Cue the bike-bashing in D.C.

**7rider** · 11-09-2009, 11:14 AM

Sigh.

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1807568&nid=428

WASHINGTON - D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's passion for athletics is well known in the area.

But many people are unaware of how the mayor's rigid training schedule is impacting public safety and traffic in the area.

The mayor trains with his competitive cycling team, D.C. Velo, on the streets of D.C. and in the Maryland suburbs several days a week, usually in the middle of the day.

**Zen** · 11-09-2009, 11:35 AM

What's wrong with him? This may be the last straw for Fenty. I don't think D.C. is too happy with him in a lot of ways.

**ny biker** · 11-09-2009, 11:37 AM

Yeah I think it's kind of tone-deaf for him to be taking advantage of his position. I understand needing a security detail, but he needs to follow the rules because he's setting an example.

**pfunk12** · 11-09-2009, 11:51 AM

From everything I've read about him and seen on t.v., he's pretty arrogant and could probably care less about safety, rules, and what his constituents think about him.

**pfunk12** · 11-09-2009, 12:44 PM

On NBC4 at 5 p.m., they are going to do a segment on this story.

**Zen** · 11-09-2009, 01:04 PM

I just saw it. He did not represent himself well
http://www.nbcwashington.com/
I can't watch that deer at the zoo story

**tulip** · 11-09-2009, 01:23 PM

*sigh* DC sure knows how to pick 'em.
Too bad he can't set a good example for the rest of us cyclists who ride legally in the District every day (okay, so I don't 'cause I don't live there anymore, but I did.)

And if he's going to take his bike on his trips, he should get a folding bike so he doesn't have to pay extra!

**pfunk12** · 11-09-2009, 01:26 PM

I totally agree, Zen. But it seems like all of his interviews are like that.

Agree with you, too, Tulip!

**tulip** · 11-09-2009, 01:28 PM

I hope WABA speaks up about this. Fenty should know better.

**7rider** · 11-09-2009, 02:12 PM

Well, whether or not the use of a police escort is appropriate for his rides (which is really the only issue that I see), not everything they state in that article is true.
1. The video claiming he ran a red light at Goldsboro shows a light that is green. He did stop at one red light and let traffic clear before the police escorted him through, however.
2. Riding bikes on Clara Barton Parkway is perfectily legal from Glen Echo to MacArthur Blvd. I happen to have a source familar with that ride, and know that is where he was riding.
3. The only illegal behavior in the video was an SUV that passed them illegally on the right side.
4. The only traffic that really appeared to be "held up" was TOP's van. Other vehicles passed on multi lane roads with no problems. Who's car really honked?? Makes for stunning video however.

**tulip** · 11-09-2009, 07:09 PM

7Rider, thanks for taking the time to watch the video and to report back to us. I'm way too busy at the moment to watch anything, so I appreciate your analysis. I'm sorry that I jumped to conclusions without looking at it myself.

**Selkie** · 11-10-2009, 12:49 AM

I've always liked him and I think he's a big improvement over some past mayors. Let's face it, he's a politician. Enough said there!

To be fair, there are plenty of motorcades that bully their way through traffic, blue lights flashing with self-importance. Some of these details are protecting "second tier" VIPs.

**pfunk12** · 11-10-2009, 03:20 PM

They did a follow-up piece on the 6 p.m. NBC4 news. I didn't find a link on their website so I'm going to try to do my best to tell you what was said (if you didn't see it). They were at Haines Point today and interviewed one of the cyclists doing, I assume, the lunchtime ride. He said that the mayor should get a break because he's not abusing anything and he should be able to use police escorts while cycling. He said that it would be a different story if the mayor was out playing golf.

They interviewed a Park Police officer who said it was illegal for a cyclist to ride on the Clara Barton Parkway and if you get stopped by the police, there is a $95 fine.

They interviewed a young guy at the Union Station bike stop/center (not sure what they call it). He was actually pretty humorous. He laughed and said that there's enough police in DC to escort every cyclist in the city. But then he said that what the mayor is doing is outrageous and if he is using his bike habits as a way to gain favor in DC, he should ride like all the other cyclists and should have to fight traffic to make a left turn.

They interviewed the mayor and he said that he didn't know that he was breaking any rules (Clara Barton) and that all the cyclists that he spoke to didn't know about the rule but he said, Kudos to WTOP for finding that out. He said that he would "change his ways" but when asked to elaborate, he didn't comment.

They interviewed a rep from WABA and he said it's a lesson for everyone. He said something like cyclists fair best when they act like motorists. And if cyclists want the protection of the law, we should obey the law.

Tom Sherwood, the journalist, ended the segment by saying that the mayor would ride more if he could and he and Jim Vance said something like, "He really enjoys it...good for him."

There wasn't as much of a negative slant as the segment that was done yesterday.

**pfunk12** · 11-10-2009, 03:25 PM

By the way, 7...don't we ride on the C B Parkway during the shop ride?? If it was illegal, wouldn't Mike know about it? You know how he is about following rules.

(And yes, I have to ask since I still don't know where the heck we are during that ride.

)

**aicabsolut** · 11-10-2009, 03:50 PM

It is illegal now to ride on any part of the CB parkway. There aren't any signs posted, but there's a code article somewhere... Not to say I haven't followed a few group rides on the parkway myself....

A friend of mine was out at Hains today during the noon ride and said that a truck that was following and filming the group nearly took him out. There were only a couple DC Velo guys out there today.

I have seen filming going on at the corner of Piney Meetinghouse and Glen (Glen Mill? South Glen? I forget where the name change is) up in Potomac nearly every weekend for a while. The guy had a big sign that said "Dangerous cyclist behavior" or something like that. Weird. I guess rolling through a 4-way stop at 5mph when it'd be your turn anyway is a dangerous thing. It's kind of like the cops at Hains that require you to put a foot down. I think there's no need for me to get off my bike so long as I can safely let cars go in order at all-way stops.

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