Great approach, Eric.

I live in Vancouver, but work several days a month in Bend, and I try to ride there before I drive back as often as I can. I have found Bend to be a very bike friendly community. Drivers seem pretty tolerant and I have often had Bend police wave back to me, as I wave (nicely...) while riding.

I think this is the kind of healthy solution oriented approach that could have a real impact to a situation that needs it. When two groups become more and more polarized by something like this, it can get turn ugly quickly. And then, no one wins. Here is a big THANK YOU for stepping up to help turn it in a positive direction.

-Tim Schauer

-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Eric Chu
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 11:53 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; bendcycling@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [OBRA Chat] conversation with Bend Police Chief about Bulletin article

fyi all:

I had a productive conversation over the phone with interim Police
Chief Sandi Baxter on Friday.

She was very receptive to comments from myself and others that had
reached her regarding the Bend Bulletin article on bike safety and
the comments made by Sgt. Koester. She very much regretted that what
Sgt. Koester meant, and what he ended up saying didn't quite end up
being the same thing.

As a result of this incident, they are making sure that individuals
who make statements to the media, do so thoughtfully and present a
complete picture of the issue, whatever it may be, without blaming
any particular group.

She is also checking with the public works dept. on the status of
bike lane striping (in response to the letter to the Source by Scott
Moyer) to make sure that bike lanes are clearly marked. (Scott, if
you read this, Chief Baxter would like to contact you personally and
address your concerns)

I'm going to suggest to her that a letter of clarification from the
police dept. to the Bulletin would go a long way with the public and
clear up any unintended messages.

I am cautiously optimistic that we can turn the tide of negative
perceptions about the cycling community, now that we have a dialog
going, and many of us are working to improve our own image by
following the rules of the road.

Thanks to Jim Clinton and Peter Gramlich on the Bend City council,
and City Manger Eric King for being responsive to this issue. And
thanks to Chief Baxter for reaching out and contacting me to discuss
the issue.

eric

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