¡Tht August 24. 2011 3tîortlanïi (Db se ruer This page Sponsored by: IN S ID E Week ¡nThe Review H ealth Page 3 Fred Meyer What's on your list today?, i Safety by the Numbers Added bikes increase driver awareness C ari H achmann T he P ortland O bserver With sunny skies, dry pavement and high gas prices, its little sur prise that more and more bicyclists are seen riding about the city and inevitably sharing roads with cars, trucks, and all other modes of trans port. While the summer months bring out cyclists of all maturity -from family peddlers and sun-glassed cruisers to fixed-gear fanatics and rush hour rid ers- more folks on bikes is hardly a seasonal trend. by Sports page 19 Religion page 21 C lassifieds page 22 A ugust C alendar page 23 According to the 2010 Bicycle Count, conducted each year by Portland's Bureau of Transportation since the early 1990s, bicycle traffic has nearly tripled over the last 10 years with a 190 percent increase since 2001, while city-wide, bicycle trips are up 8 percent since 2009. As more bicyclists ride along side their two-ton metal counter parts on commercial and residential roads, many fear a greater probabil ity for conflict. However, safety experts expect the opposite. "As the number of bicyclists goes up, the likelihood of a crash on any given trip goes down," said Greg Raisman, PBOT’schief traffic safety expert. Raisman explains that with more bicyclists on the road, motor ve hicles have to be more attentive, drive cautiously and slower and thus, lessen the chance for crashes. Safety in numbers, a common- sense theory used widely in the human and natural realm to lessen the risk of a solo traveler falling victim to a predator, also applies to bike traffic. Jonathon Maus, editor and pub lisher of BikePortland.org, confirms that roads are safer with more bikes. He says that as cars begin to get used to seeing bikes, they adapt their driving behavior accordingly and operate their cars more safely. “[Cars] begin to expect the pres ence of bike traffic,” said Maus. He points out that a majority of bicy clists also drive and having that continued 'yy on page 5