2 • The Southwest Portland Post
EDITORIAL
January 2012
Southwest motorists need to be particularly aware of bicyclists, pedestrians
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
By Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
It’s late October, and Steven
Cahill, 43, is riding his bicycle in
the bike lane along Capitol High-
way, in a northwest direction from
Multnomah towards Hillsdale.
A line of cars is waiting to merge
onto Capitol Highway at Vermont
Street, not far from the Fanno
Creek Medical Clinic.
As the bicyclist approaches the
intersection, Roberta Yeaman, 53,
driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe,
suddenly darts out into traffic, hit-
ting Cahill, who is then thrown up
onto the hood of the truck.
Police and an ambulance quick-
ly respond and Cahill is rushed
to St. Vincent Hospital where he
is treated for a broken hand and
leg. Yeaman is cited at the scene of
the accident for failure to yield the
right-of-way. She was uninjured.
Luckily, Cahill’s injuries weren’t
life threatening. He is gradually
recovering at home with the help
of his wife, Maria, who was forced
to take time off from work to care
for her husband.
This accident might have been
understandable if the circum-
stances had been different. If
Cahill had been wearing dark
clothing, without lights, at night-
time, in the rain.
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Or if Cahill had done something
for sharing the road, and looking
stupid. Like cutting in front of the
out for others.
truck while turning right onto
Steven Cahill is recovering from
Vermont Street, for example.
his injuries, hopefully without
But the bicyclist was lit up like a
any long-term effects or suffer-
Christmas tree. Cahill was wear-
ing. Angela Burke, a 26-year-old
ing reflective clothing. It was dur-
bicyclist killed a year ago while
ing daylight hours. Visibility was
crossing Barbur Boulevard near
excellent. There was no excuse.
Hamilton Street, wasn’t so lucky.
In traditional-
ly auto-oriented
roads in South-
west Portland,
motorists have to
make a special ef-
fort to look out
for bicyclists and
pedestrians.
Because of the
hills and dales,
sightlines are of-
t e n o b s t ru c t e d .
Blind spots are
everywhere. Side-
walks and bicycle
lanes are few and
far between.
It’s easy to
blame accidents
on bicyclists and
pedestrians. But
motorists need to
remember that not
everyone using
the streets is pro-
tected by two tons Bicyclist Maria Cahill pedals northbound along Capitol
of steel. By law we Highway towards Vermont Street in late December. (Photo
are all responsible courtesy of Mary Rossi)
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general email: news@multnomahpost.com
web address: www.swportlandpost.com
Editor & Publisher: Don Snedecor
Reporters/Writers: Polina Olsen, Lee Perlman,
and Stephanie Lodromanean
Retail Advertising Manager: Harry Blythe
Graphic Design: Leslie Baird Design
Printing: Oregon Lithoprint
© 2012 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists
and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher.
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