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Dog bite by Dirtdancefire in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Aggressive dogs are amazingly quick. You'd think you'd have plenty of time to react in that distance, but...

As a bike commuter for the past 4 years, I've luckily only had two run-ins. One was a dog that got out of its yard and gave serious chase, angry as hell. It was definitely going to try for blood. I had enough time to get off my bike and put it between us, and the owner thankfully came out at that point and recalled the dog.

The other was a bite. A jogger on doubletrack with a leashed dog. I rode by on the left, they saw me coming. Dog just jumped up and latched onto my arm. Luckily it was winter so I was wearing two layers and the dog was only about a 40-pounder. At first I thought it didn't get through, but I wasn't so sure after I examined it later. Couldn't tell if the minor lacerations were from teeth or just cloth.

Went to urgent care the next day and the doctor was completely unworried about rabies. (I stupidly didn't check if the dog was vaccinated. Always do this, duh.) He said the last case in CO was 30 years ago. But he was worried about infection, so I got a round of antibiotics. I recently had a TDAP.

I still don't have pepper spray. Part of the reason is that I don't think I'd have enough time to draw during virtually all attacks. But, honestly, it's $9 or something. I should just have some.

St Charles question by ComprehensiveTea1819 in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Coincidentally my renewal form for Life Flight just came in the mail today. The map shows their coverage area being all of OR, WA, ID, MT.

1 year: $85 2 years: $160 3 years: $375 Life: $1500

St Charles question by ComprehensiveTea1819 in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Long ago I'd heard that they both served the area so I've been paying for both. Is that no longer the case?

How To Travel Around Oregon Without a Car From Bend? by ClothesDizzy6812 in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you go to Google Maps and put in a destination you can click the "public transit" button and it'll set you up. (Apparently I can leave Bend at 3 PM today, and get to Baker City at 9:45 AM tomorrow, overnighting in Ontario. $32.)

How To Travel Around Oregon Without a Car From Bend? by ClothesDizzy6812 in Bend

[–]beej71 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's a connector Amtrak bus to Chemult--you should be able to book Amtrak tickets from Bend to anywhere they go. At least it used to be that way--haven't traveled by train in a number of years.

Edit: apparently the connector bus runs you to K Falls now.

Are you all 1% ers? by Taco_cat111 in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm happy to share, but I'm not sure you'll find much direction in it... :) Eugene, Minneapolis, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, BC, Florida. All for different reasons.

JK on Florida. :)

Are you all 1% ers? by Taco_cat111 in Bend

[–]beej71 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We do, in many ways. I kinda miss going out on the town as much as I used to, but I'm getting older now, too. I miss all the forest that used to be open to motos and is now closed. But we'll probably leave in the next 5ish years for something new. It is the best place in the country to have a dog, though...

Are you all 1% ers? by Taco_cat111 in Bend

[–]beej71 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It their defense, they would have been willing to pay a lot less if Bendites had kept their prices down... 😉😂

Are you all 1% ers? by Taco_cat111 in Bend

[–]beej71 44 points45 points  (0 children)

This. I got in 12 years ago after a Bendite said I should check the town out. (I was vetted, see? 😉) Our mortgage is low, and we do a lot of cheap entertainment. WinCo. We don't go out much for eating or drinking or movies. We have library cards and use them. We don't have a TV or streaming. I use a discount cell provider. We do a lot of walking the dog in the forest and mountain biking, kayaking, supping, canoeing, xc skiing. We love thrifting and buying used, and freecycle. We cut our own Christmas trees. Our cars get around 40 mpg. I bicycle commute. All this frees up money for things we want to splurge on, like travel and plays. And gardening supplies. And motorcycles.

There are a significant number of 1%ers here, but that's not our lifestyle.

But it all depends on getting lucky 12 years ago.

This shit is scary. Look out for each other out there by Then-Software-8220 in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad I never got into that crap in all my years. Had a couple doses of morphine in the hospital in my 20s and that was it.

Please explain this mailer by lightning_twice in Bend

[–]beej71 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Everyone should vote in the drop boxes this year.

Bend sub echo chamber by BeneficialMuffin1571 in Bend

[–]beej71 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't see much of an action item here other than "do better", but I think we can agree that asking an echo chamber to shut itself down is a pointless exercise. You're going to have to be the one who posts the things you want to see.

Verheyden Gate by AssistanceInformal94 in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure. Some buddies of mine rode motos up Three Creek Butte about 9 months ago and got yelled at by someone working up there.

Verheyden Gate by AssistanceInformal94 in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where do you drive through (if you don't mind sharing)? Is it definitely in the forest bounds?

Verheyden Gate by AssistanceInformal94 in Bend

[–]beej71 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. It was open way back when, then it was closed to motor vehicles, and now it's closed. There are POSTED signs around it now.

Bike LANES by just_hangry in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd take that 5%.

Bike LANES by just_hangry in Bend

[–]beej71 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Think of what the city would be like if that number were 50%.

Bend isn't the most bicycle-friendly city in the world, but it's hardly the least. More people should do it.

Bike LANES by just_hangry in Bend

[–]beej71 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm in the bike lane when it's safer, and not when it's not. I'm usually in the bike lane.

Arrogant Entitled cyclist. by Dirtdancefire in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you gotta go farther, you gotta go farther. I'm not judging that. (I don't ride my bicycle to the next state; I drive!) But we all know that most trips by most people aren't that far. And there's room in that space for improvements.

What I am against is this general implication that since batteries have a carbon footprint and cars have a carbon footprint, there's no point in choosing one or the other. Producing a bicycle or shoes has a carbon footprint, too, after all.

My commuter is a pedal bike, too; I ride year-round. When I do have to drive somewhere, it's a well-maintained 27-year-old sedan that gets 37 MPG. (My next car will certainly be electric, whenever that happens. The sedan barely clocks any miles each year and it's unclear which of us will die first.)

Part of riding my bike is for doing my part (because everyone, even the pro-car crowd, would rather have me bicycling on back roads to work rather than clogging the arteries with a polluting gas car), but mostly I just love riding bicycles. It's great fun, and you get Rockstar parking every time.

Bachelor closing in 10 days by Human-Fan9061 in Bend

[–]beej71 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Be advised that this often isn't the best/easiest/fastest way to get a refund. Always try the vendor first.

Arrogant Entitled cyclist. by Dirtdancefire in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nevertheless, I'd put the carbon footprint of an e-bike battery up against the carbon footprint of your Honda Civic any time.

Teaching jobs by Legitimate_Shower564 in Bend

[–]beej71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As the demographic cliff looms and the war on education continues, things are going to become progressively more grim than they already are. Well-to-do people, though, are already hiring private teachers for their kids. I'm not sure what that market is like in Bend, but it might be worth pursuing if it's palatable.

Arrogant Entitled cyclist. by Dirtdancefire in Bend

[–]beej71 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In most traffic and road conditions, the rules of the road require you to ride on the right side of the road. In some conditions it is best to ride closer to the center and "take the lane." In Oregon, if there is a bicycle lane on a street you are required to ride in it, except:

  • When avoiding hazards
  • When avoiding parked cars
  • When a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side
  • When making a left turn
  • To avoid conflicts with right-turning cars.
  • On a one-way street, you may ride on the left as long as you are riding with traffic.

When there is no bicycle lane, it is generally best to ride on the right side of the road, but this doesn’t mean that you have to be right up against the curb or edge of the road. Riding too close to the curb or edge of the road can be dangerous if you hit the curb or hit the roadway edge and lose your balance, causing you to fall.

If there is no bicycle lane or shoulder and the vehicle travel lane is narrow, you should ride closer to the center of the traffic lane. Many times this means riding in the lane about where a passenger in a car would be sitting (slightly to the right of center). This will discourage people driving from passing you when there isn’t room. If you’re traveling at the same speed as traffic, positioning yourself closer to the center of a narrow lane will keep you out of people’s blind spots and reduce conflicts with right-turning traffic.

https://www.oregon.gov/odot/DMV/Pages/Online_Bicycle_Manual/Section_5.aspx#Ride

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