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[June 27th, 2007]
DOING THAT CRAZY HAND JIVE
Your June 13 article "The Good, the Bad and the Awful" proclaims about Sen. Ginny Burdick: "The cycling enthusiast made headlines for a goofy bill proposing a new hand signal for pedestrians wanting to cross streets." This bill is not goofy; it is smart, clear and has increased traffic safety in Europe.
Currently, pedestrians must step into traffic to claim their lawful place in the roadway. This bill, Senate Bill 573, is a necessary change allowing pedestrians to exercise their right-of-way in crosswalks by raising their hands toward traffic. Children walking to school, seniors, and families could clearly signal they intend to cross streets without risking their safety by stepping into moving traffic.
SB 573 would be easy to teach, follow and enforce. The bill was based on a similar Norwegian law, which has contributed to one of the world's lower pedestrian deaths rates, about half the rate of the United States.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance's Legislative Committee conceived SB 573; we worked with the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition and Sen. Burdick, a staunch proponent of pedestrian and bicyclist rights, to hone it. She sponsored and guided the bill through Senate passage. We believe it died in the House Judiciary Committee (by one vote) because legislators failed to understand that it merely offered pedestrians a safe way to exercise existing legal rights.
This bill would create improved community environments where, for example, parents feel reassured allowing their children to walk across neighborhood streets to school.
To call this goofy is short-sighted and uninformed.
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Ray Thomas, Bike Lawyer and Legislative Committee Member
Scott Bricker, Policy Director
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
"BAD" MEANS GOOD, YO
I'm always amused by Willamette Week's legislative ratings issue because it's sure to include some great one-liners ["The Good, the Bad and the Awful," June 13, 2007]. I find it odd that a newspaper would turn over its publication to allow anonymous lobbyists to take pot shots at the legislators they lobby. But it's all fun, since nobody could possibly take it seriously, right?
I was pretty astonished, though, to see you give a "bad" rating to Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, suggesting that your 30 responses came primarily from a lot of pissed-off business lobbyists.
Rep. Dingfelder's pre-session agenda included promoting biodiesel, establishing a system for responsibly recycling electronic waste, expanding the bottle bill, promoting renewable energy and clamping down on pay day loans (she and Speaker Merkley were pioneers on the issue).
So what happened? They all passed or are on the verge of passing. She's a major reason why we're wrapping up the most positive session for the environment in 30 years, something I think Willamette Week would applaud. Sure, she was very focused on the environment—that's the committee she chaired. Our children will have a better, brighter future because of Jackie Dingfelder's leadership.
Of course, if by "bad" Willamette Week means "bad for polluters" or "bad for loan sharks," then heck yes, Dingfelder was bad.
Jonathan Poisner
Executive Director
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
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