Here's what I want to know: why is everyone blaming everyone else when it comes to all the cycling deaths in Portland this summer? We're all to blame: the cyclists, the drivers, the police, the politicians, the media and the culture around us.

I'm not trying to make an "I BLAME SOCIETY" statement here, but I really think that these latter two pieces are especially to blame because they affect every other piece. We tend to assimilate into our surroundings. I'm sure that before the advent of its many bike paths and bike lanes and the DMV's inclusion of dealing with bicycles in the drivers' license test, Portland was a much scarier place to ride in. I'm sure no one noticed because there were far fewer people doing it then anyways.

My point is that we need to create the safe, pro-bike environment we need to safely ride around in. And I think one place we can start is with the damned signs. Somewhere in my travels I remember seeing a bike route or bike yield sign that had the usual stick figure.. but it had a helmet on! I know not everyone wants to wear one and that studies have shown that helmet laws tend to actually reduce numbers of people cycling, but perhaps this is because the environment supports this idea.

From Santa Barbara:

to the Oregon Coast:

I propose we all get some stencilis and some spray paint and correct this little safety issue. You have to create the environment you want to live in somehow. I know that's why I rode to work for 4 years or so mainly by the freeway. I wanted the drivers in my environment to be aware of cyclists. Hanging out on the bike path or in the bike lanes, they pay no attention. But on the busiest streets, they notice. Over the years, I got honked at less and less. I became an accepted part of the environment. You, too, can make your own reality.