumsier I became.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a few occasions, I found myself at the end
of my partner’s extended arm, frozen like a deer in the headlights, not knowing
what I was supposed to do next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The keener
observers learned from their predecessors’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>mistakes, at which point they all stopped asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was branded, appropriately, incompetent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it didn’t dampen my spirits too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still had the friends I came with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the first half of the evening, I
asked our party’s men to dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked
dancing with Adrian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept time on my
waist with his hand, tapping his fingers so I could feel the beat better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and we talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were comfortable together and there was no
pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He danced to my level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either he wasn’t into showing off his skills
by spinning me to and fro, or he was politely notching it down for my sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I danced with him a few times when Margaret
was on the floor with someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I danced with Frank only once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank was like Matt, but maybe not quite as hard
on himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He revealed that he too got
lost in the subtleties of the music (I was not alone!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He couldn’t feel the beat very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Latin music was not his favorite, and he
didn’t really like the dancing part either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our song was super short – I bet he was grateful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked Matt if he wanted to dance, but I didn’t want him to
feel obligated - I knew this wasn’t his cup of tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He danced with me one more time before
returning to his seat behind the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There, he blocked himself in, cut off by two chairs’ worth of people on
either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank and his new bride canoodled
to his right, while some singles from our Meetup group chatted to his left. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat drinking his beer in an uncomfortable and
atypical speechlessness as the music roared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was so loud that he couldn’t do what he liked best – talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Between us sisters, Shawn, Margaret and I, we have quite a bit
of dance experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of the three,
Shawn reigns supreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can dance
circles around Margaret and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a
history of high school dance team and, later, stripper poles, she is the most
proficient at following commands, learning choreography and memorizing steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between drill competitions and making a
living from dance, she probably could have kept up with any of the experienced
leads on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she chose to
stick close to her inexperienced hubby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two of them danced only a few songs and then retired to their chairs
as spectators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Margaret, on the other hand, has put in the most time dancing
in pairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a teenager, she square-danced
with our mother’s club a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
blackmail photos to prove it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and Adrian
also took ballroom lessons in preparation for their wedding, where they
performed a tango for the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret
certainly has the most salsa-specific training and her confidence on the
dancefloor showed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and Adrian danced
together numerous times that night, and, being 10 years my junior, she was a
popular choice for the Meetup singles who were brave enough to ask. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I, on the other hand, would be hard-pressed to say that I
have much dance training or experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have only taken a few years of classes throughout my life - ballet, square,
swing and belly dance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I like to
think that I am the most expressive, maybe the craziest of the dancing sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am frequently one of the most revered
boogiers on the floor, given the right music and an appropriate amount of
alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, most of my dancing
takes place alone in my bedroom with my headphones on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But being a generically ’good’ dancer won me no points with
the early-night salsa crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couples
dancing requires a different set of talents, more than being able to shake
booty in your jammies for You-Tube. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
exacerbate the situation, by around 11 PM, the crowd had shifted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The later arrivals looked immaculately
manicured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their moves were exponentially
more fluid and languid and sexy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
slowly dawned on me that I should stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stop asking, stop hoping, stop dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was obviously out-classed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About that same time, Matt broke out of his self-made prison
behind the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stomped towards me
in a mild furor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been tensely
watching me and the others all night, his eyes alternating between dagger-shooting
and exasperation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had had enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m going home,” he spit out, vitriol in his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew what his answer would be, but I asked anyway:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to yell, trying to sound sympathetic and open over the roar of the
conga.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In essence, he was not having fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t dancing; I wasn’t dancing with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The music was too loud to converse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no reason for him to be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am the last person you want to dance with,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t determine if it was an accusation
or a question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see you having a good
time with everyone else and I am not a part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t here for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am here just because you guys wanted to
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even know about it until
yesterday.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had invited him to include him in the group,
hoping that the Spanish Meetup and the family connection with the two other men
would keep him entertained while I got a little dance fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hadn’t worked out that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had sat stone-faced next to Shawn without
speaking while I fished for suckers to spin me around the floor without
throwing their hands up in disgust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t blame Matt for wanting to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t feel good to be left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he has always hated couples dancing,
always felt incapable and klutzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he
is right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not a good dance
partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good dance partner is
confident to a fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pushes and
pulls the woman around and all she has to do is stay light on her toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good dance partner maintains a stiff arm,
or as the woman’s perception becomes more sensitive, a stiff wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has rhythm, he has a repertoire of moves
that spotlight the beauty of the female form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good dance partner is the master of his partner’s body like an artist is
with his brush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is responsible for
the choreography, the flamboyance and the cleverness of their routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman is truly the accessory in this partnership, the
object to be whipped and spun and dipped and moved about as if she had no
volition of her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As troubling as
this kind of relationship would be in life, as a foundation for dance, it seems
to make perfect sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women are
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What better way to combine these two
gender-specific traits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t claim to know what every women thinks, but in
general, I believe women like to be objectified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They like to be looked at, picked up,
pursued, complimented and ogled (discreetly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the dance floor, then, it’s a win-win when all eyes follow her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man gets the credit for the beauty of his
partner’s performance, but she gets the attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Matt was mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doubt
it was simply because he was wasting his time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you mad at me?” I asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No,” he said, still frowning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he softened a bit at my
vulnerability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to show moral
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pretty sure he was angry
with himself for not being a good salsa dancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He probably wouldn’t admit it, but I think he was also uncomfortable
because I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least it appeared
that way to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t see the
bruised toes of my dance partners or the strained expression in their eyes as
their cues went unheeded and I unknowingly sabotaged their plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They struggled for patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stumbled about haphazardly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all Matt saw was the gulf between us, made
wider by the centrifugal forces that twisted my skirt tightly around my legs in
one direction, and then sent it flying in the other, powered by another man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good dancer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 79.5pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew going in to the evening that Matt was rhythmically
challenged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped that he would
find something to keep him engaged while I danced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had also hoped that he would be able to
enjoy my successes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had planned to dance the whole night, slowly improving
under the patient tutelage of the more merciful skilled dancers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
imagined my husband gazing at me with pride, taking in my graceful, rhythmic metamorphosis
in the expert hands of artists who knew how to turn ordinary women into beautiful
pieces of moving art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pictured
returning to Matt’s side every so often, his smiling face welcoming me back,
reflecting the happiness he felt in my accomplishments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined him thinking me lovely and
graceful as I spun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My humble but
delightful performance on the floor would add to his esteem for me, serve as a
badge of honor for us both.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When parents watch their children compete or perform, they
cheer them on and show support with their presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They feel the associated honor of a kick-ass solo
or a personal best on the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt
and I attend each other’s office parties to support one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My workplace clout increases when my witty,
charming, attractive partner reminds my co-workers that I must be something
special to have landed a catch like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I envisioned Matt feeling similarly elevated as he looked upon his
beautiful wife doing well at something she loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Matt didn’t see it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He saw my dancing as a threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body was in close proximity with a man
that was not him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that dance
is physical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is rhythmic, intimate,
even breathtaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dance is sensual in
that it stimulates your senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more
so, dancing elicits a feeling of a physical task well-executed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body gets to be a body – the well-oiled,
finely tuned, miraculous results of millions of years of evolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partner dance incorporates these elements
into the coming together of two people, a yin and a yang, a leader and a
follower, a feminine and a masculine – an intricate combination of influences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dance is also a great channel for creativity, originality,
expressiveness and productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is
why it is considered an art form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art
evokes emotion or portrays beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
fine painting might inspire tears, and a successful dance might demonstrate the
strength and grace of the human body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
partner dance is far more than physical activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running a race can be glorifying, digging a
ditch gratifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partner dance is more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an ideal showcase for the art of being
a human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moving in time with
another person, synchronized in time and space, attuned to their moves and
intentions adds a dimension not found alone in front of the mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as a successful painter connects with her viewers and
communicates a message across time, a stunning dance piece in the theater delivers
a sense of shared understanding to the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paint endures but does not move; dance moves,
but does not last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sense of
connection while watching performance art is fleeting, but when it is your body
creating the art, the muscle memory stays with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience sinks into your brain from
multiple stimuli – tactile, auditory, rhythmic, muscular and social.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It moves you, deepens your connection to what
it means to be a member of the human race, interacting and learning and growing
with other people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Human connections cannot be restricted to a sole source, a
single central figure in each of our lives -a mother or a spouse for
example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need connections with many
other people to develop and expand, to attain knowledge of ourselves and the
world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talking, looking at
each other, working side by side, touching, even something as physical as
dancing – these are all ways we can connect with many people without fear or
threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Matt saw me on the dance floor,
he saw my needs being met by another person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But you see, my needs are impossible to meet <i>without </i>other people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A dancing pair collaborates to shape and discover a unique
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When those two are
highly-skilled, it is a sight to behold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After Matt went home, Aztec Willie’s morphed into what appeared to be a
haven for Dancing with the Stars’ instructors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The quality of dance was so high that not a single person from the
Meetup dared step onto the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My table remained seated the rest of the night, mesmerized by the show
five feet from our gaping mouths.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those who continued dancing appeared to be professionals –
professional dancers that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(A few of
the women looked like the other kind of “professional”.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skin tight seemed to be the preferred style –
no swinging skirts here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One woman wore
a black ‘dress’ that ended just below the curve of her butt-cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More like a tee-shirt, it boasted a peekaboo
lace side panel that showed skin and the provocative black strip of underwear
at her hip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She constantly had to tug
the hem of this garment down as she executed the spins and moves demanded of
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her war with the dress was like a
sporting event; we were all taking wagers on who would win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way her partners seemed to lift her
arm as high as they could during the turns, they seemed to be rooting for the
dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you had to give her credit –
she managed to keep the beat, obey her partners’ signals and keep her ass
covered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a noteworthy woman dancing directly in front of
our table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her skin-tight white leggings
were scrawled with random black letters and symbols, drawing attention to a
rear-end that might have challenged J Lo’s to a duel standing still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when she put her hips in salsa-gear, they
swung and popped like a tilt-a-whirl on speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her meat was flying to the left and right like wrestling panda
bears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hypnotized, we couldn’t keep our
eyes off of bootie-girl’s goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
also happened to be a beautiful woman, young and dark-eyed, and an exceptional
dancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, the ‘great
white’ never touched the seat of a chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the conclusion of every song, a new escort took her hand right off of
the arm of the guy before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting even
a split second longer would have been too late for a chance with this hot
ticket.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were a few ballerina bodies, lithe and flexible, yet
quick and nimble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One woman held herself
taut and upright from the waist up, as if she were classically trained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hips, however, had no problem swiveling
and bumping while her torso remained as composed as mother Theresa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of the men deserve mention as well. Those who really knew
how to dance added a little beauty of their own to the formula, swiveling their
hips, adding flourishing hand gestures and cocky postures to augment the swirl
of passion embodied in their female companion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A suave hottie with black curls and a chiseled jaw spent his night
impressing us with his confident mastery of his partners’ bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He only danced with the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a neat, well-fitting pair of stylish jeans
and a white button-up showing off his broad, muscular shoulders, he could have
been a model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he had flair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself
as he struck poses, kicked up his heels and improved the performance with customized
hip thrusts and tap-dancing steps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were plenty of shortish Latino men tossing around
tallish Caucasian women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One especially
energetic young man added so much bling to his routine that it was barely
recognizable as salsa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw him on the
ground at one point – he appeared to be breakdancing in the time it took his
partner to finish a spin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law of the
jungle seemed to take over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
challenge for the men was to make a name for themselves so that the best female
dancers would deign to dance with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I ventured beyond our box seats – the best seats in the
house - to find the bathroom, I discovered a glut of men I hadn’t known
existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rows of hungry-looking Latinos lined
up on the far side of the dance floor as if corralled there by an invisible
fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed to be awaiting the
opportune moment to approach a new arrival or maybe get their courage up to ask
one of the famous females to be their partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t quite sure what was holding them back, other than the same
thing that now held me back:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the skills
of the dancers out there now far surpassed my talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were they lying in wait for a lost lamb
without a steady partner, or just waiting for someone – anyone – to get drunk
and go home with them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was there some
intricate system of graduating to the dance floor of which I had no clue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pushed through five lines of men whose eyes did not
flicker from the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of
them had browned skin, stood around 5 foot 6” and not a single one met my eye
or even checked me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place was
not good for my self-image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it my
advanced age?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My average bootie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I guessed that they must have seen me
dancing earlier, tormenting the other men with my missteps and bungles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With one energetic partner, I had actually
stopped dancing, not understanding what he was signaling me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Motionlessness on the dance floor is a no-no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 12” height difference made little
difference as he moved fast and furious, making spin after spin and twisting my
arms around me and around him in so many creative ways that I just stood there
and let him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My non-participation made
him look foolish – every salsa dancing man’s nightmare, no doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, I did receive a very well-executed
dip, where he lay me back across his knee to support my not-insignificant
weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My partner maintained his honor
- he hadn’t given up on me, and the dip made it all worth it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It washed away the humiliation of looking so
out of place and not meeting expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My first dip: an experience I will always remember.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I returned to my seat, I resumed my observations, this
time looking for more than flying flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dancers’ smooth flowing companionship with partner after different
partner seemed impossibly complicated in its simplicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, they were connecting with lots of
different humans fluidly and intimately in a system that seemed well
established in its boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dancers
did not go home with other dancers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
came, they performed physical feats of grace and beauty, felt good about a job
well done, had fun, got their human touch quotient for the day, and they went
home satisfied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was clear to me how important this dance connection must
be for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, for those of us
not salsa-proficient, there are many different ways to connect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connecting can be a deep conversation, or
physical exertion, like pushing one another through a difficult ski run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connecting can occur while collaborating on
chores, works of art or meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
teaches us something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everyone grocery
shops the way I do – without a list, up and down every aisle, thoroughly
evaluating every possibility as it appears before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I were to shop with my neighbor, I would
see a new way of doing it, and as we proceed down the aisles together, I would learn
more about her as a person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are
meant to learn from each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our need
to grow and learn and experience new things depends on a greater community,
often times on strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all have family members that we depend on and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We receive something beneficial from them,
and they from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we expand
that sphere of influence to interesting or talented people with whom we share
common characteristics or shared enthusiasm, but who are not related by blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call them friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take one step further, and accept education
from a wider circle – people who may not have a lot in common with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who think very differently than we
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who are not bound to us
through societal expectations of kinship, matrimony or peer pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much is there in this life that we do not
know because we have been protecting ourselves from the discomfort of venturing
afield?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first salsa dip - a gratifying
physical moment with an expert I had never met before – came only after I had
endured humiliating and frustrating attempts at an activity in which I have no
talent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dip, in fact the whole salsa
experience, gave me a new understanding of so many things: women’s bodies, men’s
bodies, structural anatomy, dance rules and patterns, stigmas, and the unspoken
wealth of do’s and don’t’s at high-level couple’s dancing events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this from staggering around 4 or 5
times on the dance floor with people who knew these things far better than me,
let alone my husband.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier in the evening, when the dance floor was still
available to beginners, I looked at Shawn over the shoulder of my short Mexican
lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her new husband sat together
pleasantly, enjoying the show and sipping beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They stuck together on the sidelines the entire evening, even though
Shawn, a great dancer, could have been dancing with the experts up through the
end of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sacrificed an experience
she had probably had many times before for the new experience of being together
with her hubby in a Portland nightclub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw Adrian, alone behind his pint, smiling and relaxed, enjoying the
sight of his wife spinning and stepping accurately with one of the Meetup men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was watching me intently, his eyes tense
and unsmiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By choosing to dance instead of sit protectively by Matt’s
side, the message to my spouse is not that I don’t want him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that he doesn’t teach me and help me
grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not even that he can’t
dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do, he does, and he can!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope was that he would feel some amount of
pride in my growth, and those rare moments when I shined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he would share laughter over my mistakes
and blunders, like Miles from the dance lesson. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The message is that he is not the only teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is my center, my backbone, my safe haven
from which I venture out to experiment with new ideas, new experiences, new
relationships; new for the sake of seeing things in a different light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t ask my husband to teach me how to
skydive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will ask an expert for
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t count on him to fulfill my
every need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will depend on him for the
things he can and wants to provide – food, family-time, sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will seek companionship outside home for
things that he isn’t interested in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone does it – they have work relationships, beer-drinking buddies,
work-out companions, gossip-sharers, running partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My external relationships will satisfy my unique needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to get to know people deeply, but
without any further expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want
to be completely honest with people, unfettered by the typical safety and
protection I maintain with my most dependent family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to discover new concepts and challenge
myself to see things from a different perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These connections shouldn’t be limited by a person’s
religion, culture or marital status.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all need, as human beings, to reach out and bond with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be a hug for the beleaguered
oncologist whose heavy day job brings him down, or a conversation with a
homeless couple panhandling on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It may be a shared dance with a stranger at a club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People need each other. We need to touch and
hear and see each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot wrap
our lives tightly in a mantle of protectionism, unseen and unseeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we fall into smug complacency and limit
our influences to that which we already know, the world will continue to change
and evolve and we will wake up one day to find that we are small-minded and one-dimensional.
There are millions of opinions and perspectives to see and hear and accept or
reject as we please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to
cling to the same ideas we had in our 20’s - in fact, we can’t, because the
world is a different place now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
so much to be learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows, when
we experience a novel new way of carrying out an objective, it might become our
new favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps we learn that we
don’t like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing is for sure, we
know more for trying it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This is why I have kicked off a campaign to try new
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to walk home from work a
different way each time - I might come across a long lost friend or discover a
beautiful tree I have never seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trying new things introduces me to more, plain and simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More opportunity for good and for bad (I am
still not sure how to classify my salsa experiment).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not trying new things leaves us unsure if how
we are living is indeed the best way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted,
the certainty of having achieved the pinnacle of satisfaction is unattainable,
but with each new iteration, each new foray into the unknown, we are reshaping
what we know, and therefore what we can choose from to create that ideal space
around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each new experience leaves us
with wisdom:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>knowing better what to
wear, when to eat, who to call, how to love, where to go, how to get there, who
to trust. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I fill my life with the people, places and exercises that
are closer and closer to the ideal components for my life in particular, I will
get closer and closer to truly living my fullest life possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My campaign will involve pleasant walks and
encouraging words, but it may also include rude remarks and flipping the bird –
new things for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might prove to
be useful tools, or not…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will try things that make me uncomfortable, things that I
oppose without ever having experienced them, things that I have rejected as
incorrect without knowing why I judged them so in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already begun:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate olive oil ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore jeans and sneakers to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept in til 2 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I skipped work without explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran 20 miles without training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped off a 50 foot cliff into the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked into a stranger’s eyes without
looking away for a full minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put my
body in the hands of a spiritual healer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I prayed and said hallelujah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
dreamed big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fantasized boldly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I danced with strangers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The adventures become significant, and I can say my life is
more interesting because of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay
tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-54333501119500392632013-11-30T17:42:00.002-08:002013-11-30T17:43:49.170-08:00Arrogant Bikers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Some people say that bikers are an arrogant
group. I am the first to admit that I am a card-carrying member. Portland has
its coffee snobs and its beer snobs, and me - I'm a transportation
snob.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I ride my bike past rows of motionless
overheating cars with my nose in the air, flaunting my obviously better
commuting choice. I crow to my officemates about how little I spend on gas and
how I NEVER pay for parking. My ego precedes me as I fill the elevator at the
office with my bulky two-wheeler. I take advantage of the ambiguity
bicycles are afforded in respect to sidewalks, driveways, streets and bike
lanes. If I can ride on it safely, I will.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I am also the first to recognize how lucky I
am. I have a well-paying job that allows me to live close to work.
I am able-bodied. I live in a city that can afford to build
amenities to make biking safe and pleasant. It is a privilege not to drive.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But, alas, there are some ignominious cyclists
who have forgotten this. Their self-absorbed, self-righteous behavior
makes me look like a junior member of the Arrogance League. They weave
through downtown traffic, handless and shirtless. They hover jerkily in clumsy
track stands, inches from geriatric pedestrians in crosswalks. Their impatient
posture appears to sneer, “What's wrong with you? Pick up that walker and get a
move on so I don't have to put my foot down." They are rudest of all to
other bikers, passing on the right and cutting in front of the line at four-way
stops. They thumb their noses at moderation, common courtesy and traffic
signals. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This is a special class of bicycle rider.
Arrogance imbues the way they ignore the flashing yield light on the tail end
of TriMet buses; buses that each carry 40 workers to their jobs. Add it
up: there is no way that a single bike rider's time is more valuable, even if
he were a lawyer. Some squeeze through the small gap next to the hulking
behemoths, testing fate and stretching their luck - because they can.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps they think that, because they are
saving the environment at lightning speed, the world owes them the sweet spot
on the road and the head start at every intersection, ahead of all
‘competitors’. Occasionally, an especially egregious hedonist can be
heard yelling livid profanities at drivers, seeming to enjoy himself in the
process. Erratic, frequently unlawful behavior on the road looks almost
as if it is <i>meant </i>to startle and piss-off drivers. Is it a game?
Is it a challenge? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Two-wheeled road-raging instigators, mostly
youngish males, shake their fists, flip the bird and curse offending drivers to
rot in hell over minor oversights. Do they believe that all drivers
inherently want to ram them in the backside with their hood ornaments?
After seeing some of their dangerous and beligerant behaviors, I sure
want to. Unmerited litanies of verbal abuse stink of callous entitlement
and tiny dicks. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Arrogance even permeates cycling fashion.
Expensive bike gear and 'members only' attire boasts, “I am an athlete
doing some serious training here! Don't get in my way!" People blow
thousands on equipment as if to say, “Who cares about starving children in
Africa? I need to shave 12 seconds off my time." </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I must say, though, that the king of arrogance
is the biker without a helmet. He is announcing to the world that he is too
skilled a cyclist to allow himself to be hit by a car. Obviously, when a
semi-truck overturns in the adjacent lane, or a chain reaction fender-bender
causes the car behind him to suddenly lunge forward, he will sprout wings and fly.
Helmetless cyclists are among those seen "flying" through red lights
too...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Arrogance
is a sense of superiority and self-importance. Some bikers demonstrate
their arrogance by making life miserable for the rest of us. But even
mild-mannered, middle-aged pacifists like me are pretentious bigheads when it
comes to riding our bikes. My transportation choice IS healthier,
quieter, smaller, cleaner, funner - better! Arrogance is knowing that,
without a doubt, my way is the best way. And sometimes, I am right. </span></div>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-62929527185096210662013-10-13T21:03:00.000-07:002013-10-13T21:03:05.873-07:00Butts on Bikes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gravel and grit from the street kicks up onto my legs. Rain
and sweat drizzle between my shoulder blades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tortuous squeal of grinding brakes pierces my ears as a semi-truck
swooshes too close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being out in traffic
on my daily bike commute can wear down my senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day in and day out, you would think I’d complain
about the harsh urban visuals as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But from my hunched-over posture on my Trek, the view is
fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who rides during the
bike rush probably knows what I am talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is perfectly aligned in my sights as the
crowd of bikers swarms ahead of me, heading west up the Hawthorne bridge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll give you a hint – it ain’t the
sunrise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor is it a moon, but it is
piece of the human anatomy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can one not take note?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Numerous pairs of butcheeks sway and roll with the effort of
cranking up the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Butts in jeans,
butts in tights, butts in skirts, butts in sweats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a Dr. Seuss rhyme, there are red ones,
blue ones, old ones and new ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
motion of each derriere is unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
remain completely still while the legs piston up and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others move side to side with exertion as if
the bike they ride were a wee bit too tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some butts sway like a sashaying dancer and others are stuck as if with
glue to the saddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are all sizes
and shapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like their owners, they are
big and small, narrow and wide, pointy, round, puffy, hard, sinewy, and
saggy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 20 years of riding my bike to work almost every day, I
have seen a lot of butts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
nothing else to focus on when riding in a pack or following one after the other
like ants in a line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a strange
juxtaposition of normal societal rules, the fact is we all look at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaning forward as most riders do, we can’t
help but display our back sides to all who follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And following, we can’t help but focus in on
the bullseye ahead of us – the place we are pedaling toward with fixed
determination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lock in on one butt
after another as faster riders pass me by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a spinning ballerina picking a fixed point in space, I center in on
the buns in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It keeps my
balance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this talk of rear ends could come across as somewhat creepy
to people who don’t see what I see every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t worry, I am immune to the typical connotations associated with
this part of the human body when I am hard at work getting to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The booty in any other circumstances can
definitely be attention grabbing for other reasons, but when on a bicycle, it’s
just part of the scenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fit or flabby,
grand or petite, it is simply the motor to our human-powered motion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very useful indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So don’t get bent out of shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a biker, I have seen your
butt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you have probably seen
mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just pat yourself on the back (or
on the butt if you feel so moved) and know that your contribution to the
natural beauty of this fair city is a little tauter, a little shapelier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, you bike!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-63893693410193402792013-10-08T22:00:00.000-07:002013-10-08T22:00:14.816-07:00YOLO, Dude!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As is my
tendency, I recently found myself at the shoe store, this time vacillating over
a gorgeous pair of black, high-heel, rock-star clogs, a cross between Dutch
practicality and Gene Simmonds flamboyancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn't need them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already own
6 pairs of black shoes and 2 pairs of clogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But I could
wear them with anything – from office skirts to weekend jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But I
certainly didn’t need them...especially at $190.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But I
didn’t own anything like these!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I paced back
and forth in front of the foot mirror, feeling them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took three long strides, stopped, pivoted
and marched back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their clunky weight gave
me confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would keep my feet
up out of the puddles on rainy winter days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The glint of their silver, motorcycle-jacket-studs winked up at me,
flirting, beckoning like a 6-foot Hell’s Angel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would announce my presence like no other pair of shoes – boldly,
loudly, yet with class and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I repeated my
choreography: step, step, step, pivot; step, step, stop; gaze. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hypnotized by their sexy strength and the
whispered hint of violent potential in their thick platform heels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I awaited a sign from heaven to push me, either
towards the cashier, or out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
stood still, eyes half-closed in a state of yogic openness, waiting to know
what to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“You only
live once, dude”, the twenty-year old cashier in wrinkled khakis had come out
from behind the cash register.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
understood my dilemma. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at him
sideways, his wide, goofy smile and his tousled, sandy hair announced his
status as one too young to be taken seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I returned the smile - mine more contemplative than enthusiastic - and
silently evaluated his input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides
being an attempt to convince me to contribute to his sales commission, wasn’t his
advice just a young person’s way of promoting selfish, irresponsible
behavior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You only live once”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was that the divine message I was waiting
for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chuckled to myself, breaking the
reverie with my trusty standby cynicism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe my personal sales associate uses this philosophy when he wants to
stay out late with his friends on a school night or eat the last piece of his roommate’s
birthday cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can’t possibly apply
to me - steady, trusty, reliable old me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am not impetuous, not a slave to my passions, not prone to purchase
high-end, unnecessary, kick-ass attire on a whim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOLO – the acronym for those four simple
words - seems a shallow shorthand of an excuse to live a life of gluttony or
walk all over people (something these shoes would easily allow me to do! But
that’s beside the point!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My analytical
side wagged its finger at me, reminding me that the YOLO attitude was a
cop-out, a free pass to brush aside responsibility and “do whatever I
want.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I scoffed
at the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I just did whatever I
wanted all of the time, bills would go unpaid, children would go hungry and
grass would grow 3 feet tall in my front yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I would eat
dessert first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I would wear
fancy underwear every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
possibilities started to multiply in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A small swarm buzzed, gathering as one, and erupted:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would stop shaving my armpits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would sleep until noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would paint the house orange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would curl up in the corner armchair with a
fuzzy blanket and a good book every Sunday morning instead of enduring a sore
butt by reading the paper in one of the stiff-backed chairs around our dining
room table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, if I did whatever I
wanted, I would constantly be….happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a mischievous mole burrowing just beneath the surface, this idea
made my skin itch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood there, dumb at
the simplicity, suspicious, yet kind of blown away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Really, I
asked myself, if I really did whatever I wanted, would I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> the bills to go unpaid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, that is why I have automated bill-pay for all of my monthly
services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> my kids to go hungry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course not, but that was a moot point, since teenagers are impossible to
starve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what is wrong with
three-foot tall grass in the front yard?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s all just a matter of taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someday it will be all the rage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The sales
clerk asked me a solicitous question, trying to engage me again in the matter
of the shoes, but I didn’t hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
oblivious to the immediate scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
ears were filled with the cloudy humming of my brain working through a new
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat down, further exploring the
implications of “YOLO.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is true
that we only have one time on this earth, one life to live, one chance at each
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every experience involves
decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every decision can only be
made once, and then that opportunity is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another similar opportunity may surface, but never again in exactly the
same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a unique moment in
time, one which will never be recreated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Something
told me to pay particular attention to this train of thought, because, unlike
most people, I know that my life is limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course we all “know” that we will die someday, and nobody can predict
exactly when.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been reminded time and time again that
my time is short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The oncologist reads my
scan results and notes that this is the expected course of the disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every chemical treatment, every condoling
word, every failed attempt to control the pesky tumors living it up in my lung
tissue, cumulate into a neon flashing sign announcing my unquestionably short
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Science and society continue to
conspire to prepare me for the “inevitable” – an untimely death, a shorter-than
average lifespan, woe and loss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Regardless
of whether or not I buy it, the message is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How fitting then, that YOLO should be an
important part of that reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
little things that make you happy, like silky lingerie and hairy pits, can
hardly be held against someone who doesn’t have much time left on this
earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But why stop there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t everyone behave in a way that
allows them to enjoy every moment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And contrary
to its first impression as an impetuous, self-serving mantra, YOLO might be taken
seriously, applied to the bigger picture, and used for the greater good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To live as if every decision is yours to make
and every minute is a unique opportunity is to improve one’s own state, and
therefore the overall state of human kind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After more
than three years of dealing with cancer, I think it is time that I take this
armchair philosophy seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I
truly knew that I would be dead in 2 months?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What would I be doing right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How would I want to spend that time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My gut answer involves adventurous, forbidden undertakings involving new
people, exotic places and few rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can’t imagine denying someone their dying wish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But does only having one -possibly short - life make it okay to live it
selfishly, without regard to how actions affect other people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is that we all have just one life,
and we do not know how much time we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But heaven forbid we continue to do things that we don’t want to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Where is
the benefit to anyone if we continue living lives full of rigid expectations,
what we should be doing instead of what we actually want to be doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe our children won’t have as big of a
trust fund. Maybe our parents will frown in consternation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other people may not understand our decision
to abandon a former life-defining characteristic in favor of something that, on
the surface, doesn’t offer the same advantages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why be a tax analyst if what you really want to be is a chef?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why work full time if you can afford to work
part time and spend the afternoons painting? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Why are we
here in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An age-old
question that has been far over-analyzed for far too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are here simply to enjoy the gift of life
that we were lucky enough to receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our very presence in this world is the result of a roll of the
biological dice. What better way to honor those happy circumstances than by
enjoying it as thoroughly as we can?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At its
core, YOLO is a simple inspirational reminder, but more important, it is a
guide, especially for the big decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The YOLO filter should be applied carefully to ensure that the essence
of the message is honored without diluting it into pointless debauchery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When faced with a tough decision, start with
the belief that living for your own pleasure and happiness is a valid
goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, considering the fact that
you live with other people that you care about, in society, in work-groups, and
in families, ask yourself these questions:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it
take something away from others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it
cause you pain, remorse or regret?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it
give you permission to do something habitually that is bad for you? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">If you can
answer no to all of the above criteria, continue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it
bring you happiness, fulfillment, or positive feelings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it
satisfy a deep desire or curiosity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The YOLO
approach values feeling good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invoke it
when eating the last slice of cake, but also when saving the last slice for
your sweetie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both feel great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">My long
introspective trip to the shoe store caused me to revisit my prior judgment of
the curt, abbreviated bit of pop-psychology contained within YOLO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have reappraised the implied
directive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shimmers differently in
the fading light of a setting sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no
longer see the selfish justification of overindulgence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The immediate prize of another beer, another
sexual conquest, another pair of shoes are all well and good, but YOLO should
not be trivialized with the label of free-wheeling lawlessness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The message carries weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">YOLO offers
structure to the confusing, conflicting map of life we all have to
navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us proceed down
whatever road we find ourselves on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
likely, it is the road our parents placed us on when we were only infants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gently herded us along as we toddled wobbly
in our first diapered steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom and dad
guarded us from distracting side roads, correcting our progress throughout our
youth with loving nudges, serving as human bumpers, arms outstretched with
well-meaning protectiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
families shepherded us into adulthood along that road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is a smooth and familiar path,
passing by beautiful landscapes with interesting people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Regardless,
some of us want to see the rest of the map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I am not
dying slowly, I am living quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
moment is compounded into a moment of joy fully realized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I experience life on fast forward, my voice
may sound comically high-pitched, my actions may appear choppy and the flow of
my life may seem erratic or disjointed to those observing from the safe
distance of longevity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am cramming the
joy and love of a lifetime into half the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am searching out all of the adventure, the emotion, the laughter and
the sensuality of a life 20 years longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I don’t
predict the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one knows when
they will go, nor how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know what
the statistics say – and I don’t believe them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I plan on living long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
importantly, I plan on living large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
only live once, so I’m gonna make it one to remember!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have time to passively wait and see
where the path I am currently on will take me: I have to get to where I want to
go before I run out of gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That path
merits shoes made for a rock-star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOLO
Dude!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-79168500874861186132013-04-27T16:37:00.003-07:002013-04-27T16:37:47.815-07:00The Pros and Cons of Being Awesome - Short Version<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
surge of awesomeness is wrapping itself around me and my inner
southeast Richmond neighbors, whether we like it or not. My husband and I
moved into our home right off Southeast Division Street 17 years ago.
A solitary furniture refinishing business remains where once there was a
plethora of quirky low-brow shops and industrial businesses. Gone is
the flaking red paint of the Laughing Horse revolutionary bookstore,
replaced by Victory, a wine bar that most nights packs a house full of
spiffy, shiny kids in non-prescription nerd-glasses and a corral full of
bicycles. Closed is the metal engraving and etching shop. Ditto the
discount furniture store and Rose City Reptiles. Division was a bit
down-at-the-heels, but friendly and unique - never snooty. </span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now,
we brag of the "best ramen in the country" at Yataimaru by Shigezo on
38th, the ever-popular Pok Pok Thai restaurant on 32nd, and, my current
favorite, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sckavone's Restaurant in the old Ever-Ready Drugs building on 41st. There are </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">over
80 places to eat between 11th and 45th Avenues on our little "main
street," many of them expensive and/or delicious. One will never go
hungry in Richmond (unless one goes bankrupt first). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apart
from the fabulous food festivities, Division is blossoming with new
apartments and condos. Where once we saw tiny, moss-covered rental
homes with hanging gutters and foot-high weeds, now we watch as steel
frames grow into good-looking, multi-family living places. (One
exception is a particularly repulsive monstrosity on 31</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Avenue that looks more like a giant jail cell. I wonder if the renters
feel incarcerated?). Portland is making room for hundreds of new
residents in our lovable, and now fashionable, close-in neighborhood.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One of those developments is currently underway on SE 37</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Avenue. A few years ago, the only lesbian bar in the entire city, The
Egyptian Club, fell on hard times, changed venues and eventually sold to
a developer. The apartment complex that is now under construction there
looks promising; crews recently completed four floors of steel framing,
with nice, tall storefronts for its Division side and a cozy
side-street entrance for residents. The high-quality,
neighborhood-friendly bones of the building are encouraging. I have been
eagerly looking forward to seeing “The 37</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Street Apartments” with its skin on – hopefully a finish more
attractive than the penitentiary down the street - and a lifeblood of
customers flowing in and out its Division Street doors.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On March 21</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">,
I was imagining myself someday walking the half-block to buy something
warm and comforting from one of its future shops, when I read yet
another Oregonian article about the shenanigans associated with this
project. It got my hackles up. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
building includes 81 units, a number of retail storefronts - and no
off-street parking. Some of my neighbors don’t like this. They are, in
fact, outraged. They formed a coalition - Richmond Neighbors for
Responsible Growth (RNRG) – to combat the threat of losing their
customary on-street parking spots to newcomers. With a potential for 160
new residents living among us who have no underground parking garage,
their prediction is almost certain to become a reality. But their
methods and their ends-over-means campaign has resulted in a halt to
construction. Now, it is very possible that we will all be staring at
an unfinished skeleton of a building for the next ten years, yellow
sheets of ragged Tyvek flapping in the wind.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Those
neighbors who cling to the status quo (they got theirs, so to hell with
the rest of y’all) cannot see the benefit that accompanies these
inevitable parking inconveniences: equity. Without required onsite
parking, property owners can build apartments that can be rented at more
affordable prices. Affordable prices allow people with less money to
live in Richmond, close to all of those fab new eateries we enjoy. But
more importantly, the new residents will be close to our world-class bus
system; our-soon-to-be light rail station; a drugstore, six public
schools and a grocery store. These community resources are important to
upper-middle class residents who have been here for years. But they are
especially important to the lower-middle class people who work at The
Hedge House, Division Street Hardware and Tom’s Restaurant. Richmond
should not be reserved for the rich.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But
the rich actually benefit directly too. Affordable prices mean more
young people will be our neighbors; more families with children, more
diversity. It also introduces a new look and feel to our mostly white
community, many of us in our 40’s and 50’s. Integrating well-built
affordable housing into the fabric of a successful community brings
variety that goes beyond restaurant fare. Our kids, especially will
benefit as they grow into adults who respect people’s differences. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sadly,
throughout its history, the city lacked incentives for different
economic groups to live side by side, and this, in part, has led to
Richmond’s blinding whiteness (it doesn’t help that Portland is 76%
caucasian - most neighborhoods face this same problem). But modern
planners, people smarter than I, think that the extra effort of walking a
half-block from car to home is a small price to pay for the planned,
inclusive density that projects like the 37th Street Apartments
promote. Density is coming, Portland, like it or not. With the flurry of
new establishments lately, Richmond will perhaps someday feel like a
mini-NW 23</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Avenue, with all the same parking conflicts, traffic issues - and rising property values.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
development on 37th and Division will negatively impact me and my
family in the short term. But I am willing to share my little slice of
this wonderful neighborhood with others – families that can’t afford a
car, environmentalists who choose to eschew driving, young people who
don’t mind walking a few blocks from front door to car door. In the
spirit of the big picture, I try my hardest not to say, “Not in my back
yard.” I trust that the city and the state have a well-defined set of
planning regulations and procedures to ensure that Portland will grow in
ways that are better for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">all</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
of us. Efforts to maintain an entrenched, entitled lifestyle choice in
the face of growing need are simply selfish. A hipper, more diverse
Division Street is a big change for us. And change means compromise.
Let’s face Portland’s population-expanding popularity with poise and
equity.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-86102140166556437542013-04-27T16:36:00.002-07:002013-04-27T16:36:30.963-07:00The Pros and Cons of Being Awesome - Long Version<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A surge of awesomeness is wrapping
itself around me and my inner southeast Richmond neighbors, whether we like it
or not. My husband and I moved into our home right off SE Division Street
17 years ago when the businesses here represented the trades, not the service
sector. A solitary furniture refinishing business remains where once there
was a plethora of quirky, low-brow shops and industrial businesses. Gone
from our main thoroughfare is the flaking red paint of the Laughing Horse
revolutionary bookstore, which housed hippies in all their disorganized glory
on the corner of 37th and Division. It was replaced by Victory, a wine
bar that most nights packs a house full of spiffy, shiny kids in
glasses-without-lenses and a corral full of bicycles. Closed is the metal
engraving and etching shop. Ditto the discount furniture store, Rose City
Reptiles (Owner Thuyen Pham is still one of the best reptile experts in the
country), and multiple resale shops and hodge-podge stores. Division was
a bit down-at-the-heels, but friendly and unique - never snooty. </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Now, we brag of the ‘best ramen in the
country’ at Yataimaru by Shigezo on 38th, 2011’s ‘Best Chef Northwest’ winner,
Andy Ricker at the ever-popular Pok Pok Thai restaurant on 32nd, and, my current
favorite, </span><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sckavones-portland" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sckavone's restaurant in the old Ever
Ready Drugs building on 41st near the Japanese Immersion School (even our
public schools are upscale!). There are </span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">over 80 places to eat between 11th
and 45th Avenues on our little ‘main street’, many of them expensive and/or delicious.
My bucket list is to try each of them at least once before the owners go out of
business or follow a new creative impulse. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">From Ava Gene’s to Lauretta Jean’s,
one will never go hungry in Richmond (unless they go bankrupt first).
There’s Cibo, Xico, Wafu and Roe with the shortest names; and New Seasons
Market (yes, you can get a great hot lunch there), Le Petit Provence Bakery
(Parisian pastries to die for), and Clays’ Smokehouse Grill (even good for
vegetarians), with the longest. The neighborhood makeover is not
panoptic, yet. Even though our family of four can choose our nightly meal
from 30 different international flavors, we still have the grounding experience
of walking by our very own adult theater on our way to dinner, reminding us of
Richmond’s roots. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Apart from the fabulous food
festivities, Division is blossoming with new apartments and condos. Where
once we saw tiny, moss-covered rental homes with hanging gutters and foot-high
weeds, now we witness the placement of large concrete forms and watch as steel
frames grow into mostly well-done, multi-family living places. (One extreme
exception is a particularly repulsive monstrosity on 31<sup>st</sup> Avenue that
appears to be covered in a claustrophobic chain link fence, giving the entire
street-side façade the impression of a giant jail cell. I wonder if the
renters feel incarcerated?). This building-boom consists of over 12 new
developments within walking distance of our house, with even more in the
permitting stage from what we hear. Portland is making room for hundreds
of new residents in our lovable, and now fashionable, close-in
neighborhood. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">One of those developments is
currently underway on SE 37<sup>th</sup> Avenue. A few years ago, the
only lesbian bar in the entire city, The Egyptian Club, fell on hard times,
changed venues and eventually sold to a developer. The apartment complex
that is now under construction there looks promising; crews recently completed
four floors of steel framing, with nice, tall storefronts for its Division side
and a cozy side-street entrance for residents. The high-quality,
neighborhood-friendly bones of the building are encouraging. I have been
eagerly looking forward to seeing “The 37<sup>th</sup> Street Apartments” with
its skin on – hopefully a finish more attractive than the penitentiary down the
street - and a lifeblood of customers flowing in and out its Division street
doors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">On March 21<sup>st</sup>, I was
imagining myself someday walking the half-block to buy something warm and
comforting from one of its future shops, when I read an Oregonian article about
the project that got my hackles up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
new Mayor </span>ordered Portland's Bureau of Development Services to stop
reviewing revisions for this specific project’s building permit – one more
twisted chapter in this building’s soap opera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps you are aware of it…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
37<sup>th</sup> Street Apartments is the largest of its kind under z<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">oning code
33.266.110.B, which allows </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">buildings in certain
zones close to frequent-service transit to forgo off-street parking.</span>
The building includes 81 units, a number of retail storefronts - and no off-street
parking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my neighbors don’t like
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are, in fact, outraged.
They formed a coalition - Richmond Neighbors for Responsible Growth (RNRG) – to
combat the threat of losing their customary on-street parking spots to
newcomers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a potential for 160 new
residents living among us who have no underground parking garage, their
prediction is almost certain to become a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what sets me off isn’t the apartment’s
design – The 37<sup>th</sup> Street Apartments is the development that City
planners envisioned when they wrote code 33.266.110.B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bee in my bonnet is the indirect and underhanded
manner the players have acted in this matter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
controversy surrounding the parking issue has been a heated topic of debate for
at least a year, but when RNRG appealed the building permit, they were shot
down by the City’s Bureau of Development Services because the builder’s plans
clearly met code requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But RNRG
appealed again, this time not on the basis of their true contention – parking -
but on a vaguely-worded land-use requirement for an ‘entrance’ on Division
Street. The building’s residential entrance consists of a quiet,
nicely-designed courtyard on 37<sup>th</sup> Avenue. Shops will
presumably open their doors onto Division Street. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a highly unusual move, the Oregon Land Use Board of
Appeals ruled on this building permit, stating that the project did not meet
zoning requirements. They overstepped their customary boundaries and
reversed the Bureau of Development Services’ decision to grant the building
permit. Typically in this situation, when code is written ambiguously and
it bumps up against a decent project that meets the code’s intent without
meeting the letter of the regulation, the code is quickly re-written to clarify
the intent. Typically, projects that meet the code in spirit are allowed
to continue. Perhaps a new building permit is issued, or an exception is
granted, or the code is amended to address an unintended consequence identified
by the court. Typically. But this project is anything but
typical. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
First,
RNRG attacked well after construction started – too late for any meaningful
discussion of major design changes. The ensuing shenanigans looked
republicanesque in their ‘ends over means’ approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, the land use decision was
unintelligible because the shops on Division will obviously have entrances on
Division Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, when the City
bureau that oversees building permits began to re-review the permit, Mayor Hales
put on the executive brakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even
suggested that new code may be hurriedly written while the project is on
hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That new code would be a
requirement for the development to continue, even if it means ripping down the
half-done building and starting from scratch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
This
circus is not what I would call fair and responsible behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the NIMBYs involved are my
well-intentioned neighbors and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But these actions may end up causing large financial losses to a single
property owner, and I see where this is headed, friends – a lawsuit against the
City, which is expensive for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
last thing I want to see at the end of my block for the next ten years is an
unfinished skeleton of a building, wrapped in fluttering sheets of yellow Tyvek. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Some
of my neighbors cling to the status quo – they got theirs, so to hell with the
rest of y’all – and cannot see the benefits that accompany the inevitable
parking inconveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not
appreciating what lies at the foundation of this issue: equity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without required onsite parking, property
owners can build apartments that can be rented at more affordable prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Affordable prices allow people with less
money to live in Richmond, close to all of those fab new eateries I
enjoy. But more importantly, the new residents will be close to our
world-class bus system; our-soon-to-be, very own, inner SE lightrail station; a
drugstore, six public schools and a grocery store. These community
resources are important to upper-middle class residents who have been here for
years. But they are especially important to the lower-middle class people
who work at The Hedge House, Division Street Hardware and Tom’s Restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richmond should not be reserved for the rich.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
But
the rich actually benefit directly too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Affordable
prices mean more people who work at New Seasons or Division Coffee can live
close to work. It means more young people will be our neighbors; more
families with children, more diversity. It also introduces a new look and
feel to our mostly caucasian community, many of us in our 40’s and 50’s.
Integrating well-done affordable housing into the fabric of a successful
community brings variety that goes beyond international restaurant fare.
Our rich-in-amenities Richmond neighborhood will be richer with a wider array
of cultural and racial representation. Our kids especially will benefit
from the broader spectrum of people passing through their daily lives as they
grow into adults who respect peoples’ differences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Sadly,
throughout its history, the City lacked incentives for different economic
groups to live side by side, and this in part, has led to Richmond’s blinding
whiteness (it doesn’t help that Portland is 76% caucasian - most neighborhoods
face this same problem). Lucky for us, the 90’s brought both a
progressive shift that fed the booming foodie and creative community, and
created building codes that financially allow different people to mix and
mingle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Professional
planners have carefully thought these things through and purposefully allowed
buildings like the 37<sup>th</sup> Street Apartments. People smarter than
I have decided that the extra effort of walking a half-block from car to home
is a small price to pay for the planned, inclusive density that this kind of
project promotes. Density is coming, Portland, like it or not. With
the flurry of new establishments lately, Richmond will perhaps someday feel
like a mini-NW 23<sup>rd</sup> Avenue, with all the same parking conflicts and
traffic issues – and rising property values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
bottom line for Richmond is that change is a-comin. There is no way
around it. And believe it or not, it doesn’t have to lead to neighborhood
in-fighting over limited street parking. Most people don’t realize that
the true ratio of available long-term spots to cars will shift from both sides
of the equation. Some residents of the 37<sup>th</sup> Street Apartments
won’t own cars. But, as RNRG rightly submits, many will. The
complex, in and of itself, will increase demand for street parking. But
the forgotten elements in this formula are the changes that will be made by
nearby home owners, most of whom also own cars and park on the street.
This ingrained habit (hypocritically begrudged to the newcomers) is already a
lifestyle of choice for far more than 160 of us. We may need to
re-examine this habit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
It
may surprise folks to know that most of the single-family lots in Richmond
actually do include off-street parking. It may not look like much, but
those tuck-under garages, shared driveways and cramped, one-car garages from
early in the century are intended for cars, not ladders, table saws, flower
beds and recycling bins. If home-owners grow weary of searching for spots
on the street, they have options. Uprooting sentimental plants and
getting rid of years of accumulated junk will be hard, but using our lots as
they were designed to be used shouldn’t be a shocking concept, and it’s only
fair. We have grown entitled to space, considering the street as our own
personal resource. In reality, it belongs to everyone. But a
driveway is truly a reserved space, just for its owner! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Another
way current residents will affect the car-to-space ratio is by choosing to own
fewer cars. Maybe teenagers will have to share dad’s car when they get
their licenses. Perhaps families will carpool more often, use car-sharing
services (prolific in our neighborhood), or junk their junkers instead of
leaving them on the street for ‘just in case’. In this close-in,
alternative-transportation-friendly neighborhood, what household really needs
three or more cars? With the many benefits of a hipper, cooler, more
equitable Division Street comes change for us old-timers. That change can
and – yes – should be made. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
development on 37th and Division will negatively impact me and my family in the
short term. But I am willing to share my little slice of this wonderful
neighborhood with others – families that can’t afford a car, environmentalists
who choose to eschew driving, young people who don’t mind walking a few blocks
from front door to car door... In the spirit of the big picture, I try my
hardest not to say, “Not in My Back Yard.” I trust that the City and the
State have a well-defined set of planning regulations and procedures to ensure
that Portland will grow in ways that are better for all of us. In the
end, the spirit of the code must be upheld.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Change and compromise are required in order to handle Portland’s
population-expanding popularity with poise and equity. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-14249150982679941402013-04-27T11:51:00.001-07:002013-04-27T11:51:15.891-07:00Monument to Me<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
solemn elk in the middle of SW Main street; the diminutive bronze of
former mayor Vera Katz smiling upon Eastbank bikers; the plaid-shirted
effigy of Paul Bunyan </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> North Denver and Interstate: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">despite these few</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">commemorative statues, many of them celebrating non-humans, Portland is not a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ity overflowing with monuments.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So
would it surprise you to know that there is a new $134 million monument
under development in our fair City of Roses as we speak? A massive
landmark built to commemorate and celebrate a local hero?</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You
might cite the recent cacophony of commercial development as an excuse
for missing it. But it is impossible to overlook, rising 180 feet into
the heavens and stretching more than 1,700 feet long. Its skeleton is
starting to fill a highly-prized spot of natural beauty on the
Willamette River. Its massive foundation, like the hindquarters of a
muscular sphinx, reflects the power and importance of the Portlander it
honors. Its four elegant towers capture the heraldry of the offering,
exalting this most revered citizen of our fine city. Who among us has
tirelessly enacted feats of courageous and incredible ingenuity to merit
this amazing, costly, time-consuming labor of love?</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Humbly I will admit: it is a monument to me.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But I am willing to share.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After
all, the monolith commemorates and celebrates my low-car lifestyle and I
am but one of thousands of like-minded Portlanders who dedicate their
lives, 15 minutes at a time, to cutting back on greenhouse gases,
improving their own health and the health of others, and making ours a
more interesting and enjoyable city with their two-wheeled
transportation choices. Over 90,000 people here eschew the
single-occupancy car as they move themselves from home to workplace.
These people are no less than heroes because they are making a
difference right now, today. Good intentions are a step in the right
direction, but action </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">deserves</span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">recognition – </span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">big </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">recognition. </span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
you haven’t guessed by now, my monument is indeed an object both
symbolic and functional, in the form of a bridge. It spans the
Willamette River just south of OMSI, aptly connecting my inner Southeast
neighborhood with all the cool places I want to experience in the South
Waterfront district. This beautiful civil work is a testament to my
lifestyle choices: biking and walking, riding the bus and commuting via
transit. It is the largest bridge in the country dedicated to
non-vehicular traffic. As a 20-year no-car commuter, I accept the honor
of this giant tribute built just for me (and 90,000 of my no-car
commuting friends).</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My
bridge will be the first new bridge across the Willamette since my
birth (almost). Very fitting! Trimet calls it the Portland-Milwaukie
Light Rail bridge, but a permanent name has not yet been chosen. I’ll
let TriMet know when I decide if I prefer the “Catherine Hastie Bridge”,
or simply “Cathy’s Bridge” (I’ve decided that my surname alone might </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">cause confusion unbefitting</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">such an important monument). We’ll fix the paperwork in due time.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In
the meantime, I salivate at its majesty as I ride by the construction
site each morning. I can’t wait to pedal across my bridge to some hot
new future restaurant below the aerial tram, or to a doctor’s
appointment at OHSU. The bridge will give me a direct route to Portland
State University and my job in downtown Portland. It will carry the MAX
Orange Line, TriMet buses, and hopefully the Portland Streetcar. A
future MAX station at OMSI will even connect me to Clackamas Town Center
- a place I might someday visit if I could get there without fighting
8-lane traffic and wandering lost through the ocean-sized parking lot. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Alas,
I will be hungering for those bridge crossings for a few years – the
bridge isn’t planned to be open for "traffic" until 2015.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
am proud to play my honorary role in this grand project. Our region is
yet again on the cutting edge of forward-thinking transportation
planning. This beautiful structure will not only add another connection
between vital areas of commerce and recreation, but it will allow my two
friends from Clackamas County to get to their downtown jobs cheaply,
efficiently and without the stress of traffic jams and exhaust. Who
knows? maybe I will make a few more friends from Clackamas after it is
built. ‘Build it and they will come’ has never been more apt.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
connection will allow people to get where they need to go peacefully,
breathing deeply and enjoying the loveliness of the sun reflecting off
the water. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting commemoration. I
don’t mind being the figurehead, but really, the honor is ours, my dear
biking, busing and walking friends. This bridge proves that our
tenacity, our motivation and our dedication can make a difference! This
monument is for all of us – from forward-thinking planners and elected
officials in the 70s, brainstorming the very core of a smartly
developing city; to sog-proof die-hards braving the wind and weather
today; to 5-year old Lucy, the future face of Portland commuting, who,
seated on the polished longboard seat of her mother’s cargo bike, rides
to school every day.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
am magnanimous. After the ribbon-cutting, I will let you all ride your
bikes across my horizontal obelisk. In fact, let’s have a big party!
We’ll call it the Catherine Bridge. Everyone knows a Catherine, so we
can all claim a little bit of this important modern-day pyramid in honor
of livability and conscientious commuting. We’ll inaugurate it with a
bipedal benediction of a million feet, anointing it in the sweat of
grinding gears and creaking crankshafts.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because of me and my world-class monument, Portland will never look the same again.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-50238218496358945592013-04-27T11:37:00.002-07:002013-04-27T11:37:20.583-07:00Respect Reverse<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
used to have a 100% human-powered commute. It was a point of pride to
say I had made it 365 days without driving to work or even riding the
bus: I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ran </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the seven-mile round trip to and from my downtown office for a year straight.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
would finish up my workout at the elementary school where I picked up
my kids. I would casually mention my unbroken record amongst fellow
parents as we stood on the playground watching our children play. When
it rained, I entered the after-school program looking like a drowned
rat, boogers and water dripping from my nose. I flaunted the obvious
unpleasantness of my commuting experience like an in-your-face victory
lap for all of the other families to see. I was dedicated to my
lifestyle and proud of it. Maybe a little arrogant.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then,
in 2010, I suddenly and painfully fell ill. The doctors diagnosed me
with a serious illness, something that could affect me my entire life.
I immediately underwent a difficult surgery. Multiple surgeries and
procedures followed. I started periodic treatments that continue to
this day. Needless to say, my life changed dramatically. But once my
stitches healed, I was able to return to work. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Today,
no one can tell that I am "sick." I look the same, even better than
before the illness. My medical condition doesn’t preclude me from
running to work like I had been doing for the last 13 years. In fact, I
still run, just not to work. I bike. And occasionally, when I’m
feeling particularly uninspired, I ride the bus.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s
not that I can’t run to work. I could load my work clothes into my
backpack the night before, get up at 5:30 AM and change into my lycra
and tennis shoes in the dark, tiptoeing out as my family sleeps. I
could don my wool hat and gloves and set out into that silent, private
place that darkness creates. Solitary, fresh, exuberant: I could still
do it. I could still enjoy it. But I chose to move away from that
once-idealized transportation option. I regressed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At
first, I wasn’t completely happy with the change. Guilt lingered. My
pride suffered. My identity as a tough cookie sagged as if I were
wallowing in spilt milk.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then,
one day, I was sitting on the bus as it carried me towards home,
watching listlessly as traffic moved around us. I noticed a semi truck
out the front window. The driver was awaiting the best moment to make a
difficult move. As I watched, that moment came. He quickly executed
an elaborate reverse turn into a tight loading dock that let out onto
the busy street where we all waited. He decisively took the opening in
the traffic and backed in fast and smooth, maneuvering his enormous
cargo into the tricky slot with the ease of someone who knows exactly
what he needs. I was impressed with the speed and confidence he
exhibited. His bold reverse earned my respect. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
the bus started up again, I thought about my own reversal, going from
avid running commuter to slow cyclist and sometimes transit rider.
Heck, I even drove to work a few times when appointments dictated </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;">it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
When I decided to give up my running commutes, I somehow knew it was
the right decision. Although I couldn’t put a finger on why, I simply
knew what I needed. </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">realization</span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">diminished the importance of my less-than-perfect commuting score, of </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">no longer</span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">out-suffering
my friends and neighbors in the name of sustainability and
independence. Living under the weight of something as serious as not
living made me realize that bragging rights are solely for braggarts.
Doing something for the sake of saying that you did it was not enough
for me anymore.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b></div>
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When it comes to my commute, I am doing what feels good for me. </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And the truth is that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">most people do what feels good to them. </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We low-car eco-warriors </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">have
to be OK with that. Sometimes sitting in a dry, warm car feels pretty
good. If we want commuting habits to change, we have to offer choices
that feel better.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-60368007394279553202013-03-08T17:16:00.000-08:002013-03-08T17:16:03.366-08:00Reflections on Selma, Alabama, 2013Growing up in Portland at Grant High School, I often felt that I was an outsider when I was the only white person in a group of kids. No one talked to me. No one offered to braid my hair. My companions seemed uncomfortable that I was there, which made me feel vulnerable and shy, which perhaps made them think that I was aloof, which made them uncomfortable that I was there…a vicious circle that pushed us further and further apart. I grew up surrounded by white kids half the time and black kids the other half. Some kids from the black half of my social circle were outwardly friendly; most accepted my presence. But one boyfriend was not willing to introduce me to his family. I can only guess it was because he was embarrassed of me or that his grandmother would be angry at him for dating a white girl. I will never know. Was this feeling of discomfort because of skin color? Surprisingly, I think the answer is no. The way the Civil Rights leaders in Alabama embraced me and welcomed me into their educational venues - into their community, into their experience as human rights advocates with very personal, tangible proof of the toll racism has taken on our country - was with love and enthusiasm. They didn’t let my skin color get in the way of “telling it” enthusiastically and with heartfelt emotion. The experience felt far different from my childhood attempts to be a part of the group as a timid, 16 year old, caucasian. In Selma, I was surrounded by amazing black leaders and historic members of the civil rights movement, but even more poignant, I was surrounded by black high school kids in their school hallways and African American customers at Church’s Chicken Shop. If we got a few curious looks - my white carload of young people and me - they were mostly comfortable, good-natured looks, not hostile ones. <br />
<br />
My point is this: I am just as white now as I was 25 years ago. But my perception of where I belong has shifted in direct proportion with my courage and personal confidence, and, most likely with the increased courage and confidence of people in the black community. I belong in the company of good, honest, loving people. Those traits cannot be assigned or denied to an entire race, recognized by measuring pigmentation in the epidermis and exclaiming “White” or “Black”. For what are these color names anyway? “Red” for Native American, “Yellow” for Asian, “Black” for African, and “White” for European. None of those races are actually those colors at all! Strangely, “Yellow” and “Red” have fallen out of fashion and cannot be used in polite company to refer to race. But the terms “Black” and “White” still persist in the mainstream. I interpret this naming system as a sign of lingering racism and manufactured conflict, creating a literal opposite in words, where, in reality, we are all just variations on a theme. In Selma, we listened to a few speakers who identified with the black community, but their skin was the same shade as mine. <br />
<br />
Our faces look wheat, tan, brown and golden to me. When we stop relying on “Black” or “White” to classify a person, we can understand individuals by their affiliations, their actions and, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, by their character. I think the discord I have been a part of with people of a different race has been cultural, not physical. One person could be a member of a Southern Revivalist church; I am a West Coast atheist. Another might value females solely for their role as eye-candy; I trust that women are just as capable as men to build, improve and succeed on this earth. One might find exposed legs in the summer vain or inappropriate; I find it comfortable. Here is where conflicts arise, not literally in our skin colors. Really, we truly cannot judge a book by its cover at all. Our group witnessed a perfect example of this in the Montgomery airport flying home. We saw a man who intentionally made himself look very different from the rest of us. He had tattooed his entire bald head and face with green and blue puzzle-pieces, he had surgically removed 3 half-circle “bites” from each of his ears, tattooed the whites of his eyes black and had small horn-like protrusions implanted under the tattooed skin of his forehead. If a stranger’s looks could make you uncomfortable, this would have been the one to do it. But as I watched him talk with his girlfriend in a melodic, calm voice about everyday things, I was not the least bit apprehensive of him. He even said “Bless You” when I sneezed. <br />
<br />
This man was racially “White”, but truthfully, he was green. The only real information we receive when we hear that he is “White” is that he is a descendant of mostly European ancestors and enjoys the privileges that their hostile and racist policies created. The way we use “White” in this nation is not accurate. Frankly, it covers up the things that we should be talking about – attitudes, beliefs and actions. I say, if we need to describe what people look like, we can use the actual colors of their skin – “tawny,” “coffee colored”, “creamy,” “rosy,” “chocolate”, and now “green” - and do away with the inherently pugilistic and inaccurate terms “Black” and “White”. When these two words disappear from the way we talk about each other, that will be a day worth celebrating. Language reflects how we see our world. When we start speaking about race and culture as many different overlapping groups, complex and varied and not so staunchly divided into the eternal dichotomy of ‘us’ and ‘them’, it will mean that society has encoded the true concept of shared humanity into the language. And the opposite is also true – language shapes how we see the word. If we start using accurate descriptive words instead of the old confrontational classifiers, eventually, people will stop putting us all into little pre-defined buckets for who we are and how we have to live. Language is a valid measuring stick for social progress, a way to prove in our everyday references that we recognize and state clearly our differences without hiding behind the antiquated, contorted vocabulary of the slave trade that undermines the efforts of our people – Americans - to come together, celebrate shared goals and start to love mankind in its entirety. <br />
<br />
Under Dr. King’s influence, and others, Selma sure offered up a lot of love for humanity. Our dark-skinned tour leaders treated our mostly light-skinned group with kindness and respect. They exuded confidence and were comfortable in the expectation that they would receive respect in return. Likewise, I want coffee-colored men, and taupe-skinned children and honey-colored women to feel comfortable and expect respect while conversing with this sand-colored woman! I am hoping that when I smilingly approach a fellow brother or sister as an equal, like our leaders in Selma did with us, my new acquaintance will pay it forward to the next person they encounter. From busboys to Presidential nominees, we saw powerful people making a difference in Selma, not the least of which was by the way they treated one another. I will make an extra effort to emulate these role models from now on. <br />
<br />
When I watched the 2nd-grade cheerleader team march down Broad Street as part of the Selma Bridge Celebration parade, the only color I noticed was the bright purple of their uniforms. When I walked through the Halls of Selma High School, I saw a sea of bright, enthusiastic youth with such vitality that I barely noticed the many varieties of skin darker than my own. Their ancestors simply left Africa much later than my ancestors did. We are all African down deep inside. History got in the way, but our homo-sapien pre-history, at its core, proves that we are all one, worthy of love and respect, and I plan on repeating that message far and wide.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-25744175245924656412013-02-10T11:44:00.002-08:002013-02-10T11:44:39.640-08:00My Great Zipcar vs. Car2go Experiment: Part I<i></i><i></i>My family drives an average of 12,000 miles a year. Driving
relatively little is easy in our walkable, close-in neighborhood, but
life without a car is still unfathomable to me. Those last-minute,
mid-recipe trips to Fred Meyer; those evenings when I rush home from the
office just to turn around and ferry my daughter to her band concert:
they beg for the convenience and independence of a car.
<br />
But that doesn’t mean we have to own one. It turns out that my
neighborhood, rich in transportation options, is also the
Portland-center of the somewhat new concept of carsharing.<br />
<span id="more-4296"></span><br />
<br />
A
few years ago, Zipcar vehicles started appearing in dedicated parking
spots near my house. In 2012, I couldn’t help but notice a swarm of
cute, miniature white and blue Car2Go vehicles parked<b><i> </i></b>on random
neighborhood streets or passing me as I biked to work. Their omnipresence piqued my curiosity. I asked myself, “What would
life be like without owning a car?” This wet and blustery fall, I
decided to find out.<br />
<br />
I wanted to try both car-sharing services, so I marked out two weeks in November: one for ZipCar and the other for Car2Go.<br />
<br />
This was the plan: I would continue to move around town as I normally
did, biking to work and walking the girls to school. The only
difference would be that any motorized transportation would be in a
car-share vehicle. I would pretend to not own a car. The experience, I
hoped, would temporarily replicate that of a life free of car ownership,
with all the associated perks and frustrations.<br />
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_1100.jpg"><img align="right" alt="a Zipcar in Portland's South Waterfront" border="0" height="184" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_1100_thumb.jpg" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 6px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="a Zipcar in Portland's South Waterfront" width="244" /></a>My intention was not to rate these services for the general public, although I hope they find value in my observations. <b>My goal was to evaluate the two programs specifically in how well they satisfied my life’s transportation needs.</b>
Two weeks later, I felt smarter, more in touch with an ever-evolving
society, but definitely older and more aware of my own stubborn
resistance to change. I have to admit, I was a little relieved to revert
to my spoiled, car-owning self. I understand just how lucky I am to
live in my neighborhood and city.<br />
In this installment and the next, I share my observations on my
briefly car-free life for the benefit of other Portlanders who might be
on the fence about buying or replacing a car. Are car-sharing services
really cheaper than owning a car? How convenient could they possibly be?
Do the vendors offer plans, vehicles and locations that fit my
lifestyle, when and where I need them? What if I don’t own a smartphone?
What if I have to haul four kids home from a muddy cross-country meet
across town? These were some of my questions. Today and tomorrow, you
will learn the answers to these and more.<br />
<h3>
Part 1: My week with Zipcar: Habits formed and not broken</h3>
As a wet-weather transportation experiment, I committed to using only
Zipcars for any driving I did for one week in November. For seven days,
I would ride my bike as I normally do, walk when I normally walk, but
only drive a Zipcar when my transportation needs included a personal
vehicle. This meant that friends could not pick me up, nor could my
husband drive me anywhere. This meant that if I needed to haul a yard of
bark chips, or help my friend move, if I needed to attend a three-hour
cross country meet or visit my 99-year old grandma on her birthday, I
would do it with a Zipcar. If I wanted to get somewhere during a storm,
in the middle of the night or far away, I would have to plan for it —
and pay for it!<br />
<br />
In preparation, I signed up online for the “Wheel Deal” monthly plan –
it seemed to make the most sense for my expected sporadic usage. At
$24.99 per month, the idea of paying for something that I might or might
not use was tough for me, but I took the salesperson’s advice and then
immediately entered an Outlook calendar reminder to cancel it after the
experiment was over. The per-hour rates were cheaper this way, and,
luckily, I had a Chinook Book. Inside was a coupon for $75 of free
driving credits. I was sure I wouldn’t get anywhere close to $75 worth
of driving in one measly week, but welcomed the savings nevertheless.<br />
<h3>
My Driving Diary</h3>
<b>Sunday:</b> I reserved my first Zipcar. The process was
simple enough. I logged on to the website and chose a location 3 blocks
from my house. The available cars included a modest 4-door and a more
expensive van. I selected the car, entered my pick-up and drop-off times
and noted the estimated cost – $8.63 for my half-hour physical therapy
appointment, plus an hour travel time. I gave myself plenty of cushion,
it being my first time. Printing the reservation, as suggested on the
website, was the hardest part due to my spotty home wireless
connectivity and lack of ink in my printer.<br />
<br />
<b>Monday:</b> I arrived at the car’s location ten minutes
early. I slid my member card across the scanner at the front windshield
and the car emitted a welcoming beep. I climbed in and was driving
within seconds. There were no special buttons to push or codes to enter.
I arrived at my appointment early. Afterwards, as I was preparing to
return home, Zipcar sent me a text letting me know that I could pay for
extra time if if I needed it. (Thanks, Zipcar.) But I was on time,
something I am even more vigilant about when the late fine is $50! I
parked, got out of the car and slid my card across the scanner again to
end the reservation. First usage complete!<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Getting used to it:</b> The previous driver was much
shorter than I. I know it is a petty complaint, but it sucks to have to
adjust mirrors and seats while driving in the rain at night.</li>
</ul>
<b>Tuesday:</b> I attend a Spanish class across town
Tuesday nights. It seems a shame to pay for not only my ride to class,
but also the two hours the car sits in the parking lot. But taking the
bus or biking would take too long on a dark November night, and my
eldest daughter had decided to join me this time. I needed to maintain
flexibility, given her packed schedule, which meant added time to my
reservation. I left early to pick her up from her track workout,
increasing the cost by a few dollars, and then we stopped for dinner
between track and class. Again, I paid for the privilege of a guaranteed
ride home. After all was said and done, the evening’s transportation
costs added up to $11.52.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Combining errands:</b> I asked myself if it was worth
the extra few bucks to make extra stops and consolidate trips. Should I
wait and make a separate trip by bicycle, when it would be “free”? I
found myself sighing wistfully as I passed by Fred Meyers that night on
the way home. Was I secretly waiting until I had the use of my own car
again?</li>
</ul>
<b>Friday:</b> I made a reservation Thursday at work and
had to guess at how long I would want the car. I had an afternoon
meeting with a friend, but I could bike to that. My family had signed up
to volunteer at a fundraiser for the high school ski team in the
evening, and my husband and I had a tentative date-night across town. I
wasn’t sure if our date was written in pencil or pen, so booking the car
forced us to solidify our plans. The busy day’s driving cost me $20.30!<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Lost and found:</b> When I returned the Zipcar that
night, I accidentally left a pair of skis in the trunk. When I realized
my mistake, I called Zipcar. Luckily, I had three hours to go retrieve
them without incurring any charge. My husband, however, once left
something in a Zipcar and had to pay to access the car the next day to
pick up his parcel! FYI: Users are also responsible for parking meters
and tickets.</li>
</ul>
<b>Saturday:</b> I waited until the last minute to make a
reservation for another fundraiser we were attending. I searched for a
car for a 5:30 pm departure, and found that the closest was more than a
half mile away. I was bummed. But I rethought it and changed the start
time. The neighborhood car would be returned at 6 and was available!
Hallelujah! We walked to the parking lot and waited. The earlier users
returned the car exactly at 6 pm. It worked out nicely after all.<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday:</b> By the end of the week, the reservation and
pick-up routines were rote. My Sunday afternoon reservation to go see a
movie with a girlfriend was pleasantly uneventful. Isn’t there a saying:
if you do something for seven days, it becomes a habit?<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Disincentive to have fun:</b> That irksome
pay-as-you-go mentality hung over my head as I tried to enjoy myself
that night. The cost of the movie, without popcorn or soda, was $10. Add
the car and the total more than tripled to $35.38. With entertainment
“prices” like these, I might become a hermit!</li>
</ul>
<h3>
The Bottom Line</h3>
During my seven-day experiment, I used 18 hours of vehicle time,
drove approximately 48.2 miles on five separate reservations and
incurred $122.65 in charges (which includes the monthly fee, but not the
application fee or the discount for my coupon). That works out to <b>$6.81 per hour, $2.54 per mile, $24.53 per trip or $17.52 per day.</b><br />
<br />
In comparison, a monthly Trimet pass costs $100. Riding my 10-year
old bike is practically free. Walking is definitely free. Calculating
the cost of owning my two unfashionable cars is less straightforward.
Zipcar assumes car ownership is based on a loan, with interest. They
estimate the monthly cost, which includes insurance, gas, maintenance
and repairs, to be $807. I have always bought my cars for cash, so the
formula that models my situation replaces the loan and interest with the
cost of the car divided by its likely lifespan. My actual monthly cost
for two cars, both significantly shabbier than the car Zipcar uses as an
example, is about $384. If I were to use Zipcar exclusively at the same
rate I used it for my experimental week, I would spend about $415 on my
current plan. Zipcar offers other plans. They estimate the cost for
those who “drive a lot” is $309 per month, “a fair amount” $144 per
month, and “not much” $32 per month.<br />
<br />
Not unlike the <a href="http://portlandafoot.org/w/Cost_of_driving">American Automobile Association</a>,
many middle-class Americans, and my mother, Zipcar makes assumptions
about what kind of a car people should drive. But for a subset of
Americans, me included, cars are not thrones but convenience-enhancers. I
believe they should be safe, clean and well-maintained, but driven
until they puke engine parts. My standards don’t fit the image sold by
commercial entities, and so their estimates are hard to take seriously
in my reality.<br />
<h3>
What I Learned</h3>
<ul>
<li><b>I drive more than I thought I did.</b> According to
Zipcar, I drive “a lot”! I may not drive far or long, but it turned out
that I do start up that engine often enough.</li>
<li><b>Owning a car is like having health insurance.</b> You
pay every month for the security and assurance of having it when you
need it. Because I live very close to the places I find important to
visit (family, grocery store, school, coffee shops), my “transportation
insurance” (aka 1998 Honda Civic) ends up having both a low “premium”
(monthly cost of unsexy car) and a low “copay” (per-usage cost).</li>
<li><b>Multiple passengers made me feel better about Zipcar’s value.</b> The comparison between one bus ticket and four tilted the scale for convenience and price.</li>
<li><b>Renting a car by the hour made me plan further in advance.</b>
I was also less likely to make spur-of-the-moment changes, like
stopping for a coffee or taking the long way home. In fact, the urgency I
felt in returning the car “on time” cut short a few conversations – I
felt less inclined to shoot the bull with the receptionist at my PT
appointment, or get to know my fellow students after Spanish class. When
I am paying per hour, I am much more aware of the value of my time —
because it no longer belongs to me.</li>
</ul>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-53029756580140145162013-02-10T11:38:00.002-08:002013-02-10T11:38:26.450-08:00Zipcar vs. Car2go, Part II: Freewheelin’ but Fretful with Car2go<h2>
</h2>
<em></em>
Week two of my <a href="http://portlandafoot.org/2013/02/mood-to-move-my-great-zipcar-vs-car2go-experiment/">carlessness experiment</a>
commenced during a gloomy, drippy November. I had signed up for a
Car2go account at the Komen Race for the Cure Expo, where they were
offering memberships free of the customary, one-time $35 initiation fee.<strong> I planned to use only Car2go for all motorized travel for seven days in order to evaluate how the service fit into my life.</strong>
Having just completed one week using only Zipcar for all of my
automobile needs, I looked forward to no threatening late fees, no
reservations and what appeared to be a less structured and less
stressful car-share program.<br />
<span id="more-4310"></span><br />
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/car2go-by-miss-shari.jpg"><img align="right" alt="a Car2go in Portland" border="0" height="204" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/car2go-by-miss-shari_thumb.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 6px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="a Car2go in Portland" width="304" /></a><br />
With
the ubiquitous, bunny-like white and blue Smart cars proliferating the
streets, I felt secure that the Car2go model would easily provide for my
minimal driving needs, and possibly cost less than Zipcar. The Car2go
model is very different from Zipcar. They charge by the minute, with
per-hour and per-day maximums, but the home-run feature of this
structure is that you can claim any Car2go car you see on the street and
deposit it anywhere within the Portland “home area,” without
reservations or deadlines. It’s like a teenager’s dream date:
spontaneous, fecund and curfew-free.<br />
<br />
Before
the week began, I excitedly browsed the webpage to get familiar with
the system. I was the perfect candidate for this service: I live in the
“home area” and all my regular destinations are also within it. But
right away, I realized I was at a distinct disadvantage: I don’t own a
smartphone! To take advantage of the free-form, no-planning-required
platform, I would need to be able to search for a Car2go at the moment I
needed it. My 6-year old dumb-phone couldn’t do that.<br />
<br />
My fantasies of picking up available vehicles like drunk frat boys in
a singles bar faded a bit, but I determined to make the best of it. I
would use Car2go’s toll-free customer service that finds nearby cars, or
plan in advance from my computer as best I could. Hope springs eternal!
But sadly, I found over the next few days that even the somewhat
diluted buzz I was feeling proved to be misplaced.<br />
<h3>
My Car2go driving diary</h3>
<strong>Tuesday:</strong> At 11:00 am, I was at home looking online
for a Car2go vehicle nearby. I was shocked to find that my
inner-southeast neighborhood, a supposed Mecca for progressive
transportation users and providers, was instead a black hole on the
Car2go locator map. There was not a single car within a mile of my
house! Could it be that people drove these cars to work and left them
all downtown?<br />
Maybe my neighbors all ride bikes and don’t need Car2go vehicles. I
found it weird and disorienting. I didn’t need the car until 5:45 pm
for a class that night. Miraculously, a Car2go car appeared on the map only a block
from my house at 5:30. My daughter and I hurriedly packed our bags and
rushed out the door. I was afraid it would disappear in the 5 minutes it
would take us to get there. When I got to the corner and saw its iconic
blue and white paint job through the blur of passing rush-hour traffic,
a rush of relief filled me. I crossed the street and gratefully swiped
my card on the windshield of the golfcart-like vehicle.<br />
<br />
I got in. Their cramped outward appearance doesn’t penetrate to the
inside. The seating and headroom feel adequate and normal in most ways.
Because I couldn’t figure out how to push the seat forward so I could
put my heavy backpack in the small “trunkette,” I strained my back
lifting it through the gap between the two front seats. Finally, engine
running, handbrake released, mind open, I was ready to partake of the
Car2go experience. With eager anticipation, I pressed on the gas. The
moment of expected elation suddenly metamorphosed into something
horribly disturbing.<br />
I pulled out, making the first point in a three-point U-turn – the
car’s small size allows this even on narrow side streets – and I came
very close to slamming into the opposite curb! The foot brake was as
stiff as a brick. With no response at first, I had to stomp on it with
the force of a gorilla to keep from hitting the obstacle in front of me.
I sat there stunned. Then I swore for a few minutes. Then I got over my
shock and drove cautiously on.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the trip did not improve much from there. The Daimler
Fortwo’s “automated manual” transmission switches gears like a manual
transmission, but without a clutch. It pitched us forwards and backwards
as the car switched gears, like mariners on a windy sea, and my
off-color language began to simulate that of a sailor.<br />
<br />
My class happens to be situated at the exact edge of the Car2go
territory. I crossed my fingers that there were very few users that far
out, parked and logged off the clock. When class got out at 8:30 pm, my
gamble paid off – the car was still there. I drove home and parked it
right outside my front door, smug in the knowledge that I would have an
easy time for an early morning appointment the next day.<br />
<br />
<strong>Wednesday:</strong> But the next morning, it was gone. I
turned on my ancient computer to search for another vehicle while I ate
breakfast. The closest was only two blocks away at 7 a.m., but by 7:30
a.m. it, too, disappeared from the map. I set my sights on another, half
a mile away. My daughter and I drove one mile to the orthodontist. I
took the risk of logging off, but no one came looking for it during the
20 minute appointment, and we were able to log back in and drive to her
school. I left it there, and walked to my optometrist appointment a few
blocks away, relieved to not have to count on an ethereal car that
anyone could just come and take without notice. How anxiety-provoking!<br />
<br />
<strong>Thursday:</strong> I was walking home from work and it was
taking longer than I had anticipated. I was late for a school meeting.
It started to rain. My feet hurt. This was exactly the kind of situation
I had envisioned where a well-placed Car2go car would come to my
rescue, absolving itself for its transitory and capricious nature. I was
on the lookout. If my own special Car2go vehicle were to appear on the
street in front of me, I vowed, I would forgive it for deserting me the
day before. Alas, Car2go did not swoop down, blue and white cape
fluttering in the impending storm. Without a smartphone, I couldn’t
quickly search for that much-needed relief, so I marched forth, feeling
abandoned by my supposed four-wheeled hero. I guessed I wouldn’t be
falling in love that night.<br />
<br />
<strong>Friday:</strong> Walking home from my daughter’s school, one
mile away, I thought again about trying to use the service, impromptu. I
tried the Car2go customer service phone number, hoping they would be
able to look up my location and send me to a nearby vehicle. I waited on
hold as I covered three blocks and decided instead, to call my
12-year-old daughter and ask her to look it up on her iPod. She was able
to direct me to a car within 3 blocks – in the wrong direction.<br />
<br />
<strong>Saturday:</strong> My infatuation with Car2go had turned into
fretful anxiety. I found myself dreading leaving the house. I had
nightmares about not being able to get anywhere, not being able to find a
car, not being able to count on a transportation option I have taken
for granted for so long. I cringed at the thought of having to look for a
car, expecting that one would not be available. It was simply “NOT
KNOWING” that drove me crazy. Like a jealous cuckold, I spent far too
much time worrying about where “my” car was and when it would come back.<br />
<br />
That night on a short trip out to dinner with my husband, the Fortwo
bucking like an unbroken stallion, I suddenly exclaimed, “I can’t wait
for the day when I will never have to drive one of these #@$%&@ cars
again!” I silently apologized to the little beast. I felt like I had
kicked a dog.<br />
<br />
But like an unneutered canine, the car inevitably disappeared during
the course of an hour and a half meal. I was annoyed, but I had to
admit, it impressed me. Obviously, people use these cars. They are in
high demand. As my husband and I walked towards home, I concluded that
the service must work well for a lot of people, or else my little rascal
would have sat, faithfully awaiting my return on the little side street
where I had tried to hide it. You can’t hide from GPS.<br />
<h3>
Running the numbers on Car2go: Affordable, if not accessible</h3>
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8055474412_c8232febae.jpg"><img align="left" alt="a Car2go in Austin" border="0" height="229" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8055474412_c8232febae_thumb.jpg" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 6px 6px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="a Car2go in Austin" width="304" /></a><br />
At
38 cents per minute, I spent a grand total of $30.78 for my week of
Car2go service. I made 7 trips over the course of seven days. These
consisted of one round trip, one trip with multiple stops, and one
one-way trip. I was in the car for 81 minutes and traveled a total of 17
miles. <strong>That comes out to $1.81 per mile, $4.40 per day, or about $12.31 per round-trip equivalent. </strong>The
monthly cost, if this week is representative, would be about $123.12.
This is a bargain compared to the cost of owning a car – even my old,
paid-off cars cost about $384 (for both) or $230 per month to maintain
and fill-up the nicer one.<br />
<br />
Because I only paid for the time I was actively using the car, my
costs were far lower than those of the previous week with Zipcar.
Car2go’s $1.81 cost per mile is still 40 percent lower than Zipcar’s
$2.54.<br />
<br />
Granted, I drove fewer miles during my Car2go week. But consider
this: I couldn’t use Car2go like I used Zipcar, or like I use my own
car. The service just isn’t set up that way. I was thwarted a few times
in my attempts, so ended up not driving as much as I normally would.
Car2go allows users to reserve a car, free of charge, for 15 minutes at a
time. I didn’t take advantage of this option, in part, because I lacked
that smartphone internet connection.<br />
<br />
In my mind, the Car2go service is more appropriately contrasted with
riding the bus. Both are location-specific, opportunistic, and
transitory in nature, very unlike owning a car. A Trimet pass costs $100
per month, making the price of my Car2go usage very attractive in
comparison. However, I would bet that anyone who depends on Car2go as
their only vehicle, also uses Trimet consistently. Car2go is a
supplement, not a substitute.<br />
<h3>
The bottom line on Car2go: Proof that I am not cool</h3>
As my experimental week progressed, I learned that Car2go vehicles
were close to my home in the evenings, and clustered downtown during the
day. I also learned early on that trying to plan ahead was fruitless.
This alone forced a major shift in my perspective. I like to know, well
in advance, where and how and when I will be moving from place to
place. It affects how I dress, what I carry, and which errands I
combine. But with Car2go, I couldn’t know until the very instant I was
ready to walk out the door. The cars moved like phantom ships, appearing
and disappearing from the online map as people partook of their
services and discarded them. I never quite got used to it.<br />
<br />
These cars seem to be built for urban fun: For going out on the town,
meeting friends at bars, and getting home after the buses stop running.
Apparently, my life has very little “fun.” Car2go cars embody the
people I imagine to be their clientele – freewheeling, spontaneous and
on the go. They probably don’t have kids – the two-seater wouldn’t
accommodate it.<br />
<br />
My week with Car2go gave me a glimpse of the path not taken – the
cool one, the childless one with an active nightlife and ultimate
flexibility. Car2go’s low cost seems like it would fit right into this
lifestyle. But for the path I did choose in life, Car2go’s psychological
cost kept me up at night. Could I count on it to get me to my
appointment the next morning? To commit to me in my moment of need? Like
a neighborhood cat who “belongs” to whoever feeds him, Car2go vehicles
give themselves away to stranger after stranger, whimsically cavorting
with whoever wants to play, abandoning their last user without a parting
glance.<br />
<br />
I may take comfort in Car2go’s warm, dry interior on a cold, winter night, but I can’t expect to see it in the morning.<br />
<h3>
The experiment concludes: Winners don’t take all</h3>
After a two-week experiment of living as if I did not own a car, I
know so much more than the facts I unearthed on the internet about
Portland’s Car2go and Zipcar car-share programs. Beyond the rate
structures and locator maps is a wealth of “getting it” that only
experience can convey.<br />
<br />
I thought that my two weeks would allow me to compare Zipcar and
Car2go, one against the other. I thought I would declare one of the two
programs a ‘winner.’ What I actually discovered is that the two
programs are incomparable – they are night and day, apples and oranges,
cats and dogs. Each could easily fill-in a different empty spot in my
imagined carless life. In fact, if I try to replicate the level of
efficiency, speed and convenience that I now have as a self-described
“infrequent” driver, both services would be necessary. But that’s not
all. To truly live the life I want to live, I would have to add a trusty
bicycle, a versatile wardrobe (especially shoes), and the truly
faithful public service: TriMet.<br />
<br />
If I were to give up car ownership, I am in a good place to do so
with few limitations. Even the combined cost of a monthly bus pass,
Car2go and Zipcar memberships, annual bike tune-ups and a good pair of
walking shoes ends up being more or less affordable. But let’s face it –
I am comfortably middle-aged. I value my time perhaps more than my
money. It takes time to deal with reservations and memberships. Racing
to return cars on time adds pressure, threatening my ability to move
leisurely through my weekly routine.<br />
<br />
Assigning a dollar figure to each minute I spend enjoying life is not
something I am willing to do. It is a stress I can literally afford to
live without. I am a committed bike commuter and walker, but I am still,
underneath it all, a car addict! Maybe it’s a low level dependency, but
my brain chemistry demands predictability, dependability, instant
gratification and control. My fix – a well-aged shot of Honda Civic –
provides the chemical key to those synapses. It would take a serious
round of detox to convert me completely.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-17568453711746528702013-01-18T16:36:00.001-08:002013-01-18T16:36:39.657-08:00Hesitate, and the Moment for Learning is GoneThe sheer size of the homeless encampment under the McLoughlin overpass surprised me. The one or two sleeping bags that started appearing shortly after the new construction was complete, gradually grew as word of mouth spread the news of a new broad, dry, flat space to crash for the night. Not only did the population swell as fall turned to winter, but the accoutrements multiplied as well. Flattened cardboard and pallets appeared in November. Plastic tarps and tents in December. By January, there was at least one couch. But the most noticeable feature of this little temporary village was the bikes.<br />
<br />
<br />
For the roughly 12 men I guessed were staying there, I saw at least 7 bikes, many with trailers to haul belongings and dogs (I saw a few of those as well).<br />
<br />
It got me thinking about how people who don’t have a permanent place to call home get around, and where they go. The men usually completed full camp set up by 6:00 pm when I rode past on my daily commute home, but once when I went home in the middle of the day, not a soul remained – just random parcels of raggedy items. If you don’t have a home, and you don’t have a job, why do you ever need to move at all? The obvious answer is sustenance. While this obviously includes food and water, maybe it also encompasses other goods and services that are less apparent to those of us lucky enough to live inside a building. Perhaps their daily travels took them to a social service agency, or the home of a family member, a coffee shop or a drug-dealer. Did they ever get in out of the cold? If so, where did they go and how did they get there?<br />
<br />
The bikes seemed like such a necessity for a person living on the fly. Without money for a bus, but responsibility for a dog, or all of one’s earthly possessions, how else could one get from place to place?<br />
<br />
I decide to find out. I had a lot of questions. Earlier that year, in the summer, I noticed a large group who set up tarps and mattresses under the I-5 next to the Hawthorne Bridge. They seemed more like a commune - barefoot at times, hanging out and playing together, paired up with a honey in their sleeping bags - than the typical stereotype of the unhappy, unhealthy drug addict I picture when I think of “homeless”. I wanted to interview one of the women who slept there. I thought talking with a fellow female would be safe enough and a not overly-intimidating. This group also was notable for possessing bikes – some of them pretty fancy for people with nowhere to live. But the week I finally got up the nerve to approach them, the encampment disappeared. That was in September. I reasoned that it must have been a seasonal group, and because the people there seemed young and even kind of hip in a hippy kind of way, I suspected that they were homeless by choice. It was only a guess and I can’t say that I even believe it, but it was there nonetheless.<br />
<br />
This winter group on SE Division Place was obviously a different breed. They looked a lot older. They were all, as far as I could tell, bearded men, dressed in many layers, drinking from paper bags. I was justifiably wary of approaching this group, so I tried to come up with a way that would not be offensive, but would also ensure my safety. I did, after all, ride by alone at night every weeknight. I wouldn’t want one of them to take advantage of any knowledge he gained from our interaction. I assumed that they were people I shouldn’t trust. At the same time, I was concerned for them. It was cold! <br />
<br />
My initial curiosity was the seed for what I thought would be an interesting and important article about how homeless people transported themselves. I imagined following along on my bike, or on the bus with a homeless woman as she went wherever it was she needed to go. But as my shyness persisted, my opportunities to act dissipated. The cold-weather decampment from the Hawthorne site forced a new approach. That coincidentally corresponded with the new group under McLoughlin, but since they were a much rougher-looking crowd, I took my time becoming familiar with any detail I could obtain by slowing my biking speed as I passed. The dogs wore shirts. Bike trailers doubled as windscreens. The guys seemed to know one another, but didn’t seem to be together. My pursuit of a good article slowly morphed into an interest in these people and the extreme difficulties they faced. We all become acclimatized to homelessness, seeing only the rough outlines of these campsites as dirty spots on the neighborhood blueprint. How often do we stop to consider how these people manage to live? I complain about the cold sometimes just walking from the house to the garage, and these men apparently never escape the biting wind and the sopping rain. How do they do it? <br />
<br />
Finally, I phoned a 6’2” male friend of mine and asked him to accompany me to the McLoughlin site in the afternoon on a Saturday. I suggested we bring a large pot of hot soup or coffee and that he could sit in the car with the heat on while I interviewed whoever felt like talking. It was mid-January, the coldest time of the year in Portland with an average of 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit. I was finally ready to tackle this topic, to put myself in an uncomfortable situation in order to better understand. But the next day, I saw the signs. Instead of 12 men with bikes, boxes and bags, there were only three with sleeping bags. The day after that, there was just a large pile of junk, compressed from the full width of the patio-like area into a square pile of garbage stacked and ready to be hauled away. On the third day, the concrete was bare, clean of any remaining evidence that a small tribe had once gathered there for what little warmth, camaraderie and safety could manifest from a cold, bare slab and a bottle in a bag.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-12721132161737480832012-12-20T10:51:00.000-08:002012-12-27T13:02:18.817-08:00Motivated By Freedom <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Low automobile usage can mean fewer miles traveled, fewer trips taken by car, or just less time spent inside of one. We all get to define it for ourselves based on our motivations. Some people strive to save money. For them, fewer miles - and less of that $3.98 per gallon gas - may be the incentive. Others hate feeling boxed up inside of a machine or are scared of erratic drivers and have no patience for traffic jams. Limiting the time spent driving might be their motivator. Then there are folks who are inspired to live an earth-friendlier life. Any of these metrics could apply to them.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
But me, my motivation is freedom. It might seem counter-intuitive here in the United States, where open roads and a Ford convertible symbolize youth and liberation. My low-car flame was sparked when I was 12 – too young to drive - and I saw it as just the opposite: a burden. Riding in a car made me dependent on things outside of my control.<br />
<br />
If Mom drove me to softball practice, it meant waiting for her to get home after work. Getting a ride meant pacing impatiently, being late and missing warm-ups. It meant corralling my baby sister and strapping her writhing body into a seatbelt (I grew up before children’s car seats), then suffering her flailing limbs and stinky diaper as I sat next to her in the car. It meant listening to the inevitable bickering between my two teenage sisters, if per chance Mom had chosen to combine my drop-off with delivering Shawn to ballet class and Liz to a friend’s house.<br />
<br />
Luckily, softball practice was held at a playground only a mile away from my house. I discovered early on the many benefits of using my own two legs to get there. They far outweighed the traditional benefits of driving. <br />
<br />
One – I got to leave when I was ready, not when the last slowpoke in our 7-member family finally dragged herself off the couch, fished her missing shoe out from behind the TV and remembered everything she needed for whatever endeavor she was off to. <br />
<br />
Two – Being a stickler for punctuality, I arrived early and stayed off the coach’s naughty-list, simultaneously reaping the full rewards that warm-up drills, gossip and brown-nosing had to offer.<br />
<br />
Three – I could vary my route to pass conveniently by the house of whichever boy I had a crush on that week. Fantasy chance-meetings filled my head as I calculated the timing with the highest probability of me passing his front door at exactly the same moment he stepped out. I would imagine our interaction. Him: “Oh, Hi Cathy, What brings you around this neighborhood?” Me (innocently): “Oh, me? Shucks, I was just going to softball practice!” Him (suspiciously): “Doesn’t your team practice at that park 3 miles from here? Are you lost? This is the third time I’ve seen you walk by this hour.” Me: “Uhhh…well…ummm….”<br />
<br />
Four – I got to be outside, in Portland, in the summertime – what could be better than that? <br />
<br />
Five – I usually ran to practice. Running built my muscles and endurance and made me a healthier kid. And I killed two birds with one stone, combining transportation and exercise. My teammates thought I was weird. They would ask me why I ran everywhere. “It’s just like walking, but faster,” I said. Truly, running to softball practice as a 12-year old set the stage for a lifetime of fitness and multi-tasking.<br />
<br />
As a kid, eschewing the car when possible served as an important building block of growing up for me. The number of engagements I attended on my own slowly grew. I ventured out from our house, the centerpoint of larger and larger circles, and my arsenal of transportation choices grew to include a bike, Tri-Met and occasionally two roller skates. By transporting myself to important events, I learned responsibility and planning and I got to know my city in walkable chunks. My mom was relieved of some of the hardship of ferrying yet another kid around. But best of all, getting around without a car – or a grown-up - brought independence.<br />
<br />
As my sisters waited around for our softy father to drive them to school, I stuck my nose in the air and walked, whatever the weather. It became a point of pride that I could take care of my own travel needs. As I hit my teens, I found myself easily running home at midnight after underage house-parties, 6 beers in my gut and flip-flops on my feet. Being self-reliant allowed me to avoid the high-school drama of begging friends for a ride and the shame of having my mom, decked out in curlers and bathrobe, pick me up from the scene of the illicit gathering. Sucking air as I ran converted my beer-breath to a natural, fresh-air scent and the wind whipping through my hair cleansed away any lingering clove-cigarette smoke. It also sobered me up a bit. Most important, however, was the fact that I never once had to ride home with a drunk teenager.<br />
<br />
Of course, I never lived completely free of cars. Like most young people, I bought one for myself as a college student. Cars are very useful when you live 2 hours from Mom’s Thanksgiving dinner or when you get the urge to go to Mexico for the weekend. But something about my experience as an adolescent had set. Cars meant gas and repairs, tickets and parking spots. Driving felt like schlepping a large backpack into a crowded party – I always had to arrange for the car’s safekeeping (and pay for it). Although the car carried me to where I wanted to go, I felt the mental weight of it pressing down on me as if it were I doing the hauling. <br />
<br />
Those rudimentary lessons from when I was a child still color my attitude and my lifestyle choices today. Yes, I drive. But whenever I can escape the burdens of bringing along my 2-ton, 4-door anchor, I choose another way. I choose freedom.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-622827983374456682012-11-08T17:46:00.001-08:002012-11-15T16:46:04.109-08:00The Pros of Chemotherapy<div>
Every cancer patient’s chemo treatment is different - different drugs, different doses, different effects. But overall, I think chemo gets a bad rap. The general public is horrified and frightened upon hearing its name, imagining Holocaust-era victims looked haggard and starved by its application. That isn’t the case for the majority of recipients, including me. In fact, Chemo has its advantages. I believe some education is needed, so here are a few of them:</div>
<ul>
<li>No more shaving. Body hair tends to thin during chemo. I don’t have to shave my armpits, and my legs remain smooth for months at a time without the application of a razor blade.</li>
<li>Frizzy, fly-away hairdos are a thing of the past. With less hair on my head, my hairstyles tend to be sleeker and flatter, a boon for those of us with kinky, tangled fros. </li>
<li>Women at least will appreciate this one – Pubic hair coverage shrinks to a small and dainty triangle, making me feel younger and more feminine. The normally unkempt swatch marking my genital area is all of a sudden cute again. </li>
<li>Better nutrition. Cancer elicits a sense of loss of control. As a result, patients take control where they can, which in my case involves an improved diet. I have real incentive to eat healthier because – well, it might help.</li>
<li>Weight loss. The fact is that most Americans are overweight. Chemo tends to cause nausea. Patients are unable to eat normally for a day or more during each chemo cycle. This, combined with chemo’s tendency to deplete muscle mass, leads to weight loss. </li>
<li>Chemo reduces stress. Because infusions take all day, it makes me slow down. Cell phones are forbidden in the infusion room, so I am not clinching high-powered deals or negotiating multi-million dollar contracts on chemo day. I am forced to relinquish myself to a more relaxed state. Sitting still for a long period of time reminds me, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The stresses of work, children, spouse and bills fade in comparison. </li>
<li>Chemo grants me a vacation day once every three weeks! That’s almost as good as the Swedish government!</li>
<li>I could be mistaken for a teenager because of all the chemo-related zits on my face. Who wouldn’t want to be carded at 45?</li>
<li>I have a valid excuse for not exercising – the ‘hand and foot syndrome’ caused by my drug regiment leaves my feet red-hot and sore when walking more than a mile. I really do have to sit on my ass and eat (sugar-free) bonbons.<br />
<br />But the number one advantage of chemotherapy, a ‘plus’ that cannot be beat by aspirin, anti-coagulants, or caffeine? I get to live.</li>
</ul>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-89822214077654793692012-11-07T16:20:00.001-08:002012-11-15T16:46:36.091-08:00I Don’t Get Around MuchI know next to nothing about Getaround – an experimental, private car-sharing service being piloted in Portland. But I typed in their website to see what it was all about.<br />
<br />
I will start with this disclaimer: I have two cars, and they are both old and ugly. The first is a 14-year old mini-van that grows mushrooms in the carpet; the second, a 4-door sedan with a back seat full kids’ crumbs and dirt clods (and possibly a shriveled french fry or two). I hardly use either of them, but I doubt anyone else would want to use them either. <br />
<br />
Both have body damage. Both appear distinctly un-cared for and un-loved. They are not stored under dust-proof covers. They are not buffed and polished once a week – heck, they might get hosed off once a year! My cars are not pampered California cars, sipping premium oil concoctions while getting their tires brushed and rotated at the corner auto boutique. Being a native Portlander, I don’t treat my cars like dependents or pets. They are not members of the family. I don’t identify with them, nor do they convey to the world my personality or my desirability by their make, model or accessories. I may be the coolest chick in town (ask my friends), but you’d never know it from looking at my rides. <br />
<br />
My cars get me from one place to another on rainy, dark nights, or when the hills are steep or the distance long. I drive them to retrieve heavy things, to move family members to and from appointments and to get things done when I’m in a hurry. They are purely functional.<br />
<br />
Don’t get me wrong. I am a responsible car owner, changing the oil on schedule, fixing whatever clanks or hisses immediately. I count on my vehicles, and make sure that they are there for me when I need them. These two vehicles, as dinged-up and ungainly as they are, are assets, tools in my toolbox that deliver convenience and versatility at a reasonable cost. However, our four-person family puts less than 12,000 miles annually on the two combined (we’ve driven the van about 40,000 miles in 12 years). This is why Getaround piqued my curiosity. These cars could be more productive, generating a small income for me and allowing someone else cheap mobility without a big down payment. It seems environmental and efficient. But what about the risk?<br />
<br />
When a friend uses my car, I am always aware of the potential liability I bear. I have never done the research to determine exactly what I could be sued for, but have counted on my friends to be responsible drivers and trustworthy human beings. There is always the possibility that someone could get in my car and end up killing someone, or being killed. This was forefront in my mind as I tentatively browsed the Getaround website. Unfortunately, the site didn’t give many details about their insurance policy other than stating, “Coverage includes liability, collision, property damage, and uninsured motorist protection.” If someone rents my car and slams into a school bus, or loses control in the McDonald’s drive through, can I be sued? <br />
<br />
The answer is unclear. In fact, the Getaround website doesn’t spell out much on any topic. The website’s “Tour” uses only 258 words to explain the entire concept. The creators seem to assume that users are either lawyers or simply lacking in prudent curiosity. So, hesitantly, I clicked “Sign up”, reminding myself that I could always back out afterwards if anything seemed unsavory, loose or sketchy.<br />
<br />
Registering my car felt like dipping my toes into the dating pool – I felt simultaneously self-aggrandizing and exposed. The app connected to my Facebook account, and my profile picture popped up on my Getaround account so that renters would know what I look like. It asked for the exact address where the car is located, pinpointing my house on a map so that renters can find the car. Finally, it encouraged photos of the car so that renters will know what they are getting. If I had never heard of serial-killers trolling the internet for victims, I would have felt naively safe with the straight-forward process. As it were, I felt extremely uneasy with the fact that my face, my address and photos of my house and car would be available to any random renter. Here I was, purposefully compiling the perfect set of data for lunatic misogynists. All that was missing were my measurements. <br />
<br />
The website assured me that Getaround maintains rigorous standards to verify users’ identities and driving histories, but it didn’t mention criminal backgrounds. Can they guarantee that a ‘casual renter’ isn’t just casing me, my home and my family? I felt vulnerable and worried, but in the end, I figured that I could escape at any moment by deleting my account. Or at least that is what I hoped – the website wasn’t very forthcoming about how to delete an account if you changed your mind. <br />
<br />
I decided that a good hauling vehicle was something the carless public might appreciate, so I started with my 1989 Plymouth Voyager. I described it honestly and depreciatingly – noting the smell, the moisture, the six-foot scrape along the passenger side. While these kinds of details might deter Happy-Faced-Killer-types (I hoped), they spelled out clearly what kind of a car I was offering. My automotive honesty was the equivalent of telling Match.com members that I was fat, stupid and had bad breath. <br />
<br />
“If that doesn’t quell the complainers, I don’t know what would,” I thought to myself. <br />
<br />
Next, I had to decide on how much to charge. I wanted to make its occasional absence from my driveway worth the trouble, yet price it commensurately with how it would be used. College boys would not be cruising for girls in it. Moms would not choose it to drive the soccer team to the beach. Primarily, it would be used for hauling left over garage sale items to Goodwill, picking up furniture from Ikea, or maybe transporting grandma’s Great Dane to the vet. If it were me, how much would I spend to be able to check those kinds of items off of my to-do list?\<br />
<br />
I decided that $9 was about how much I would pay to avoid the unsightly, post-yard-sale, “Free” pile outside my house. Nine dollars was less than a quarter of the $47 cost to have bark chips delivered, but the entire shipping cost for a single sheet of plywood from Home Depot. I shrugged and clicked “Continue”, still holding open the possibility of cancelling the whole thing if it didn’t suit me. I entered the car’s VIN and license and downloaded some photos – I didn’t bother to wash it first. Finally, I was satisfied with the scrappy promotion of my little-ugly-duckling-that-could. Someone, somewhere in Portland would surely find value in a cheap, hauling vehicle that they didn’t even have to clean afterwards. I clicked “Save”.<br />
<br />
The website considered my submission and, after a few seconds, responded, “Hey, your car doesn't meet our eligibility criteria—we can only insure cars made in 1995 or newer with less than 150,000 miles. We're working with our insurance provider to offer more options in the future. Stay tuned.”<br />
<br />
Oh. I see. Car-sharing is more like online dating than I had thought.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-86841721119070808942012-11-06T11:11:00.001-08:002012-11-06T11:31:15.275-08:00Mysterious SignalsThe water-glass windows in the 100 year old homes that align my bike route contain almost imperceptible patterns of undulating waves, formed during their production in turn-of-the-century glass making plants. As I rode by, the beautiful imperfections refracted infiltrating light and sent out magical, miniscule rainbows when the early morning sun hit them at just the right angle. The Willamette River surprised me with a surface just as smooth and enchanting. <br />
<br />
In fact, the entire morning was shrouded in mysteriousness. But it only dawned on me in increments. The first oddity was a new lightness in my bedroom at 6:30 AM, due to daylight savings time, no doubt, but also represented in a feeling of lightness in my body. My shoulders felt strangely normal, unlike the past two months of waking to swollen tightness and discomfort. My intestines were at peace – gone were the typical reactions to my daily prescription and poor digestion. My skin was warm as I lay there nakedly enjoying the feel of soft flannel sheets and the tawny heat emanating from my own personal heater, my husband. His smooth skin touched me at places – his arm thrown across my waist, his legs intertwined with mine – and connected me to something plain and visceral, yet representative of an emotional grounding that maybe had been missing in the past. I awoke feeling well-rested. I felt good. After two and a half years of a gradual build-up of the opposite, the sensation was disorienting. <br />
<br />
I lay there in bed, slowly noticing and taking in the change. Another anomaly: although it was November, the house was warm. I was able to turn back the blankets and rise from my resting place without so much as a shiver. I didn’t hunch my shoulders against the chill air that would usually bite at the back of my neck this time of day, this time of year. I walked upright, leisurely, naked, to the bathroom. I didn’t even need slippers as I stepped onto its shiny tile floor. <br />
<br />
The sense of otherworldliness continued as I easily dressed, ate breakfast, took my pills and gathered my things for the day. The family was on auto-pilot. There was not a hitch. Both daughters calmly took care of themselves, without bickering or fighting, getting out the door easily on time and in good cheer. The newspaper sat squarely on the door mat, greeting me with thankfully benign headlines. The neighbor cat who sleeps on our front porch accepted pets without biting. The yellow leaves from our Tree of Heaven floated down gently and rhythmically. The day glowed hesitantly grey, but promisingly. <br />
<br />
I kissed my husband goodbye – his face was pleasantly smooth from a fresh shave. The absence of disagreements and negative interactions between us over the past few weeks seemed to culminate in the kiss as a new symbol of simplicity for our relationship. It was easy to kiss him, to be genuinely concerned for his recently hurt back, to wish him a good day and mean it. This day, suddenly, was a day without resentment or struggle between us. Goodwill and the simple courtesies of a life shared had, overnight, replaced less noble motivators of the past. <br />
<br />
On my bike, the ride to work felt as though it was aided by an invisible hand. I glided along effortlessly, circling my legs in a rhythm that brought pleasure, not strain. The sky, while full of high heavy rainclouds, somehow also shone brightly, giving the day a luminosity like underwater fluorescent creatures that mysteriously glow in the deepest of reaches. The humble yet solid design of the neighborhood, with its 2-bedroom bungalows and small, unkempt yards, welcomed passers-by with its damp but genuine hospitality. Fifty-foot deciduous trees slowly bathed the streets, leaf by leaf, in hues of auburn and gold. The peacefulness permeated residents who stepped calmly through their morning rituals wearing raincoats, although it wasn't raining. Moms walked tussle-headed kids to the school bus stop; high school students crossed the street in ones and twos at the crosswalks; café patrons sipped their steaming paper cups of caffeine.<br />
<br />
There was no wind. As I pedaled closer to the river, the stillness became clear. The silver surface of the water looked smeared on, like a finger painting done with oils. The texture was luscious instead of choppy, clean and beautiful like a young salmon, gliding and melding slowly with the surrounding colors, without sharp edge or frayed border. Car traffic was light. A quietness gently filled the space between buildings where typically engines clanked and droned. People along the way seemed relaxed. No one hurried. Even the bikers were less aggressive coming up the incline to the Hawthorne bridge. <br />
<br />
The plethora of harmony awed me, yet disconcerted me. It was in the air and in the water, on the faces of the people I passed, and on my skin, in my bones. Why was today different than any other? I thought, “Today represents a new normal, a relaxing starting place for peaceful healing within me and around me. I have turned the corner and am getting well.” I also thought, “These signals are the quiet before the storm - harbingers of a raucous, tumultuous time to come.” <br />
<br />
Today is November 6, 2012 – election day. I am curious to see if I was right. PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-24942440356028186562012-10-18T15:00:00.002-07:002012-10-18T15:00:54.394-07:00Respect Reverse<br />
I used to have a 100% human-powered commute. It was a point of pride to say I had made it 365 days without driving to work or even riding the bus: I ran the seven-mile round trip to and from my downtown office for a year straight. I would finish up my workout at the elementary school where I picked up my kids. I would casually mention my unbroken record amongst fellow parents as we stood on the playground watching our children play. When it rained, I entered the after-school program looking like a drowned rat, boogers and water dripping from my nose. I flaunted the obvious unpleasantness of my commuting experience like an in-your-face victory lap for all of the other families to see. I was dedicated to my lifestyle and proud of it. Maybe a little arrogant.<br />
<br />
Then, in 2010, I suddenly and painfully fell ill. The doctors diagnosed me with a serious illness, something that could affect me my entire life. I immediately underwent a difficult surgery. Multiple surgeries and procedures followed. I started periodic treatments that continue to this day. Needless to say, my life changed dramatically. But once my stitches healed, I was able to return to work. <br />
<br />
Today, no-one can tell that I am ‘sick’. I look the same, even better than before the illness. My medical condition doesn’t preclude me from running to work like I had been doing off and on for the last 13 years. In fact, I still run, just not to work. I bike. And occasionally, when I’m feeling particularly uninspired, I ride the bus.<br />
<br />
It’s not that I can’t run to work. I could load my work clothes into my backpack the night before, get up at 5:30 AM and change into my lycra and tennis shoes in the dark, tiptoeing out as my family sleeps. I could don my wool hat and gloves and set out into that silent, private place that darkness creates. Solitary, fresh, exuberant: I could still do it. I could still enjoy it. But I chose to move away from that once idealized transportation option. I consciously chose to regress. <br />
<br />
At first, I wasn’t completely happy with the change. Guilt lingered. My pride suffered. My identity as a tough cookie sagged as if I were wallowing in spilt milk. Then, one day, I was sitting on the bus as it carried me towards home, watching listlessly as traffic moved around us. I noticed a semi truck out the front window. The driver was awaiting the best moment to make a difficult move. As I watched, that moment came. He quickly executed an elaborate reverse turn into a tight loading dock that let out onto the busy street where we all waited. He decisively took the opening in the traffic and backed in fast and smooth, maneuvering his enormous cargo into the tricky slot with the ease of someone who knows exactly what he needs. I was impressed with the speed and confidence he exhibited. His bold reverse earned my respect. <br />
<br />
As the bus started up again, I thought about my own reversal, going from avid running commuter to slow cyclist and sometimes transit rider. Heck, I even drove to work a few times when appointments dictated it. When I decided to give up my running commutes, I somehow knew it was the right decision. Although I couldn’t put a finger on why, I simply knew what I needed: less responsibility, less bravado, more flexibility in my Type A ideas of how I was going to save the world. <br />
<br />
My personal ‘bigger picture’ had diminished the importance of a perfect commuting score, of out-suffering my friends and neighbors in the name of sustainability. Living with the weight of something as serious as not living had made me realize that bragging rights were solely for braggarts. Doing something for the sake of saying that I did it was not enough for me anymore. I recognized my choice to downgrade my sustainability quotient - to backslide - and I honored it. <br />
<br />
When it comes to my commute, I am doing what feels good for me. I realize that most people do what feels good to them. And regardless of how that materializes, we have to be OK with that. Sometimes sitting in a dry, warm car feels pretty good. If we want commuting habits to change, we have to offer choices that feel better.<br />
<br />
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-41337834647018726782012-10-17T14:21:00.006-07:002012-10-17T14:21:48.575-07:00They Go Together, Music and Motion For some reason, music always seems to accompany humans as they transport themselves from one place to another. Consider the Norman Rockwellian scenes in old movies, books and magazines of a man clad in suspenders and a straw hat, hands in pockets, whistling while he walks along. Walking is rhythmic, just like dancing, and it uses the same major muscle groups. Hands and feet are coordinated when transporting ourselves along a path, just as they are on the dance floor, shifting our balance and weight in our own private groove. Next time you find yourself walking for any sort of distance, take note, are you humming a little tune to yourself? <br />
<br />
As humans have devised more and more complex ways of moving from point A to point B, music seems to have come along for the ride. It frequently accompanies runners on their training runs in the form of headphones. Even running partners, who presumably run together because they enjoy each other’s company, wear headphones piping different soundtracks into their ears, the need for music trumping companionship. The repeated pumping motion of a bicyclist’s legs paired with the controlled rhythmic breathing of exertion can be a dance of sorts, and there are plenty of bikers who listen to music while they ride, despite the increased chance of accident. Portland even boasts several self-propelled, music-producing vehicles like the neighborhood “disco trike” often seen at festivals and protests around town. <br />
<br />
Music and transportation is not a new pairing. Movement of any kind seems to crave music. Take the most common method of transport in the United States – the car. Although it requires minimal exertion, ‘driving’ was the most frequent response to the question, “When do you listen to music?” on a recent Fri-host web poll. It seems that even moving by mechanical means brings forth the hankering for rhythmic bumps and melodic phrases. Just look at the history of cars and music. United Artist’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang evoked joyful outbursts of singing from whoever rode within. John Travolta exalted his hotrod “Greased Lightning” by driving off into the sunset singing, “We go together…” From Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place to Go”, to The Doobie Brothers’ “Rockin Down the Highway”, and Alabama’s “Cruisin’”, musicians have sung about the natural match of driving and music. <br />
<br />
Music and cars go together like…well, like teenagers and the need to get somewhere. First came the car, next, the car radio. These days, a car without a CD playing-stereo either has been up on blocks in grandma’s garage for the last 20 years, or has been the sad victim of a crime. Over the generations, boys circled the teen hangouts in their smooth rides with music blaring, trying to entice girls. Odds are, rollin’ with the tunes has scored more than a few hot dates. Music mixed with the freedom to move is an attractive combination. <br />
<br />
But today’s kids are less apt to drive. Insurance is expensive, let alone the price of the car itself. The bus is the next logical step. Portland Public School teens ride free on the local bus system, but time spent listening to music has not decreased, thanks to the ubiquitousness of ipods and other MP3 players. On a recent bus ride, I counted 15 of the 30 riders wearing headphones. Trimet rules state that ‘excessive noise’, which presumably includes personal music, is not allowed on the bus, but there are plenty of examples around the world where music on the bus is shared with everyone, whether they like it or not. <br />
<br />
Recently, I spent some time in Peru. The busses are all privately owned and operated, leading to fierce competition between rival bus companies. I watched this competition play out on the extremely narrow, poorly maintained roads that switch back and forth sharply alongside steep cliffs. It isn’t therefore, surprising that the incidence of bus crashes is extremely high by American standards, and the death toll often tragic. In 6 months in Pisac, Peru, there were 3 fatal bus crashes nearby. The first carried 20 plus teachers who commuted into a remote village every Monday and returned to their homes on Friday. There were no survivors. Another bus slammed into an oncoming vehicle as it was rounding a blind curve at 40 miles an hour, killing the passengers in the car and severely injuring many riders. The third accident I not only heard of through the grapevine, but saw the physical scrapes on two neighbor kids who were riding the hour-long trip home from school that night. The driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel during a double shift. <br />
<br />
On every occasion, there was music on the bus. Every bus ride, safe or sorry, comes with music - very audible music. Most busses are equipped with a loudspeaker system that dumps the driver’s choice directly onto passengers’ heads. The music is never quiet, nor very clear (radio transmissions have to fight to reach over the high mountains that surround the Sacred Valley where I lived). I can’t stand static. Here in the US, I refuse to listen to fuzzy radio signals. In Peru, that is practically all I heard. Unless, of course, the bus radio was broken. In those cases, my fellow passengers jockeyed to fill the void with songs stored on cell phones or MP3 players. Silence was not an option. The volume level was either loud or ear-splitting.<br />
<br />
Whether it serves as entertainment to pass the time, or a way to keep the driver from falling asleep, music, silent or shared, is as common on busses as backpacks and body odor. Back here in Portland, the music scene plays an important role in the identity of the city. And, we are fanatical about our public transit. Tie these two points of pride together, and we witness music and mobility merge as we ascend the evolutionary ladder of transportation. We serenade ourselves on a much grander scale, on much larger vehicles. <br />
<br />
In 2011, a group of young transportation-focused groups created a musical celebration of the latest addition to the Metro area’s multi-faceted transportation network, giving birth to the Streetcar Mobile MusicFest. The concept, broken down into its simplest form, is a toast to Portland’s Streetcar, a rolling party in honor of that sexy thing called public transit, and a celebration of moving with the music. In September 2012, a new Portland streetcar route came online. On October 5th, the Central Loop on the east side of the Willamette river played host to sixteen bands between the Rose Quarter and OMSI as the Festival marked its second year. For one night, Portland’s shiny chariot to hip nightclubs and restaurants on the inner east side resounded with the sweet sounds of live rap, mariachi, boleros, hip hop, rock and roll and indie-folk.<br />
<br />
My husband and I took part. We biked from work to the starting place on the east side of the Broadway Bridge, where normal every-day streetcars transformed into traveling music boxes full of rapt listeners. We waited only a few minutes before we saw the first streetcar that would receive its aural upgrade. We scurried to the ticket dispenser and tried to quickly buy two $1 boarding passes. The machine probably would have cooperated if we had used it before, or if we weren’t in a hurry. The five piece band, complete with upright bass, boarded the streetcar. Fifteen fans followed. We gave up on the ticket machine and jumped on just as the doors slid shut. The vehicle started powering up the slight hill towards the Lloyd District and a volunteer announced to the riders what was about to commence. She thanked the event’s sponsors and turned it over to “Ocean Floor”, the first band of the evening. No sooner had the first three tantalizing measures reached our ears, when the benevolent voice of the driver, like an omnipotent being gently scolding naughty children, overpowered the pleasant orchestral beginnings of a promising tune: “It sounds like you’re having fun back there, but I’m going to have ask you to stop playing music. It is a safety hazard and a distraction. I cannot safely operate the streetcar with music being played.”<br />
<br />
The gleaming, brand-new interior of the high-tech streetcar with its breezy, cheerful crowd and classical melodies reminded me nothing of the taped-together, cheek-to-chin-overpacked South American busses that ran on fumes as they hurtled down crumbling highways. But I instantly thought of the overworked Peruvian drivers. Was music truly a distraction? Did it cause accidents or did it keep drivers alert and engaged? The contrast between what constituted a ‘distraction’ in a developing country, where slaughter-ready pigs were stuffed into potato sacks and hauled into the passenger area, squirming and grunting at passengers’ feet, and here, where the train practically ran itself, on tracks no less - seemed absurd. Ninety percent of the riders on board the streetcar had come specifically for this musical event. Our collective mouths hung open. <br />
<br />
The Festival volunteer approached the driver’s door and they talked. She explained that his employer, Trimet, supported the event. He apparently didn’t get the memo. He refused to drive if the music continued, citing legal issues and his assertion that listening to music while operating a vehicle is unsafe. We sat at the stop for 10 minutes as he apparently talked to his supervisor. The volunteers talked to their supervisors. The band sat mute, the audience looked embarrassed and aghast.<br />
<br />
Eventually, it was clear that the driver wasn’t going to back down, so we all got off the streetcar. It was not a propitious start to the evening. We awaited the next train, straining to hear the un-amplified group outside on the platform instead of inside the quiet, insulated comfort of the streetcar. <br />
<br />
My husband and I eventually boarded a second train. We listened to the band briefly as we traveled southward on the new tracks. We wanted to experience the variety of acts the night offered, so we got off the train, walked to the other side of the couplet on Grand Avenue and waited for a new streetcar with some new music to listen to. Fifteen minutes later, a streetcar pulled up. In the driver’s seat sat our first, unyielding conductor. His streetcar had reached the southern terminus and was returning on the loop, still silently unadorned with either musicians or fans. Strike two, with the same ball! We hoped for better luck back on the MLK side of the couplet, so returned and, again, waited. We tried to purchase our required streetcar ticket again, but another passenger was waiting for her visa card to be validated in the machine, without results. She tried to cancel the transaction. Neither outcome materialized. She called Trimet to figure out a way to escape the incomplete purchase. <br />
<br />
Our third train of the evening appeared. My husband and I eagerly boarded, leaving the woman behind as she continued her battle with the ticket machine. The musician was MC Rose, a female rapper and rhymer in a red track suit and dangling gold earrings. But there was no band, not even a stereo to accompany her. Without a mic, she performed her raps and rhymes and soon ran out of material. We were treated to some freestyle rap - she made it up on the spot. These attempts were honorable, but petered out as her ability to think up good phrases caught up with the speed of her tongue. She entertained us until we reached the end of the line. There, the driver opened the doors and took his mandatory 10 minute break. <br />
<br />
The driver cleaned out the streetcar, sweeping all of us out into the cold, onto a pedestrian platform that overlooked a large empty parking lot behind OMSI. Luckily, the festival organizers had planned for this part of the routine (if not for the part about telling the drivers about the event). There sat a friendly man on a barstool, with microphone and music stand close by. It looked like we would be treated to more music. Instead, the performer told stories taken from ancient Oregonian articles, when streetcars were all the rage in the late 1800’s. The vanilla anecdotes kept us from falling asleep as we waited, but didn’t quite count as entertainment.<br />
<br />
The ‘ding ding’ of the streetcar bell told us that our streetcar was ready to get ‘back on track’. We listened to one more rhythmic poem from MC Rose, and chose to disembark and wait for another train so we could hear some music that actually had notes. We stepped out onto a dark Grand Avenue that was near the offramp from the Morrison bridge and not much else. We waited. And we waited. Maybe that ornery driver had gone on strike somewhere else down the line and was holding up all of the trains in both directions. Maybe one of the bands distracted its driver, causing him to derail. Luckily, there was a bench to rest on as we passed the lonely time by fabricating a million reasons why the streetcar didn’t come. <br />
<br />
As time wore on, we noticed that the digital sign informing waiting passengers when the train would appear was malfunctioning. At first it told us that a train would be there in 6 minutes. A few minutes later, it read 8 minutes. Then it said that a train was ‘arriving’, meaning that a streetcar should have been visible right there in front of us. But no train. A few more passengers showed up and waited with us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been tricked into waiting for a bus when I could have been eating a nice meal with friends or relaxing in my living room, listening to…music! After a grueling 23 minutes, a new record streetcar wait for me, a train rolled up, full of happy music lovers and a band with instruments! We squeezed on, eager to experience what we had envisioned the whole night should have been like – rockin’ music played loud enough to hear, an appreciative audience and a festive mood. The drummers slapped their bongos, the singer jammed, surrounded in close-quarters by attendees ranging in age from 21 to 60. We were psyched! But as we reached the next stop, the band surprised us by getting off the streetcar. <br />
<br />
My husband and I looked at each other, flabbergasted. We thought the music was going on until 9 pm, but it was only 7:30. Not wanting to ride a streetcar without music, we got off with the band to find out what was going on. The group was scheduled to play at the event’s closing party just up the block - they had to start setting up. We were unable to hide our disappointment. The jamming band walked off towards their party gig, and a reporter with professional microphone and camera turned to us, “Can I ask you a few questions about the Streetcar Music Festival?” she asked. At that moment our mood was not something I wanted broadcast to any audience, let alone one full of colleagues and peers in the transportation industry. “Some of the event organizers are our friends, so we don’t want to say anything negative, but honestly, we haven’t seen much music yet and we’ve been here for 2 hours.” I said. “So, no, please interview somebody else.”<br />
<br />
The reporter found another more willing interviewee, and we waited yet again for another opportunity to feel like we were actually participating in this event and not just waiting at a bus stop in common commuter drudgery. It occurred to me as I stood out there in the cold, that only in Portland would people be crazy enough to spend the prime hours of a Friday night sitting at a dark, cold bus stop and call it fun. And here I was, that person! But luckily, a streetcar soon arrived, carrying what would be the highlight of an evening otherwise short on entertainment. <br />
<br />
A smallish Latina woman with a crazy mouth, and a dark, curly-haired young man leaned up against a small corner inside the streetcar, beat-up guitars propped on their knees. When the streetcar started to move, they strummed out the beginnings of an upbeat Spanish ballad. They played as if they had been making music together for years. And when she opened her mouth, I was dumbstruck. Spanish poetry slid from Edna Sanchez’ mouth, in turns rolling across the train compartment like a bull barreling down the narrow streets of Seville, or clinging to her voice box like a hesitating drop of dew on the verge of falling from the lip of a rose petal. The two-piece band showed us real talent that fit the streetcar venue like a glove. She sang, she whistled and the two of them put on a worthy performance, the best that we had seen all night. A success! Finally we had gotten what we came for! And just in time, because as the streetcar reached the Festival’s boundary at the Rose Quarter, it was time for us to go. We had a dinner reservation at 8:30 a few blocks away.<br />
<br />
Our review of the Streetcar Mobile MusicFest was mixed, but we had seen many happy participants that night, and the next day Willamette Week and the Mercury heralded it as a success. Despite the practical glitches and setbacks that we experienced with our choices, the idea of passing time moving along the smooth rails of the streetcar route and enjoying musical entertainment along the way felt correct, as though music inside of gliding steel transportation devices is the way it is supposed to be. Perhaps it is the physical change in location along a direct trajectory that replicates that human desire for music as we move. Could it be that music is a basic compliment to any physical movement? People feel the urge to dance, to move their bodies when they hear music. Do they feel the need for music when they move? <br />
<br />
From elevators to airplanes, music is the background to our motion, the soundtrack of our directional movements. More and more, modern life takes on the characteristics of a movie, with music setting the scene and the mood for how we experience coming to a new place, distinct from the one we just left. Music colors our expectations, just as it heightens emotions in a suspenseful drama. It accompanies us as we maneuver through the obstacle course of our lives, perhaps even guiding us at times. If so, the Peruvian bus driver with his hand on the radio dial, MC Rose and Edna Vasquez may have more influence over us than we thought. Music may not make the wheels go around, but it certainly changes how we experience getting there.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-9102604052326979052012-10-11T09:49:00.003-07:002012-10-11T09:49:57.570-07:00Fashion on WheelsWhat is working at our daily jobs if not an opportunity for us to
look fabulous? Yes, there is that question of earning a living and
feeling fulfilled, but aside from all that, it gives us the chance to
adorn our bodies in clothing that makes us feel powerful, important, or
at least interesting. If it weren’t for our daily occupations, how many
of us would forget to change out of the appalling but comfortable
sweatpants and shapeless college-era tees we prefer to sport around the
house?<br />
<br />
Yes, work is an excuse to look sharp. But looking good each day
while riding a bicycle to work is a separate challenge, one that I
recently discovered is more often than not forsaken by my fellow bike
commuters. One crisp, sunny September afternoon, I left work early and
biked to the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge to conduct a fashion
study of Portland cyclists. I parked my faithful two-wheeled friend
alongside the bike path and wedged my $160 Dansko platform clogs into the V of the metal fencing, hoisting myself up onto the broad, flat steel rail above. I swung my purple tights-clad
thigh over the top. After a few brief moments of awkwardness – I’m
sure no one was paying attention – I managed to turn around, arrange my silk, black-polka-dot skirt
around my knees and cross my legs in modest reporter fashion. My view
as I balanced on the fence rail encompassed the entire south bikeway
looking west – the perfect data collection point for my research.<br />
<br />
It was 4:45 pm. I would be able to evaluate and tally the biking
wardrobe of every east-bound commuter coming at me from this strategic
perch.<br />
<br />
I pulled my pen and notepad out from my handmade studded pleather backpack, and tucked an escaping wisp of hair back under the cute, flower-print Nutcase helmet I still wore. It matched my pink Anthropologie blouse and added just the right aura of local hip chic to the otherwise client-appropriate outfit I had picked for work that morning.<br />
<br />
Hardly a minute passed before I was called into action by a small pack of riders approaching from the SW 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue bridge ramp. My plan was to take a one-hour sample of cyclists,
counting and classifying their attire as they made their daily commute
home after work. The timeframe, from 4:45 to 5:45, would capture
slackers who sneak out of work early (like me) and give folks a chance
to change after work if that is their thing. The first small group of
riders consisted mainly of men in jeans and T-shirts. One rider wore
logo-emblazoned tour gear a la Lance Armstrong. There were two women in
black elastane biking pants.<br />
<br />
For the next hour, cyclists came at me in spurts or in long
continuous lines of twos and threes jockeying for the pole position
going up the slight incline to SE Hawthorne Blvd. At times, my tally
marks couldn’t keep up with them all. The sheer volume of bike riders
was impressive. After the first half hour, I had put pen to paper 187
times. I ride with this enormous pack every day – I line up behind them
in the green box at the MLK traffic light, I feel their wind as they
zip past me on the uphill at SE Clinton Street. But witnessing them
now, each following one after the other like a rolling ant parade, drove
home how robust this bike-centered life is here in Portland.<br />
<br />
I have to admit I was a little surprised at what they wore.<br />
<br />
The first 15 minutes brought almost all young people – in jeans.
I personally never wear jeans to work. I rarely even wear them at
home, preferring slouch-wear, pajamas or a pretty sundress. It dawned
on me that this must be the student contingent. The servers from
Starbucks and Pizzicato had punched out. The last class of the day at
PSU had finished up. These were the pre-professionals, and jeans serve
as everyday wear that is just as appropriate and convenient on the seat
of a bike as in the seat of a classroom chair. Jeans dominated my
non-scientific study – 35 riders wore them – until 5:00 pm, and by the
end of the hour, I had counted 183 jeans-wearers; 119 men and 64 women.
Obviously, the ‘Portland casual’ look played heavily outside of the
classroom too, accounting for 23% of the cyclists that hour.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hawthorne-bridge-fashion.png"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-3986 aligncenter" height="272" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hawthorne-bridge-fashion.png" style="border: 3px solid black;" title="hawthorne bridge fashion" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The second noticeable wave of fashion was the shorts and T-shirts set.
Mostly men, these riders swarmed a little later, between 5:10 and
5:30. I imagined office workers changing out of their slacks and dress
shirts in office bathroom stalls. They donned leftover weekend clothes –
whatever had been tossed on the bedroom floor Sunday night:
multi-pocketed cargo shorts, barbeque-stained T-shirts, an occasional
button up madras shirt – and were now sweating in them. In this same
category, I lumped those who wore athletic attire of any sort. Women
more often than men wore windproof, ripstop biking pants, stretch pants
or full-length athletic tights. My favorite rider in this category wore
super short blue running shorts, but kept his shirt and tie from the
office. (Apparently, he only sweats from the waist down.) This sexy
combination caused me to stare, and he waved at me, smiling big. I
watched his royal blue tie flap in the wind and his nicely muscled
thighs pump the pedals. The distraction made me miss the next five
riders.<br />
<br />
As should be expected, athletic gear and shorts dominated the hour
with 46% of riders, 260 men and 115 women choosing them as the
appropriate attire for a tranquil September afternoon ride home.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/gender-hawthorne-bridge-fashion_thumb.png"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3987 aligncenter" height="244" src="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/gender-hawthorne-bridge-fashion_thumb.png" style="border: 3px solid black;" title="Fashion choices on the Hawthorne Bridge by gender" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Interspersed among these groups was the occasional pro-biker wannabe.
These riders looked serious; perhaps they live in Gresham, from the
built-for-distance, multi-colored spandex shorts they wore. Their
matching singlets, emblazoned with sponsor names and banana pockets,
frequently camouflaged middle-aged paunches. These riders almost all
carried panniers on their bikes instead of backpacks. Like I said –
serious! Fifty-seven men and 15 women considered their ride grueling
enough to wear only the finest in bike gear. As a fashion category, this
group had a poor showing at only 9%. A mere 72 riders emulated the
style of the pros. Could the recent de-throning of the allegedly
drug-addled Tour legend, Armstrong, have something to do with these
paltry numbers?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://portlandafoot.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tunes.jpg"></a>My favorite category was the well-dressed biker.
These were people who, with the easy addition of a pant-leg strap and
the loosening of the tie, transitioned from high-powered client meetings
to high-speed escapades down the Eastbank Esplanade in seconds flat.
Men wore dress shirts and ties; women wore slacks and flats. There were
86 men who did nothing more than roll up a pants leg and swing it over
their bike to get on the road. Surprisingly, this is the only category
where women out-performed men. Ninety-one females of all shapes and
sizes did away with the fuss and bother of packing a change of clothes
for their commute. They wore what could be considered office clothing,
including simple skirts, boots, slacks, penny-loafers, sandals and
blouses. My favorite business-attire rider, not unlike my favorite
blue-shorts-and-tie man, demonstrated the value of mixing genres. She
wore a tight little black skirt and an elegant blouse, but underneath
she had sensibly chosen hot pink lycra shorts that flashed with every
turn of the crankshaft. In my one hour sample, I observed 146 people
(22%) who found it unnecessary to change their clothes before their
commute. Like me, they probably ride a little slower than the rest so
as not to muss their dry-clean-only items.<br />
<br />
During
this study, I saw a man covered in bags full of plastic bags, a women
in her hospital scrubs, a grown man riding a scooter in shirtsleeves and
tie, a giant tricycle carrying mom, dad and child, two shirtless men,
and a smattering of children riding behind their parents on variations
of bicycles built for two. I learned that men ride more than women, at a
rate of almost 2 to 1. I viewed a wide variety of work and fitness
attire and inferred that those who changed into different
clothing for their commute, about 54%, think of it as an athletic
activity, while the remaining 46% don’t necessarily. Overall, I
counted 807 thin, fat, tall, short, brown, white, hairy, bald, young
and old people as they powered themselves efficiently and cleanly across
our famously bike-friendly bridge. That averages 13 people per
minute. Most of them wore shorts – and a smile.<br />
<br />
I hopped down from my observation deck and stowed my research tools
back in my cute little backpack. I have to admit, I was a little
disappointed with the results. I was looking for fashion statements,
riders who thumbed their noses at the concept that cycling and looking
great are like oil and water. I was hoping to see patent-leather pumps
and floral-print peasant skirts; pink ruffles with matching thigh-highs,
Brooks Brothers jackets, suspenders and spiffy Dolce and Gabbana silk
ties. Apparently, Portlanders are a little too practical – or they
sweat more than I do.<br />
<br />
So, with a sigh, I mounted my two-wheeler and merged with the
still-heavy traffic streaming out of downtown, taking my familiar place
amongst my pack. With my black polka-dots, my bright, flouncy,
lace-trimmed blouse and my purple tights, I headed for home in the slow
lane, a single point of eye-catching fabulousness in the thick of the
crowd.PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191679618562359314.post-44122604520471909952012-09-30T15:35:00.001-07:002012-10-11T10:02:04.396-07:00Love<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love takes many forms. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is puppy love – the shy,
confused kind you feel at age 5 when a tall, sun-kissed-blonde, 13-year old named
Wilber from across the street stoops over to pat your curls and tie your
shoe. “Aren’t you a sweet potato pie?”
he asks, dimples in full relief as he grins at you, half boy, half man. Those long-ago five minutes when you first
discovered - up close - how alluring shirtless summer skin can be as it brushes
against your pudgy cheek. Oh, the
flutter that brief attention causes in your skinny chest. Like a thin, warm cinder, the moment glows
softly over the following months and years.
You watch for Wilber’s entrances and exits from across the forbidden
barrier of the street, hoping he will remember that you are his sweet potato
pie. Unknowingly, Wilber earns your secret
baby affections from afar, cluelessly enchanting you with his bent-legged cartwheels,
his tree-climbing skills and the freewheeling laughter that rings out from
high-up branches. Puppy love’s innocent
affection, its wide-eyed awe and inevitable impossibility introduce us to the
world of romantic attraction.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there is the other kind
of puppy love – love for actual puppies.
This puppy love, very different from the other kind, pangs sweetly with
a sappy tenderheartedness. It suffuses
your body when you spy that one, dark-eyed ball of fur that seems to love only
you. His heart-rending neediness and his
unwavering, wagging yearning to be close to you strikes a chord on your heartstrings. He gleefully submits to you, laying himself
out vulnerably as if he knows you alone are innately unable to harm him. To him, you are all-powerful, all-loving. You are so stricken with him that you sign up
to feed, walk and care for this living creature for the next 20 years. He seems perfectly suited to please you, from
his delightful little kisses to the squirming of his malleable little puppy body. You take him home, driving with him wrapped
inside your jacket because you can’t bear to hear him cry to be apart from
you. He is your new best-friend-for-life. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Months later, when that
fuzzy, warm ball of fur plops down for a nap on your foot, round belly still protruding
pinkly like a baby, you melt anew with puppy love. There is something about the wet nose
nuzzling your hand, begging for the hundredth scratch behind the ears, that
draws out the sweetheart in you. When you
return from a short trip to the store, he senses your approach from a block
away. His exuberant ecstasy causes his whole
body to quake and he wets himself with glee at the joy of simply being in your
presence again. This undying joy cements
his place in your heart. Just by being
yourself, you earn his worship. This
kind of puppy love is instantly rewarding.
It converts you from an underpaid foot soldier on the treadmill of
adulthood to an all-powerful goddess, bestowing happiness with a gentle gesture
and a smile. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both kinds of puppy love,
however, grow older. Wilber grows spotty
facial hair and starts hanging out on his front porch drinking beer with
scruffy-looking n’ere-do-wells. His crunched
up beer cans litter the sidewalk. He burps loudly and plays guitar badly. His beat-up rust-bucket squeals annoyingly as
he skids down the street at 2 in the morning.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your fuzzy, four-legged
friend also ages. He starts chewing
shoes…and furniture and records and $90 work slacks. He grows fat in a way that
isn’t so cute anymore. Pooch develops
allergies. He sheds. The glossy fur you loved to pet comes out in
handfuls and forms tumbleweeds that tickle your nose and accumulate in the
corners of your living room. He licks
his balls then turns to lick your face or steal a bite of your toast. That cute little puppy voice becomes an
incessant barking that annoys the neighbors and causes disharmony on the once-friendly
block. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually, puppy love dissipates
and disappears. But at least for Fido, you
stick with it (Wilber can take care of himself). Year after year, you continue to feed and
walk and clean up after your aging sidekick.
You still play tug-o-war when he feels chipper. He still lies on your foot and nudges your
hand, asking for affection. And you
still give it. The many years of happy
companionship he has brought you with his undying devotion deserve as much. Puppy love has turned into old-dog care and
maintenance.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are many stages of
love. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is first love, when you
have passed through puberty successfully and are surprised to discover that a male
can be interesting and funny, and interested in you. You share a chance conversation after
softball practice with the coach’s son.
He laughs at your jokes. He looks
you in the eyes and doesn’t look away, eager to know more about you. He asks you questions and listens to the
answers. You mention a song you like; he
asks if you would copy it for him. Mutual
interest emboldens both of you to seek each other out at gatherings and think
up excuses to call each other on the phone.
You spend time together, away from your friends. You lay side by side on the grass talking for
hours. He turns to hear you better. You turn to see him as he talks. Your faces are very close. So close, in fact that you feel like you
should stop talking, but talking allows your lips to move, distracting you from
the fact that your knees are touching his knees and your belly is growing
warmer from his surprising body heat, co-mingling with yours like his earthy
scent and the fresh grass smell beneath your cheek. Your words grow laconic and pointless, their
only purpose remains to prove that you two are still just talking. Somehow your lips are forming words and
simultaneously drawing closer to his.
Sentences come out as a jumble of unrelated words: “Pineapples……hang-glide……predator”. Your brain is unable to keep up the charade
convincingly as the ‘P’ sound brings skin to skin, a gentle push, and you give
up the farce, reaching the rest of your mouth out towards his in an innocent
first kiss.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First love is ill-fated,
like Romeo and Juliet. Soon jealousy
overtakes you. You see him, bolstered by
the new confidence your affections have given him, flirting with other girls,
trying out his appeal on a larger audience.
The recent feeling of walking on clouds becomes one of being mired in
the sticky complexities of pride and selfishness. What once was uplifting is oppressive,
sucking greedily at your time and emotions; combative, boxing your heart with
heavy, clumsy punches; obfuscated, all but forgotten beneath the thorny brambles
of teenagers struggling for self-esteem and identity. Of course, you are young and fickle, so it
ends quickly, and badly, bringing new sensations of humiliation, failure and a guilty
longing for the dizzying perfection shared only weeks earlier. You yearn for that first pure and innocent moment
in the grass as you fume over the new girl – outward proof of his newly
bolstered sense of self-worth and your worthlessness.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You get over it, and move on
eventually. After first love, comes
second love. Second love turns out to be
an unsupportable infatuation, and third love was really only about his body in
the end. By the time fourth love tries
to sneak into your life, you have graduated from soft, sweet kisses to all that
there is to know about men and women together in the dark. You are an adult, you think you are savvy
about love. You know how to distinguish
the butterfly feelings in your chest from a solid sense of connection. You are able to put aside the fancy dinners
out, the cunnilingus and the impromptu skinny dipping in the park to evaluate
whether this person can help you achieve your life goals. Love takes on more responsibility. You are starting to realize that even a solid
connection isn’t enough. Is this the
person you can build your dream with? Will
you become a better person with him at your side? Can you trust him with decisions that would
change your life? Can you, indeed, trust
him with your life?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the answers to these
questions are all affirmative, you realize that this is a new kind of love - a somewhat
calculated love, functional and anchored by shared values. Ideas about politics, money, children and
lifestyle weigh more heavily on the scale than you ever thought they would. This love has a checklist attached: Does he have a job? Does he do what he says he is going to do? Does he treat his mother with respect? This fourth love is the marrying kind. As dry as it sounds, it has to pass the
practicality test. But yet it is founded
on mutual affection and admiration. In
fact, shared practicalities open up a new way to realize affection and respect,
which in turn translates into a new and different way of looking at love, one
that is there for the long haul.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love feels good.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The love a mother feels for
her child might be the sweetest love. As
your wee lass nurses, suckling on your warm flesh, she gazes up into your face
as if you are the sun and the moon to her.
She studies and learns every curve of your face. Her wide open eyes adore you and absorb you
as if you were the milk flowing into her mouth.
In fact, as far as she can tell, you are the milk and the milk is
you. You are the satisfied feeling in
her stomach and that feeling is you.
Little warm hands clutch at your breast, her eager, heart-shaped mouth
searches for the source of those good feelings.
And you are so proud and pleased to be able to give it to her, to supply
her with what she needs, from food, to warmth to that gentle rocking motion new
parents adopt whenever they are standing still.
Her desire for you, unembarrassed, unprotected, simple and needy,
ignites a love more intimate and breathtaking than carnal love. The sight of her or the sound of her
plaintive whimper feeds your craving to be of service, opening the milk gates
without warning. Being so important and
so rewarded, as she smiles up at you, nipple still clutched in her toothless gums,
stirs a biological love, both physical and emotional. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love changes over time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Husbands lose their hair and
stop rubbing your feet when you get home from work. Babies mature into independent, sassy, teenage
daughters, refusing your hugs and kisses and walking five paces behind you to
avoid embarrassment. You slack off in your efforts to please your family,
settling into a maintenance state of simply not-displeasing. Formerly intense feelings of closeness and
mutual adoration morph into lazy routine.
The ruts you have formed deepen as you travel along the tired old
passageways in your emotional life. Occasionally,
you jump the tracks for a refreshing moment of candid mother-daughter talk or a
spontaneous romantic detour with the old man.
What used to be that tickly feeling upon seeing your beloved has been
replaced with the solid reassurance of new cabinets in the kitchen and the
calming murmur of the faithful, still-functioning washing machine in the
basement. Your physical expressions of
love are now mainly intellectual expressions of satisfaction for what you have
built together. The pride you used to
feel holding your lover’s arm as you strolled down University Avenue is now a solid
certainty that you are marching together toward major life milestones. Your vision of what kind of life you wanted is
unfolding as planned. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That butterfly flutter from
rubbing your lips against the sweet cherub cheek of your baby daughter is unavailable
to you now. Instead, you rely on surrogate
excitement, like the endorphin rev you get in spinning class or the perfect peach
cobbler found at book club. Passion and
adoration for your partner turn to mature appreciation and, if you are lucky, familiar
enjoyment. Years of memories fill in that
part of your brain that needs emotional stimulation. You fondly reminisce about those lusty nights
spent pursuing your future husband when he had a six-pack, or you joke about the
ergone cycles of joy, fatigue and relief that came with herding little people
from diapers, to first wobbly bike rides down the driveway, to high school
proms. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We move through many kinds
of love in our lives and share it with many different people, sometimes
watching it change from one kind of love to another. By its very definition, love is good, in all of
its forms. There is subtle love, deep
love, explosive love, submitting love, motherly love, doting love, devoted
love, compassionate love, responsible love, body-based love, brain-based love,
sisterly love, friendly love, respecting love, love for one’s parents and love
for dependent creatures of all types. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is one more type of
love that may top them or encompass them all.
I like to call it pure love. Pure
love is a kind of love that surpasses all worldly definitions of what love can
or should be. There are no roles and no
rules to this kind of love. It sees no
boundaries and no limits. It doesn’t run
out or grow stale. It doesn’t start or
stop with the vacillations of people’s life stages or their actions and behaviors. Pure love is a feeling of affinity so deeply
felt that to demonstrate it depends not on the relationship between the one who
loves and her beloved, but upon whatever those two people need at that
particular moment in their lives.
Whatever social circumstances exist are inconsequential. Pure love answers whatever need is there,
regardless of the age, gender, relationship or history of the participants. In a pure love relationship, we would be willing
to suckle the beloved if he were a baby, kiss this same person passionately if
he were a grown man, or comfort him in his sickbed if he were old and infirm. Pure love gives what is necessary. It molds itself into whatever form best
serves its recipient.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we love purely, we
don’t care about how it looks or why we feel the way we do. We don’t keep a tally of the pros and cons. We don’t decide whether the recipient is
deserving. We can feel pure love for an
individual - a kindred soul who connects with us on a profound level. We can feel this deep love for groups of
people, like our family, immediate or extended.
Entire communities and even nations can be the focus of pure love. Whatever is needed from us, we give, happy to
be of service to those whom we love.
Pure love can be directed toward the entire world, with all of its human
and non-human inhabitants, spiritual and otherwise. And as members of this community, we
ourselves are recipients. Indeed, the
most important form of pure love is the love we feel for ourselves. Loving ourselves without conditions or
boundaries, regardless of our critical evaluation of our strengths and weaknesses,
through every stage and every turn our life takes, this is a love in its
highest form, a cornerstone to all other forms of love from motherly love to
the love we feel for strangers in Nairobi.
It cannot be bad. With
not much more than a blind faith in this alone, we can love ourselves with such
tenacity and depth that nothing can break it.</span></span></div>
PortlandViewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00210755791172654238noreply@blogger.com0