Bend, Oregon, gets its first ghost bike.

[Eric C.]

It was inevitable, after numerous write-ups in magazines declaring Bend, Oregon, as one of the top-whatever destinations, we’ve hit the big time. Chain restaurants and big box stores have made it official.

And now we have our first ghost bike. At least, it’s the first one I’ve seen.

On August 13, 2008, Keith W. Moon was traveling in a bike lane, in the same directions as traffic, when a vehicle from the opposite direction turned left across his path. Moon died at the scene. The ghost bike appeared at the scene of the accident a few days later. This was the second fatal crash in less than two months. Bend has a population of only just above 75,000.

On June 24, 2008, Duane “Duke” Noteboom was turning left from a left-hand turn lane into a parking lot entrance when a pick-up truck turned left out of the parking lot and struck Noteboom with such force and speed that the truck bounced as it went over him. Noteboom was in critical condition until he died four days later. His death was not even reported by the local paper, aside from a small obituary notice. We have yet to see any sort of follow-up story on the crash and his death.

By my estimate, there were over 400 people at Keith's memorial service. His impact on the community was immense.

Duke was 85 years old. He collected cans for recycling and rode his bike, not because he had to, but because he wanted to stay active.

It's hard to deal with the frustration.

It’s frustrating to hear news reports of crashes that report with ridiculous emphasis the rider was not wearing a helmet, as if that choice caused the crash by itself. The police or media never report that a pedestrian on a sidewalk who was injured by a vehicle wasn’t wrapped in bubble wrap, yet they routinely report that cyclists weren’t wearing helmets, even when adults are not required to in Oregon.

I know they do so to supposedly promote the use of helmets (and seatbelts in the event of injuries to motorists) as a matter of policy, but the end result is blaming the victim.

It’s frustrating to hear the police repeat statements (as if they were fact) by drivers that say the driver just didn’t see the cyclist….a euphemism for the driver just didn’t look.

It’s frustrating to wait and hear “the investigation is ongoing”. Will the police and district attorney ultimately uphold the laws that are supposed to protect cyclists in the state of Oregon, where cyclists are treated equally as vehicles under the law? I know, it’s not like CSI or Law and Order on TV. A case isn’t investigated and brought to trial with a verdict reached within an hour. We just all have to be patient.

It’s frustrating whenever there is public debate about sharing the road, it immediately degenerates into an “us vs. them” name-calling festival, instead of a discussion about personal responsibility for everyone to be aware of other users of the road, no matter what they happen to be piloting. There have been much publicized cases of conflict in Portland, that have less to do with cyclists and motorists and more to do with just plain whackjobs that shouldn’t be on the road, regardless if it’s on two wheels or four.

At the beginning of this season, I started volunteering for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, a statewide cycling advocacy organization based in Portland. After my first few rides of the season, I couldn’t believe the number of near misses I’d already had and the blatant harassment and intimidation from drivers while I was lawfully riding on the road and behaving myself.

When people ask why I got involved in bike advocacy and bike safety education. I used tell them it was for purely selfish reasons. I just want to ride my bike without being hassled or getting almost run over every time I get on my bike.

Now, I do it also so people don’t forget about people like Duke and Keith.

--Eric C.

[Josh Boggs]

That's a very sad photo, but as Eric C. said, a real wake-up call for all user groups to pay attention, regardless of how many wheels are on our vehicles.

[Eric C.]

With all the trash talk between cyclists and motorists...it's easy for people to forget that real people get injured or killed when people aren't paying attention to what they're doing on the road. E.C.

[Jason Elhardt]

Thanks Eric. I think we all need to be reminded to remember our friends and fellow bike riders.

j