Irony: bicyclists on the freeway complaining about anyone in a car behaving unsafely.

I think point is that even if the bombers were committing a moving violation it doesn't give the police the right use lethal methods in order to stop them.

Dave J: That irony was not lost on me in reporting this item. But if one of the 'Bombers had been seriously injured during this stop, would the Sheriff's Deputy's methods have been justified? Bear in mind no citations were issued, or arrests made.

agree that IF the officer created an unsafe situation, that is wrong, but WTF??
Out of 25-30 people, not one of them had the brains to realize what they were doing was 1) illegal and 2) extremely dangerous?

Ok, but here's the thing: if I'm driving down the road and the idiot in front of me slams on his brakes for no reason other than the fact he's a dick, it's still my fault if I run into him. That's what it sounds like happened here--"he just slammed on his brakes really suddenly." Rules of the road apply: if they were following so closely that they were unable to avoid a collision, it's their fault. The cop being a jerk and the Zoobombers behaving unsafely are not mutually exclusive.

The 'Bombers met with Portland Police last year after a nasty highway crash, and agreed not to use the highway until the shoulder lane was re-opened.

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=41959&category=22101

I think all of them know that what they're doing is dangerous. And on the legal issue, you're right.

But for law enforcement there's always the question of how best to respond to the 'Bombers without igniting controversy.

From an earlier story:

"Lieutenant Mark Kruger of the bureau's traffic division—who was one of the officers who met with the Zoobombers earlier this month—was surprised to hear Benson had asked for the MAX stop to be closed last Tuesday. He also said the officers threatening arrest on Sunday night were not from the traffic division.

Kruger added: "If the Zoobombers do it safely, I've got no problem with them. My concern is that somebody is going to get killed, and if that happens I can guarantee that the Zoobombers will no longer exist.""

In a nutshell: the Zoobombers are concerned that a Sheriff's Deputy from another jurisdiction got involved and acted in a way they felt did nothing to help their safety.

guess I should have stuck around for the Hellway run.

These zoobombers are so 2002. They need a new hobby.

Yes, we know it's dangerous and we make sure EVERYONE knows its dangerous.

NO, it is not illegal. That section of the highway 26 shoulder is legal to ride your bike on. No I'm not going to look up the ORS for you. The only legal thing in question here was that some idiots didn't have lights on their bikes. I encourage the ticketing of these road stain wannabes.

The cop was a douchebag and driving erratically and unsafe. The bicyclists were riding in a well lit pack on the shoulder of the road. He had nothing, and after being explained that, he fumed and drove away. (yay team diplomacy!)

More from the Zoobombers:

"He had blatant disregard for our safety," adds 'Bomber James Garrett, who says he banged up his right knee when he hit a manhole cover trying to stop.

"Anyone who rides on the highway knows it's pretty dangerous," Garrett continues. "But we're all pretty experienced bike riders and have appropriate safety gear. The main thing is that it's not illegal for us to ride on the highway. The officer seemed very angry, he was running around and got red in the face. He kept screaming that we shouldn't be doing it, and I told him that it is legal to ride on the highway, but he wouldn't listen."

"As he kept on shouting, the worst thing was when he told us that because he'd turned his lights and sirens on and we didn't pull over immediately, he had every right to use his car to ram us if necessary to stop us. Everyone gasped when he said that."

the cop sounds like a prick
but i still don't like the zoobombers

And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen: a blog post and 10 comments distilled into 13 words. Hula, you should be a copywriter! Or a reporter!

Is that unpaid internship opening up?

We were unsure of the Officer's intentions. He pulled up alongside us,giving me the impression that he was blocking traffic and warning the car traffic for us. We have had enough positive responses from Police and TriMet where is is easy to be confused as to what the Police's intentions can be. He has a PA so if he wanted us to pull over he could have told us so. He gave NO WARNING and just went from 40mph to zero as fast as he could without skidding. The lead riders were no more than a car length off his bumper.

We could give a shit if you like us or not. Hellway is LEGAL and will keep doing it! So eat a dick!

ZOOBOMB!

Sorry, I am a idiot. I didn't know you were talking about the Portland Zoobombers.

My bad.

OK, so the cop was a douchbag and out of his jurisdiction to boot, but let's get real here. Only a couple three (not ALL) the ZooBombers crashed because of his butthead actions, and in the end the popo STOOD DOWN when confronted with the law: ZooBombing is allowed on the Sunset Highway east to the Jefferson Street exit!

Sounds like that cop just needs to get laid more often, and their ain't no zoobombers I know who are willing to put out for him!!!!

Oh yeah, not sure ZooBomb is still a 'troupe', either...

For the record, we weren't in the tunnel on 26, and we weren't on 26 when the sheriff stopped us.
Just after the "PGE exit", there is a tunnel, and it was just after that tunnel (under the archy bridge) where the "Green Screamer" decided to
stop in the street and cause a pile-up.

FUCK THAT PEPPER,That's FUCCCKED UP,There trying for $105.00 for no helmets up here.And they doing that kind of SHIT down there...Sorry to here about it,every one Race Day 8-3-7 XI See ya soon M.C.B.F 2007 DeadBabyKO

And the Blogtown record for most impatient hitter of the "POST" button goes to: FACT CHECKER!

Sounds as if Wash.Co. is getting a little to boring for ofc. dipcrap. Guess no mall shoplifters needed to be beaten down last sunday, so the dufus headed down the hwy. to cause havoc in MultCo. I could just hear the laughter in the sheriffs locker room now...in between the towel snaps.

The law is Oregon Administrative Rule 734-20-0045 (1).

Prohibits cyclists on "The Sunset Highway No. 47 easterly of the Jefferson Street Interchange, MP 73.35"

Otherwise, we're allowed on the Sunset.

Here where I live, they have been ticketing cyclists for being a threat to public saftey. I would say that this cop was a threat to public saftey. Maybe you should seek legal action. Maybe I'm just confrontational that way. (I also carry the current bike law/code with me.) I bet you could find a lawyer to represent you.

If a cop turns on the lights, pull over. It doesn't matter if it is 5 or 50 mph, car or tricycle. That's the simple common rule for everybody.

If the pull over location isn't safe, go further, the cop will understand.

If the pull over speed isn't safe, you're not in control and a hazard to others.

If you (riders that didn't stop) don't follow the rules, don't complain of others (cop) that do the same.

The riders should have pulled over.

If the sheriff's deputy pulled in front, without shouting through the car's bullhorn, then he sent a mixed message to the 'bombers. That creates a hazardous situation. He should have safely followed them until they stopped, and if he was concerned they'd disappear, he should have called Portland units in for backup.

And while he *can* force someone off the road, in most jurisdictions, that requires approval from a supervisor - and unless the public is in imminent danger, that is usually not given.

This deputy acted hastily and in a panicked fashion - endangering others and himself.

Don't forget now that Washington County is
noted for hiring Hicks-from-the-Sticks as
their Deputy Sheriff's and so if this one
was acting like a dumbass, well he was just conforming to the norm for that gang
of slugs! When dealing with WaCoPiggies,
you have to always keep in mind that you
are much smarter than they! Remember that
fact and then act accordingly!

Good! Those arrogant little fuckers are just asking to get squashed by riding on Hwy 26.

Okay everybody, let's make sure this stays on track now....

Love us or hate us, either way you can eat a bowl of dick.

Hey Lisa. You should try a bomb sometime. It's a blast! It might even tickle you down there on your seat.

Um, for the record, comment #16: "Sorry, I am a idiot. I didn't know you were talking about the Portland Zoobombers. My bad." wasn't me.

My #11 comment/position still stands.

This is turning into a grade-school-tactic slapfight. And here I am following up on it.
Kthxbye!!1

We have had many interactions with the Police in the past, and the Portland Police generally use the PA to tell us what they want us to do (Pull Over!). It really seemed as though he had our safety as his concern, like he was warning/blocking traffic, until we were on a stretch of road with no cars or more appropriately, no witnesses, and then he jammed on his brakes.

He had to accelate three times though a turn to keep us behind him...maybe that's what pissed him off, being out-accelerated and cornered by 16" bikes.

this post makes it apparent to me that the only fools who care about the zoobombers anymore are the zoobombers. can we just leave them alone now? let the scum bags get killed by cars, cops, or each other. who cares? are they doing anything for bicycle rights? no, they are just being a pain in the ass and I suppose they are having what they call fun. bo-ring....

We don't ask for the publicity.

ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!
ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!
ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!
ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!
ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!
ZOOBOMB!
ZOO!
ZOO!
BOMB!

lisa's been mad ever since she turned 43.

Let's see what the Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies have done besides terrorize the Zoobombers...

Surf for porn at work, as well as letting a prisoner escape because the deputy was too fat to chase him.

Hamstergate - angry sheriff's deputy arrests a teenage pet store employee, killing a hamster in the process.

More fun with the Washington County Sheriff's Office here.

The Sheriff's Office also tested out their prisoner release notification system by making up a fake prisoner, charging him with everything from aggravated murder to jaywalking, then sending it out *LIVE*. People were wondering why the jail was releasing such a dangerous criminal..

Upcoming - more follies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, including the fat deputy who let a prisoner escape and couldn't chase him, then was caught surfing naughty websites; Hamstergate; other malfeasance; and how not to test your jail's prisoner release notification system.

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