Tag Archives: Bicycle/Bike Safety

The West’s hazardous highways

America’s car culture kills people and wrecks communities. White was just one of the 6,800 motorists, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians killed on the roads, highways and streets of the Western U.S. during the first nine months of 2023 alone. In the U.S., this region’s per capita death rate is rivaled only by that of the […]
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Salem to see pedestrian, bike upgrades on Commercial Street SE

New bike and pedestrian safety infrastructure is coming to Commercial Street SE in south Salem from Oxford Street to Madrona Avenue SE. Construction is set to begin in March. The project includes installing new high-visibility bike lanes, a bicycle signal to cross Liberty Road S, and a rapid flashing beacon on Commercial at Triangle Drive […]
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Trucking advocates say they’ve been squeezed by road diets, want to change Oregon bike lane law

In recent years, the Oregon Department of Transportation has slowly but surely added buffer zones to create wider bike lanes on many road projects. In some cases, they’ve implemented road diets and narrowed the existing lanes to make more room for bike riders. These shifts represent progress from ODOT to build a system more accessible […]
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The rules of the road are changing, but not fast enough for everyone

Matt Keenan was an experienced cyclist. He knew the best bike routes around San Diego, and bought the brightest lights for his bike. None of that was enough to keep him alive. Keenan was killed by a driver who crossed over the road’s double yellow line and hit him head on in the opposite bike […]
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Data Bank:Here’s how Oregon rolls on climate-friendly transportation policies per NRDC ranking

Oregon is well-positioned to harness a huge influx of federal transportation dollars “to improve equity, public health and climate outcomes,” according to a recent report from the Natural Resources Defense Council analyzing transportation policies across the nation. Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 have unleashed […]
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GUEST COLUMN: New law could benefit drivers, cyclists

On Jan. 1, a new Oregon law may make roads safer by helping drivers who struggle with the issue of passing slow movers like cyclists riding in no-passing zones: A driver can cross to the left side of a roadway where a no-passing zone is designated when an obstruction makes it necessary to drive to […]
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Oregon drivers can pass cyclists in no-passing zones starting in January

A new law in Oregon will let drivers pass a slow-moving cyclist in a no-passing zone. Starting Jan. 1, vehicles traveling at less than half the speed limit will be considered road obstructions. Therefore, drivers in no passing zones will be allowed to cross into the left lane of the roadway to get around them. Eugene resident […]
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Bike crash numbers in Bend slow after teen death

Bicycle crashes in Bend that required emergency medical attention have dropped in recent months following a fatality and a campaign to raise bike safety awareness. From July through September, Bend Fire & Rescue responded to 41 bike crashes in Bend, a 27% decline compared to the same period a year ago, when 56 crashes occurred […]
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Oregon traffic injury data collected in new online dashboard

A new online dashboard tracks transportation related deaths and injuries in the state. The Oregon Transportation Safety Dashboard was developed by the Injury and Violence Prevention Program at the Oregon Health Authority. Source: Oregon traffic injury data collected in new online dashboard

Survey: Oregon bike ridership low due to air quality, safety

Almost 40% of Oregonians in a recent survey say they bicycle less, according to research published by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, a Portland-based nonpartisan group that surveys state residents on various political, social and economic topics. Among those more likely to report a decline in ridership are Oregonians living in rural communities, women […]
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