A public safety hearing on proper enforcment
By P.J. ORVETTI
As I made my way up 14th Street last night at 10:00, I passed a lone intrepid cyclist slowly cutting his way through the slush, pushing his way uphill. Godspeed, I thought.
But perhaps it shouldn’t have been too surprising. D.C. is becoming a cycle-friendly city, with a young work force living in a densely populated area where offices and entertainment are just blocks from home. More and more residents are giving up cars, or using them less frequently, and getting around by pedal power -- even in the snow.
But this requires new thinking about traffic and safety. At-Large D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson tells WAMU that he has been receiving complaints about collisions and police enforcement of the law. He cited the sad case of Alice Swanson, struck and killed by a garbage truck in 2008. The truck driver was exonerated.
Mendelson said, “It’s already illegal to hit somebody, so we can’t pass a second law to make it more illegal to hit somebody. Instead, it comes down to what’s going on with enforcement.” He plans a public safety hearing on the subject.
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