After reading much about bikers being cited and warned for infractions around Bend, I would like to offer my experiences and thoughts. Many times I have had to avoid careless cyclists who ignored traffic signs, lights and the rules of the road in general. I was under the impression that cyclists should obey laws like any motorist. An example is cyclists who ride on sidewalks in the downtown area. While having lunch this weekend and sitting outside at a popular restaurant I observed six bikers riding the sidewalks in a span of about 40 minutes. People walking with children, dogs, or window shopping are at risk of injury because of this behavior. But nothing appears to be done to discourage or inform these bikers of their inconsiderate riding. If a car were driving on downtown sidewalks I am sure action would be taken. I realize this is an extreme analogy, but do the rules of the road apply?
Opinion
No Rabbit Shortage Here
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Deschutes County Shoots the Messenger
In ancient times, the legends say, potentates used to execute messengers who dared to bring them bad news. The custom of literally killing the messenger appears to have died out, but they're still metaphorically killing messengers in Deschutes County.
The Deschutes Economic Alliance is a group that's trying to find some way for Deschutes County to claw its way out of the abyss it fell into when the real estate bubble its economy was floating on popped. To aid in that task it's hired some consultants, one of them being Southern California-based Bill Watkins.
Certified Fresh Straight Poop: It’s Good For You
Monday, July 18Stranger and stranger: John Hoare, former reporter who first blew the whistle on phone-hacking by Rupert Murdoch's News of the World, found dead in his apartment … John Yates, assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard, quits, following lead of top cop Sir Paul Stephenson … Pranksters hack website of Murdoch's The Sun tabloid, post story saying Murdoch found dead … Directors of News Corp. wondering if it's time for Murdoch to go … That explains a lot: Former neo-Nazi pre-teen pop singers Lynx and Lamb Gaede, now 19, say they now embrace diversity. “My sister and I were home-schooled,” explains Lynx … Nothing can explain this: Lionsgate producing new sitcom called “Anger Management” starring Charlie Sheen as a psychotherapist. The irony is almost painful.
Wasca-We Wabbits
Hooray for Jim Anderson for the great article on our jackrabbits. I hope it is read by millions and that every hunter in Central Oregon lays off killing them.
Cutting Kermit and His Friends
If you wanted to reduce the federal debt, would your top priorities be eliminating public television, pollution controls, and head-start programs? These are strange times in all capitols, but perhaps the strangest in Washington is the disconnect between the stated objective – restoring fiscal balance – and the means the House of Representatives has chosen, which have so little to do with fiscal matters at all. Instead, we have a war on one party's favorite boogeymen. Off with their heads!
Some Drivers Are Bikers, Too
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With the onslaught of bikers visiting Bend to compete, I’m reminded of an experience I had a few years ago.
Creeping through town lined with parked cars, my son and I were in a Miata with the top down. BOOM! Suddenly there was a biker spread across our windshield. He was on his way to the race; we were on our way home. As he writhed in pain onlookers quickly acted and called an ambulance. My son and I were extremely distraught, had minor injuries and were completely ignored. We overheard comments, “driving too fast,” “why don’t people look.” When the police came they attended to the biker and then came to us, asked us what happened and if we were OK.
Honestly, I had no idea what happened and what I possibly could have done to create such a trauma. After the police did their investigative work, they came to our home that evening and explained to us that the biker had blazed through a stop sign and ran into our car. While the unprotected biker in pain seemed to be the victim, it turned out that we, the car driver and passenger, were the victims.
As I drove my son to his mountain biking class this morning, passing the practicing racers on the road, I contemplated my dual lifestyle. Both a driver and supporter of bikers I’d like to remind us all to be careful and respectful of each other.
– anonymous
Shout Out to Juniper
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I've lived in Bend for over 20 years, but it wasn't until eight months ago that I found out how amazing Juniper Swim and Fitness Center is. Juniper is a public facility with very affordable rates that is clean, family friendly and run by people who care about what they do. Juniper feels like a community space for exercise and good energy.
OPEN LETTER TO THE BEND PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
On June 16, I went to the congregate meal site to have lunch and listen to music with an older adult client. The meal was interrupted before it began by a panel from
BPRD [Bend Park and Recreation District] and community partners representing the “social serves” aspect of the current Senior Center. Not only was I appalled at the lack of etiquette making this group wait over 45 minutes for their meal, but to hear the Park and Recreation spokesperson tell these Seniors that they were going to move the meal site to the Bend Community Center; repeatedly stating that these seniors were not being “kicked out” of the Center; and that [Bend] Park and Rec was not a “social services” agency, but a “recreation” agency.
What a great scam BRPD played on the older adults in this community! Ten years ago, they asked, “Give us money” and we will build you a new Senior Center where you can come for congregate meals and enjoy activities! The Center was built with funds from the community so that seniors had a place to go to meet, enjoy a meal together, and engage in other activities that are geared toward older adults. Obviously, the Bend Parks and Recreation Board does not understand recreation from this culture's point of view, nor does it understand how difficult it is for many of these seniors to get around.
Shame on you for not understanding that the meal site is an activity for many seniors – possibly the only one that many of them enjoy in a day or week or month.
Bait and Switch at the Senior Center
I am writing this letter on behalf of some of the senior citizens that go to the Senior Center to eat lunch. On Thursday June 16 I attended the Bend Park and Recreation panel discussion about moving the noon meal to the Bend Community Center.
