D.C. Advocates Seek Cultural Shift in View of Cyclists


[B' Spokes: Just some highlights:]
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By Martin Austermuhle

Can you legislate a culture shift, using the law to change the way drivers perceive cyclists?
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Opponents of the law claim that it would unfairly put cyclists in a protected class offered to few other groups. But according to the law's supporters, that's the point. Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said that cyclists regularly face vehicular hostility on the District's roads, criminal charges are rarely sought when accidents do happen and civil penalties are too low to encourage lawsuits as a means of seeking justice.
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"Until injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians are taken seriously by MPD and drivers are held accountable, the streets are not safe for our children, our husbands, our sisters," Rowan said in her testimony.

As a means to make police better understand the challenges faced by cyclists, Rowan proposed that they become cyclists themselves.
"I'd like to see every police officer spend three months on a bicycle...because they're going to come back and say, 'Oh my God, this is really terrible,'" she said.
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<a href="http://dcist.com/2011/11/can_you_legislate_a_culture.php">http://dcist.com/2011/11/can_you_legislate_a_culture.php</a>;

by B' Spokes

Like most people I live a hectic life and who has the time for much exercise? Thanks to xtracycle now I do. By using my bike for daily activities I can get things done and get an hour plus work out in 15 minutes extra of my time, not a bad deal and beats taking the extra time going to the gym. In case you are still having trouble being motivated; the National Center of Disease Control says that inactivity is the #2 killer in the United States just behind smoking. ( http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_nutrition/ ) Get out there and start living life! I can carry home a full shopping cart of groceries, car pool two kids or just get lost in the great outdoors camping for a week. Well I got go, another outing this weekend.
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