SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016
3 B
Motorists reminded to share road with cyclists
There are many bicycles on
today’s roads. More people are
using bicycles as a means to
commute for entertainment and
for exercise. Some of the more
common reasons include low
cost to operate, reducing the
consumption of fossil fuels,
and exercise.
Motorists should remember
these tips when sharing the
road with a cyclist:
A bicycle is considered by
law to be a vehicle. When a
cyclist has stopped and remains
astride their bicycle at an inter-
section and/or for a traffic sig-
nal, they are to be treated as a
vehicle waiting for their turn to
proceed.
Many children riding bicy-
cles on the street may lack the
necessary training and skills
for safe cycling. They may not
be aware of all dangers.
Be alert for small children
on oversized bicycles. This
may increase the likelihood for
loss of control.
When passing a cyclist, go
around them like you would
any other vehicle. Leave lots of
room.
When you are preparing to
make a right turn, watch for
cyclists who may pull up
alongside your vehicle.
Remember to shoulder-
check your blind spots.
When you are about to
make a right turn, do not pull
up beside a cyclist and then
turn directly in front of them
and cut them off.
When pulling away from
the curb, always check for
cyclists who may be trying to
pass you.
When parked at the curb,
always check for cyclists
before you open your vehicle
door. It’s the driver’s responsi-
bility not to open the vehicle
door into traffic.
Do not follow too close
behind cyclists. They do not
have brake lights to warn you
when they are stopping.
Cyclists are entitled to
make left turns in the same
manner as motorists. Since
they are more exposed to traffic
on left turns, they will need
extra consideration, especially
on multi-lane roads.
Cyclists are required to
ride as close as practicable to
the curb, however they may
need to ride further out when
they have to steer away from
drainage grates, pot holes,
debris, loose gravel or sand,
wet or slippery surfaces, rutted
or grooved pavement and even
dogs. Be aware of the roadway
conditions that may affect a
cyclist.
Do not sound your horn
unnecessarily when you are
overtaking a cyclist. It may
startle them and cause them to
lose control. If you feel that
you must use your horn, tap it
quickly and lightly while you
are still some distance away
from the cyclist.
Cyclists should also remem-
ber that, when they are riding
their bicycles on streets and
highways, they are considered
by law to be a vehicle.
Therefore they are required
to obey all the rules of the road,
which apply to other (motor-
ized) vehicles, plus those that
apply only to bicycle operators.
Cyclists using the streets and
highways should:
Never ride against traffic.
It is one of the leading causes
of crashes, accounting for 15
percent to 20 percent of all
crashes with cars.
Keep both hands on the
handlebars except when mak-
ing a hand signal.
Keep both feet on the ped-
als.
Not carry more people at
one time than the bicycle was
designed for.
Not hold onto, attach them-
selves, or attach the bicycle to
any other moving vehicle.
Only ride side by side on
the road with another cyclist
when it does not impede other
traffic. If traffic doesn't have
enough room to pass you safe-
ly, ride single file.
Ensure the bicycle is
equipped with at least one
white light to the front and a
red light and or red reflector
mounted on the rear of the
bicycle when riding between
sunset and sunrise.
Ensure the bicycle has
effective brakes.
For more information and
tips, visit www.lincolncounty
sheriff.net
—Lincoln County Sheriff’s
Office
Remember: Wildfire knows no season, says ODF
May is Oregon Wildfire
Awareness Month. Oregon
experiences its heaviest wild-
fire activity during the summer,
but fires occur all seasons of
the year including spring.
During May, federal, state,
tribal and local fire agencies
will be spreading the word
about wildfire prevention and
the steps Oregonians can take
to stop most fires before they
start.
When it comes to preventing
wildfires, there’s a lot at stake:
lives, personal property and the
many values provided by
Oregon’s forests and range-
lands. During the 2015 wildfire
season, about 1.6 million acres
were consumed by wildfire
across the Pacific Northwest,
including 630,000 acres in
Oregon.
Some 675 structures were
lost — many of them perma-
nent residences. And tragically,
three firefighters were killed.
Key
wildlife
habitats,
including those of the belea-
guered greater sage grouse,
went up in smoke. In Oregon
alone, some 850 human-caused
fires ravaged the landscape.
And on just the forest and
rangelands protected by the
Oregon
Department
of
Forestry, these “people” fires
burned nearly 87,000 acres.
But wildfire prevention edu-
cators are not pointing fingers.
In the extreme weather condi-
tions of last summer nearly any
fire start, whether human or
lightning caused, had potential
to spread into a raging wildfire.
Wildfires that occur in the
wildland-urban interface often
are started by human activity
and then spread to the forest.
Once underway a fire fol-
lows the fuel, whether it is trees
or houses. Fortunately, this
grave threat to lives and prop-
erty can be dramatically
reduced.
“Simple prevention strate-
gies will make the strongest
impact on your home, family
and community safety,” said
Kristin Babbs, president of the
Keep
Oregon
Green
Association.
Spring is the perfect time,
she said, to remove dead, flam-
mable vegetation and limb up
trees around the yard.
“When clearing brush and
vegetation from around the
home, property owners should
also keep in mind the access
needed by larger fire trucks,”
said State Fire Marshal Jim
Walker. “Long driveways
should be at least 12 feet wide,
have 10 feet of vegetation
clearance from the centerline to
the edge of the driveway, and
about 14 feet of overhead clear-
ance.
“Having an adequate turn-
around area is critical for fire-
fighters.”
To get an early start on
Wildfire Awareness Month,
join neighbors in reducing your
community’s wildfire risk by
taking part in National Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day
on Saturday, May 7.
The National Fire Protection
Association has teamed up with
State Farm Insurance to
encourage residents to commit
a couple of hours, or the entire
day, to help raise wildfire
awareness and work together
on projects that can help pro-
tect homes and entire commu-
nities from the threat of fire.
Watershed to offer summer camps
See Jim for your auto sales needs!
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
The Siuslaw Watershed
Council has announced it will
again offer summer camps for
students entering fourth grade
through high school. These
camps are the perfect way to
get the most out of summer.
Come be a part of exploring
the Siuslaw watershed’s many
rivers, streams and lakes.
Camp dates are:
Introductory Camp: June
27-30, for students entering
grades 4-6
Intermediate Camp: July
11-14, for students entering
grades 6-8
Advanced Camp: July 18-
22, for students entering grades
8-12 with previous watershed
experience
During the camps, attendees
travel throughout the Siuslaw
watershed learning about
plants, animals, water and
land.
The camps focus on the
restoration work that is being
done to keep the watershed
healthy. Campers will get a
chance to make a difference by
doing hands-on restoration
work, as well as canoeing,
kayaking, snorkelling, hiking
and more.
Introductory and intermedi-
ate camps are day camps.
Advanced camp includes
one overnight camping trip.
Each camp is $75 for the
whole session and scholarships
are available.
Registration packets are
available at www.siuslaw.org/
camps, call the SWC office at
541-268-3044 to request a
packet or email camp@sius-
law.org.
Siuslaw Watershed Camps
are made possible with funding
from OWEB, WCLF, in part-
nership with Siuslaw School
District, and through private
donations.
...need a friend?
Volunteers needed for DC triathlon
Meet
Randal
Dunes City is busily plan-
ning its fourth annual Oregon
Dunes Triathlon and Duathlon
on Saturday, May 7.
The city’s signature event is
Hey what’s up? I am Randal a very
curious fellow. I will tell you right off
I had an eye injury after I was born,
not that it slows me down any. If I do
not see you coming, I can be a little
jumpy. Other than that I am good to
go and full of fun. I am really good
natured and do not start fi ghts, and
“ah gosh” I like it when they love on
me. They tell me I am handsome all
the time so they must be right! Take
me home I am a fantastic feline.
If you would like to meet Randal any of his
friends, please visit us at:
FLORENCE HUMANE SOCIETY
2840 Rhododendron Drive • Florence • 541-997-4277
www.fl orencehumane.org
This message brought to you by:
Siuslaw News
+
Fri. 4/22-Sat 4/23
10am-4pm
86244 Xylo St. From Florence take hwy 126, turn left on Xylo (just
before the Casino turnoff) at top of hill keep right, last house on
Xylo. No Early birds! Out of Business Sale. Huge Craft supply, wed-
ding supply sale. All new supplies include: large and small rolls of
satin, organza, raffia, burlap, and grosgrain ribbon. 6in wide rolls of
tulle - many colors. Hundreds of organza bags, muslin bags and
paper flowers. Shipping supplies including boxes, padded en-
velopes, labels, bamboo bath gift sets, gift boxes, and jewelry boxes.
Cello bags, flat, gusseted, and lip and tape self sealing bags, many
sizes. Apothecary jars and tin containers. Scrapbooking paper,
frame ready watercolor pictures. Readymade new items such as
soaps, stuffed animals, pacifier suspenders, wool dryer balls, and
taggy toys. Plus some household items small appliances and Christ-
mas decorations. Many items not marked. Make an offer
Sat Only, 4/23
9am-3pm
269 Ivy St
household items, fishing,
tools, hardware yard art
kitchen items.
www.shoppelocal.biz
just a couple of weeks away,
and organizers are seeking vol-
unteers to help staff the event.
Volunteers provide invalu-
able assistance to ensure that
the races and venues run
smoothly and safely.
Volunteers also play a vital
support role for all of the par-
ticipating athletes by providing
encouragement and hospitali-
ty; many athletes have returned
to the Tri/Du each year because
they appreciate the event’s
enthusiastic volunteers.
The commitment is for half
a day and all volunteers will
receive a free T-shirt.
Volunteers are needed
between about 6 a.m. and 1
p.m. on race day, Saturday,
May 7.
Anyone with a few hours to
spare who wants to be part of
this fun and exciting event can
call Dunes City Hall at 541-
997-3338 to register as a vol-
unteer.
Siuslaw
News
FREE
garage sale signs
541-997-3441
with your ad
S IUSLAW N EWS
www.shoppelocal.biz