Originally Posted by
stevage
What I don't get is...why do this in the city? Is it that far to a park or somewhere a bit nicer to ride?
There isn't much "out of the city" anywhere around here.
(cross-posted)
The use of government vehicles for a personal activity is echoed in this followup article:
http://wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1808422
Where I work, you aren't even supposed to go to a fast food drive-thru in a government vehicle, even if it's just between destinations for work.
WASHINGTON - D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's use of government resources to facilitate his recreational activities isn't limited to a police escort while he trains with his bike team.
The mayor has used a federal Homeland Security vehicle to transport himself and his bike to at least 14 races in the past two years.
The District's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency has two large SUVs, which are detailed to the city from the U.S. Government Services Administration. According to records obtained by WTOP through the Freedom of Information Act, the mayor's Executive Protection Unit has signed out one or both of the SUVs 25 times between September of 2008 and June of 2009.
Fourteen of those dates coincide with race events Fenty participated in.
Fenty Spokesperson Mafara Hobson said in a statement the SUVs are meant for emergency use.