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I agree with you that off-leash violators are just trying to rationalize their behavior and really don't care about others. I have a tiny dog (which I always keep on leash) and she could easily be harmed by another dog (quite innocently) thinking she's a rabbit or squirrel. My niece is mildly autistic and has a great fear of animals. When people have their dog off-leash that comes up to her and she freaks out they say, "oh it's ok he's friendly." Well it's not about their dog, it's about my niece and her right to have her personal space free from dogs when they are not permitted off-leash. And, no, it's not ok, even if he's friendly.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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One more incident regarding the bike vs. car issue. My husband was riding home from work recently after a biker was hit and killed in N. Portland. A USPS truck nearly hit him, making an error regarding who had the right of way. He yelled at my husband "That's why you bikers are getting killed!" thinking my husband had made the error, when in fact is was he. I think Portland needs some education for both riders and DRIVERS about right of way.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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I have a problem with the motivation for the reprimand involving cycling. We are a biking family ( 1 car, husband commutes by bike) and own 13 between the 2 of us. The idea that a bad rider "makes the rest of the community look bad" is not a good enough reason to scold a stranger. I am also a female driver and there is a stereotype that we are all bad drivers. I do not scold every bad female driver out there because she is fulfilling the stereotype. We have to let that stuff go. There will always be drivers and riders who run stop signs, lights etc. Our best bet is to look sharp and be defensive on the road.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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I agree with Rileys, this is a particularly regional convention. My husband and I are originally from the Midwest and East coast and we both have noticed that people in Portland are much more likely to reprimand a stranger for any kind of behavior from smoking to littering. We have agreed that anyone who speaks like that to a stranger back East runs the risk of getting clocked. I love Portland and the people here but that is one practice here that grates on my nerves. What good can it really do? Other than put some bad blood out there with a stranger who feels criticized. It is quite rude and self-righteous in my opinion.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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