The deaths of Tracey Sparling and Brett Robert Jarolimek have me really angry. The inhumane nature of our cities comes through so clearly in these stupid tragedies.

Last week, waiting for a bus downtown, I saw a car pull into the curb, across the bike lane, right in front of a bike. The guy wasn't going too fast, so he was able to swerve out of the way — into traffic, but he was ok. And then he stopped and pounded on the car in anger. Actually, he pounded twice: the driver was so fucking unaware of anything (as tends to be the case when one's head is up one's ass), s/he didn't hear the first time. The biker deserved to be pissed; I just hope his anger didn't make him ride foolishly.

So I went off on BlueOregon this evening, calling out the police and city and Metro — all of whom are complicit in these deaths. Since we have bike lanes, and lots of riders, and we have bike racks on buses and a plan for the future, and since the whole world knows Portland is the #1 biking city in the USA — why should we do anything about our streets today?

Because people are dying. And the really crappy weather, with the short, dark days, are coming. Because we can't be complacent with simply being better than other cities. Most cities in America are shit places to ride a bike. Portland is good, but not good enough.

And on a bike, "not good enough" can be a death sentence.

Read & comment at BlueOregon.

I simply have too much to say. I really do care about what's going on in the world, and I want to be part of the solutions. I try to be part of local solutions, but the thing I most want to do -- fix the world with my writing -- is a lot harder to do. The whole publishing thing is tough enough, getting my completed words to places where people will read them; I'd really like to get paid for writing, but for now, in these nascent stages, I'm happy when I get the chance to be read for free. Just to be read: for me, that's the goal right now. In time, if I keep pushing forward, I'll get paid gigs. Maybe I'll even become a Professional Writer.