Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Oregon Lawmaker Wants to Outlaw Cycling With Young Children

We'd all like to see more legislators take up the cause of cycling safety. Too often however, when the subject of cycling comes up, it's not the result of calls for common sense reforms that could make cyclists feel safer, such as anti-harassment ordinances and three-foot passing requirements. Instead, many lawmakers seem intent on introducing silly restrictions like the bike registration bill that recently surfaced in New Jersey, or this example from Oregon...

Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) has introduced a bill in the Oregon statehouse that would make it illegal to carry a child six or younger on a bike or bike trailer. The lawmaker says he is motivated by an Oregon Health Sciences University study which found that a significant percentage of bike commuters experienced some type of traumatic injury during the course of a year.

Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland interviewed Greenlick about his proposal, which he says was prompted by his desire "to discuss the issue and start a debate." Maus writes:

false

Rep. Greenlick has decided that the way to open a debate on an issue is to propose a new law. We have seen this repeatedly backfire in Oregon. In July of 2008, Senator Floyd Prozanski — out of a concern for safety after a friend of his was hit and killed while bicycling — planned a mandatory, all-ages helmet law. After hearing a lot negative feedback about that idea, he wisely pulled the idea out of consideration. In March 2009, Representative Wayne Krieger proposed a mandatory bicycle registration bill. After hundreds of upset emails and phone calls came into his office, the bill ended up dying in committee.

Greenlick has certainly started a debate. Many people have emailed and called his office with their concern that his bill isn't necessary and that it would be a major step backwards in Oregon's quest to be the most bike-friendly state in the U.S. Greenlick maintains that he is simply trying to start a discussion. To back up his hunch about safety, he says his office is already looking into studies that might support the idea of the bill. They haven't found any yet.

When asked if it might be wiser to find such evidence and then introduce a bill, he said, "Because this is just how the process works." Greenlick acknowledged that he's heard a lot of feedback from Oregonians concerned about the bill. "Everybody should just stay calm," he urged, "this is part of a deliberative process."

It might also be worthwhile for Greenlick's staff to look into safety issues with the likely alternative to cycling -- driving -- and allow parents to make their own assessment when it comes to their children's safety.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition carries a collection of essays by children on the factors that prevent them from walking and biking. And Bike San Diego shares a video of a Parkinson's Disease patient who bikes -- an activity that's been shown to delay the effects of the disease.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Thursday’s Headlines Are Open 24 Hours

Between an egg surcharge and now EV chargers, late-night diner chain Waffle House looks ready to thrown down with the Trump administration.

May 22, 2025

How A Single Transportation Emergency Can Keep Parents From Achieving Their College Dreams

Abigail Seldin of Scholarship America about the 3.8 million U.S. students who are earning degrees while raising families.

May 22, 2025

Republican Senators Press Attack on CA’s Clean Air Laws

Anyone hoping that Congressional Republican leaders would follow generations of precedent regarding the role of the non-partisan Senate Parliamentarian or the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had a very bad day yesterday.

May 21, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Have a System

The safe systems approach to street design, popular in Europe, could cut U.S. traffic deaths in half.

May 21, 2025

Does Transportation Advocacy Have a Place In the Wake of a Deadly Tornado?

Much of St. Louis is struggling in the wake of a deadly tornado. Amid such disasters, urbanism needs a pause and a rethink.

May 21, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Show Elections Have Consequences

"Woke" transit agencies need not apply for federal grants now that father of nine Sean Duffy is in charge.

May 20, 2025
See all posts