Awww... Mayor of DC in the hot seat :)
11-10-09, 10:50 PM
#26
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I was all prepared to be outraged by a full motorcade....One motorcycle cop?
meh
I would at least think he'd have 2, one in the front to clear the intersections and one in the rear to intimidate following cagers.
Sorry, can't work up any outrage for this.
meh
I would at least think he'd have 2, one in the front to clear the intersections and one in the rear to intimidate following cagers.
Sorry, can't work up any outrage for this.
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11-10-09, 11:05 PM
#27
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I watched the movie and saw one minor backup. DC traffic is a problem because of cars, not because of the mayor or cyclists. Too bad the metro isn't a little better.
11-10-09, 11:39 PM
#28
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Strikes me as very similar to an elected official zooming off to some private function with a massive security detail, triggering green lights all the way. Gross, yes.
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?
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?
11-10-09, 11:45 PM
#29
Cycle Year Round
11-11-09, 01:54 PM
#31
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11-11-09, 01:59 PM
#32
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
(cross-posted)
The use of government vehicles for a personal activity is echoed in this followup article:
https://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.
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.
11-11-09, 04:33 PM
#33
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He should put at least as much effort into being mayor as he does into cycling....He can do his workouts on his time,not yours and mine!
11-11-09, 05:31 PM
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What a dumbass article. Complaining that he used DHS vehicles to transport his bike to an event. Where I live, that would be a problem, since the mayor doesn't get a security detail. But if he's normally got a security detail, that goes with him during his off time anyway, why is it a problem to transport his bike.
As for the police escort during his training - I can see how that could be abused, but it sounds to me they're basically just cops doing the same thing that would normally be done by other cyclists during critical mass - keeping the whole group together through the intersection. Again, only a problem if the police escort isn't part of his normal security.
As for the police escort during his training - I can see how that could be abused, but it sounds to me they're basically just cops doing the same thing that would normally be done by other cyclists during critical mass - keeping the whole group together through the intersection. Again, only a problem if the police escort isn't part of his normal security.
11-11-09, 07:17 PM
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Don't' they still close the CB parkway on Sat and Sunday morning for that 7 mile stretch for cyclists? I know they do it for Sunday! Saturday I am not so sure about.
11-11-09, 07:25 PM
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A friend of mine works for him. The mayor spends probably 12-14 hours daily, 7 days a week doing his job. I assume he does his cycling training when it's light out.
11-11-09, 08:47 PM
#37
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11-11-09, 09:03 PM
#38
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I've ridden Clara Barton on Sunday mornings. And the Whitehurst. Key Bridge... Had no idea it was illegal. There certainly aren't signs indicating it. And the speed limit is 35 and under on all those roads. Rock Creek/Beach - of course.
WTOP either has something against Fenty or something against cyclists. There are some valid criticisms of Fenty in the articles, but it seems like they're being particularly hard on him. If he went jogging, wouldn't he have a police escort?
WTOP either has something against Fenty or something against cyclists. There are some valid criticisms of Fenty in the articles, but it seems like they're being particularly hard on him. If he went jogging, wouldn't he have a police escort?
11-11-09, 10:16 PM
#39
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Thanks for the post and link to video of the cycling group with police escort. I read most of the article, but tired of it by the second page.
As I remember biking around Washington DC back in the early 80s on my Schwinn Super LeTour, I didn't find it difficult to get around town by bike. (Mind you, I sort of wish there were police around as I biked through Anacostia.)
Traffic, I imagine is just as bad or worse than it was in DC during the eighties. Beltway crawling, horrid bridges that can take out your car suspension after one pass. Events or protests around the Mall that bring autos to a halt. The insane traffic all over DC and bordering areas of Virginia and Maryland.
A bit of escorted bike delay seems.... well... not that big of a deal. What the hell do I know anyway. I only lived there for 18 months.
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As I remember biking around Washington DC back in the early 80s on my Schwinn Super LeTour, I didn't find it difficult to get around town by bike. (Mind you, I sort of wish there were police around as I biked through Anacostia.)
Traffic, I imagine is just as bad or worse than it was in DC during the eighties. Beltway crawling, horrid bridges that can take out your car suspension after one pass. Events or protests around the Mall that bring autos to a halt. The insane traffic all over DC and bordering areas of Virginia and Maryland.
A bit of escorted bike delay seems.... well... not that big of a deal. What the hell do I know anyway. I only lived there for 18 months.
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11-12-09, 05:06 AM
#40
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I've ridden Clara Barton on Sunday mornings. And the Whitehurst. Key Bridge... Had no idea it was illegal. There certainly aren't signs indicating it. And the speed limit is 35 and under on all those roads. Rock Creek/Beach - of course.
WTOP either has something against Fenty or something against cyclists. There are some valid criticisms of Fenty in the articles, but it seems like they're being particularly hard on him. If he went jogging, wouldn't he have a police escort?
WTOP either has something against Fenty or something against cyclists. There are some valid criticisms of Fenty in the articles, but it seems like they're being particularly hard on him. If he went jogging, wouldn't he have a police escort?
11-12-09, 05:54 AM
#41
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11-12-09, 05:56 AM
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So...to play Devil's Avocado for a second, why does the DC mayor put with all this congestion from inbound commuters? Why doesn't DC introduce congestion pricing for people driving into DC from suburbia? It would raise a ton of cash for the City, encourage mixed-mode transport and best of all it wouldn't cost his electorate anything.
11-12-09, 07:00 AM
#43
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So...to play Devil's Avocado for a second, why does the DC mayor put with all this congestion from inbound commuters? Why doesn't DC introduce congestion pricing for people driving into DC from suburbia? It would raise a ton of cash for the City, encourage mixed-mode transport and best of all it wouldn't cost his electorate anything.
11-12-09, 03:30 PM
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I don't know the exact scope of the mayor's delegated powers, but I assume you'd essentially have to get Congress to do it, or at least to approve any new law. It was such a mess when Bloomberg tried to push congestion pricing through in NYC that I'd be surprised to see any national politician want to address it.
I suppose this is a pointless question if one doesn't know what the DC mayor's powers are and if they could extend to road tolling.
11-12-09, 06:41 PM
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Actually, I pay more for tolls during rush hours than regular time. Not to mention the new HOT lanes they're putting in on the Capitol Beltway.
11-18-09, 01:52 AM
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11-18-09, 02:02 AM
#48
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All seems pretty unnecessary to me.. Friends say when they encounter a pack of cyclists.. We don't really try to single you out, because with the helmet and sunglasses you all look alike.
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11-18-09, 03:09 AM
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all of my toll money goes to the dulles toll road in VA. and thats only cause you can't have a bike on the train during the rush hours. i walked into the west falls church metro like 20 min early and they started b*tchin. there needs to be a bikes only car on every train! i wish i had the time (by that i mean ambition) to get something started....
