Posts with the tag Crash Charges. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/crash+charges/ en-us http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19203/no-jail-for-raquel-nelson/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Raquel Nelson, the Atlanta woman convicted of vehicular homicide when her son ran into a street and got killed by a driver, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://t4america.org/blog/2013/06/13/raquel-nelson-homicide-charge-dropped-but-the-real-crime-persists/', '19203')" href="http://t4america.org/blog/2013/06/13/raquel-nelson-homicide-charge-dropped-but-the-real-crime-persists/" style="color: black">is free</a>: prosecutors finally relented and let her plead to jaywalking. But problems with safety crossing our streets, and bad laws, persist. (T4A)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19203/no-jail-for-raquel-nelson/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=19203 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:51:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19076/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A new app <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-it/blue-tiger-labs-creates-app-to-compare-grocery-prices/2013/05/31/6b05c4f6-c949-11e2-9245-773c0123c027_story.html', '19076')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-it/blue-tiger-labs-creates-app-to-compare-grocery-prices/2013/05/31/6b05c4f6-c949-11e2-9245-773c0123c027_story.html" style="color: black">helps people find supermarkets</a> and comparison shop. (Post) ... Mayor Gray <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/13/06/03/gray_opposes_u_street_liquor_license_moratorium', '19076')" href="http://wamu.org/news/13/06/03/gray_opposes_u_street_liquor_license_moratorium" style="color: black">opposes a liquor moratorium</a> for U Street. (WAMU) ... The driver who hit a cyclist on the W&OD trail <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/driver-accused-of-hitting-bicyclist-refused-breath-test-police-say/2013/06/03/15a73bd6-cc85-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html?wprss=rss_local', '19076')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/driver-accused-of-hitting-bicyclist-refused-breath-test-police-say/2013/06/03/15a73bd6-cc85-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html?wprss=rss_local" style="color: black">refused a breathalyzer test</a>. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19076/and/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=19076 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:07:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18374/loudoun-takes-bike-safety-more-seriously/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">While DC prosecutors <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/dc-should-be-tougher-on-drivers-who-hit-bikers.php', '18374')" href="http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/dc-should-be-tougher-on-drivers-who-hit-bikers.php" style="color: black">let John Diehl off</a> with community service, Loudoun County more vigorously prosecuted a driver who fled the scene after seriously injuring a cyclist, says Harry Jaffe. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18374/loudoun-takes-bike-safety-more-seriously/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18374 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:06:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18338/driver-who-hit-cyclist-takes-plea/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncasey/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nick Casey</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver caught on video intentionally hitting a cyclist and fleeing has <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wtop.com/41/3271567/Prosecutors-announce-deal-in-videotaped-bike-crash', '18338')" href="http://www.wtop.com/41/3271567/Prosecutors-announce-deal-in-videotaped-bike-crash" style="color: black">accepted a plea deal</a> for community service and anger management classes in exchange for having charges dropped. (WTOP) ... <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thewashcycle.com/2013/04/driver-in-video-attack-pleads-guilty-but-could-have-charges-dismissed.html', '18338')" href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2013/04/driver-in-video-attack-pleads-guilty-but-could-have-charges-dismissed.html" style="color: black">WashCycle asks</a>, "What do you have to do to lose the right to drive in this town?"<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18338/driver-who-hit-cyclist-takes-plea/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3415/bus-driver-hits-jogger-maybe-while-turning/ style="color: black">Bus driver hits jogger, maybe while turning</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 3, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1161/mpd-not-interested-in-investigating-cyclist-intimidation/ style="color: black">MPD not interested in investigating cyclist intimidation</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 26, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4660/cyclist-treatment-mpd-1-moco-police-0/ style="color: black">Cyclist treatment: MPD 1, MoCo police 0</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3128/bus-driver-experiences-windshield-perspective/ style="color: black">Bus driver experiences "windshield perspective"</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 5, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1755/bus-driver-assaults-cyclist-mpd-uninterested/ style="color: black">Bus driver assaults cyclist, MPD uninterested</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 4, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18338 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:29:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18241/i-was-in-a-hit-and-run-by-a-distracted-driver/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/acustis/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Aimee Custis</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">My normal commute between work near Union Station and home in Dupont Circle is 35 minutes, doorknob to doorknob. Tuesday night, that commute came to a grinding halt just 2 blocks from my office. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 135px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/reallyboring/6870553250/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reallyboring/6870553250/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201303/281634.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>2nd & F NE. Photo by reallyboring on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">As I crossed the street at 2nd and F Streets NE, an SUV pulled up to the 4-way stop. The SUV stopped at the stop sign, and I began to cross the street in the crosswalk. As I was just in front of the SUV, the driver, who'd looked down to his phone while stopped (it looked like he was texting), pulled forward full speed into a left turn, hitting me. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the split second I had as the vehicle began to move before it hit me, I screamed and tried to jump back, but I was directly in front of the SUV, and it hit me squarely in the right leg, rolling over my right foot. <p style="margin-top: 1em">As I screamed, the driver finally looked up, saw me, and yelled "sorry!" out of his open window before continuing on his way. I was stunned. <p style="margin-top: 1em">It had all taken less than 15 seconds. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Waiting for the police</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Once I got safely onto the sidewalk, I stopped, and the security guard at the nearby SEC parking garage stopped to ask me if I was okay and comment on the craziness of what had just happened. While I was in one piece, I was pretty banged up and definitely very shaken, and reached into my pocket for my cell phone to call 911. <p style="margin-top: 1em">It felt odd to me to call 911 when nothing was on fire and nobody was bleeding or in imminent danger, but as the security guard pointed out, I'd just been involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Nonetheless, I gave the 911 operator my first name (they did not ask for my last name) and location, explained what happened, declined an ambulance, and was told that the next available unit would be on their way to me shortly. I hung up as a good samaritan came up to ask me if I was okay, and another security guard ushered me into the Securities and Exchange Commission building lobby to wait. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:432px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201303/281727.png&ref=18241" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201303/281727-1.png" style="border: 0"></a><br>Collision diagram by the author.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Once I was settled inside on a bench, I called my significant other, Kian, to let him know that I'd be late getting home, and he insisted on coming from Dupont to meet me and help me get home once I was done with the police. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Once I hung up with Kian, building security suggested I call 911 again<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>they were very concerned no officer had responded yet. Kian arrived (via Metro) 25 minutes after I called him, but still no MPD officer had arrived. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The security guards in the building took down my information to let their supervisor know what was going on, and told me that there was a security camera on the corner of the building that might have had an angle to catch the whole thing on tape. They'd be happy to work with MPD to provide the tape. <p style="margin-top: 1em">10 minutes or so after Kian arrived (thanks to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://storify.com/aimeecustis/2nd-and-f-ne-pedestrian-hit-and-run#publicize', '18241')" href="http://storify.com/aimeecustis/2nd-and-f-ne-pedestrian-hit-and-run#publicize" style="color: black">Twitter</a> and call logs on our cell phones, I have the timing recorded), we called 911 for a third time. It had been an hour since my first call. They seemed to have no record of our earlier calls, but assured us that this was a priority and that a unit would arrive soon. <p style="margin-top: 1em">80 minutes after the collision, Capitol Police arrived on the scene. The responding officer explained that they'd heard it come in over the radio, and decided to respond. The Capitol Police officer took my full report, spoke to the security guard who'd been an eyewitness, and explained to me that Capitol Police would now have officers canvassing the area on the lookout for the vehicle, but since it had been over an hour, that it probably wasn't in the area any longer. <p style="margin-top: 1em">20 minutes after Capitol Police arrived, and as they're nearly finished writing the report, an MPD unit arrived, explaining that they'd been dispatched from the other side of the city, because of something going on downtown occupying all of the units in the area. The officer asked me to explain what had happened yet again, even though they ended up letting Capitol Police file the report. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Bad intersection?</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">About 30 minutes after the accident, waiting for MPD, I logged into <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://storify.com/aimeecustis/2nd-and-f-ne-pedestrian-hit-and-run#publicize', '18241')" href="http://storify.com/aimeecustis/2nd-and-f-ne-pedestrian-hit-and-run#publicize" style="color: black">Twitter</a> on my phone. Many, many people on Twitter expressed their sympathy and kind thoughts (thank you!). As the discussion progressed, several people expressed frustration with that very intersection: <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:490px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201303/281654.jpg&ref=18241" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201303/281654-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I've definitely noticed on my daily commute lots of drivers blowing through the intersection with a rolling stop, or occasionally no stop at all. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>A serious reminder</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I'm sore and bruised from the collision, but otherwise I am okay. I'm incredibly grateful for that, and for all of the kind people around me who helped me after the accident, like the good Samaritan and the building security at the SEC. <p style="margin-top: 1em">But as a smart growth and complete streets advocate by day, this experience was a serious reminder that our work for more walkable, bikeable, livable streets for everyone in our communities is far from complete. Even in a place like DC that does so many things right when it comes to transportation and planning, there's more work to do, even at the most basic level. <p style="margin-top: 1em">It's easy to get wound up in rhetoric about "us vs. them", the "war on cars", and so many other issues that we write and read about every day here. We've all been guilty of this from time to time. But when we step back, can't we all agree that cars, bicycles, and most especially, pedestrians, should all have a safe place on our streets? Washington is a great place to live, but we still have a long way to go to make it greater. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Let's do it for the kids in the daycare down the street from this intersection. For our elderly neighbors who can't get around as well anymore. For our children biking to school. From driver to cyclist to pedestrian, everyone benefits from a street that's safe and welcoming for all users.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18241/i-was-in-a-hit-and-run-by-a-distracted-driver/#comments">56 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18241 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:33:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17998/its-a-collision-not-an-accident-in-new-york/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The NYPD <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/nyregion/collision-replacing-accident-for-nyc-police-traffic-crash-squad.html', '17998')" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/nyregion/collision-replacing-accident-for-nyc-police-traffic-crash-squad.html" style="color: black">will start investigating crashes</a> that seriously injure pedestrians and cyclists, in addition to fatal ones. Also, the department is going to start calling them "collisions" or "crashes" and avoid the term "accident" with its inherent connotation of no fault. (NYT)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17998/its-a-collision-not-an-accident-in-new-york/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17998 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:49:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17837/jury-excuses-killing-cyclist/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A Massachusetts grand jury <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/15/cyclists-react-with-anger-after-grand-jury-returns-indictment-wellesley-bike-crash-case/JDTtJSawtj34hxAAP5Y0RI/story.html', '17837')" href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/15/cyclists-react-with-anger-after-grand-jury-returns-indictment-wellesley-bike-crash-case/JDTtJSawtj34hxAAP5Y0RI/story.html" style="color: black">refused to indict a truck driver</a> who killed a cyclist, despite video, witnesses, and the truck driver fleeing the scene. This may show <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://bostonglobe.com/editorials/2013/02/24/failure-indict-truck-driver-for-death-cyclist-reveals-bias/Yp3gvUrfdoXteYiAc6Lu5M/story.html', '17837')" href="http://bostonglobe.com/editorials/2013/02/24/failure-indict-truck-driver-for-death-cyclist-reveals-bias/Yp3gvUrfdoXteYiAc6Lu5M/story.html" style="color: black">a continued bias against cyclists</a> in society. (Boston Globe)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17837/jury-excuses-killing-cyclist/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5260/mendelson-were-being-too-easy-on-drivers-who-kill/ style="color: black">Mendelson: "We're being too easy on drivers" who kill</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5305/mpd-unsuccessfully-pursued-charges-in-october-2008-death/ style="color: black">MPD unsuccessfully pursued charges in October 2008 death</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3243/bicycles-drivers-and-pedestrians-all-have-their-reckless-minority/ style="color: black">Bicycles, drivers, and pedestrians all have their reckless minority</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 17, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5937/halsey-veers-from-bike-tragedy-to-ethnic-generalizations/ style="color: black">Halsey veers from bike tragedy to ethnic generalizations</a> <span class="nw">(May 24, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9125/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-1-alice-swanson/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 1: Alice Swanson</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 7, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17837 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:03:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17785/montgomery-police-blame-victims-for-pedestrian-deaths/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/bross/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Ben Ross</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">After three pedestrians died in three weeks in Montgomery County<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>one walking on the sidewalk, and the other two in crosswalks where they had the legal right of way<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>county police could only blame the victims. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201302/mocoped.jpg" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201302/231029.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Truck ignores pedestrian in a Montgomery County crosswalk. Photo by the author.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">"The only thing that I see that could be newsworthy is advice to pedestrians to make sure that they have or wear reflective clothing or items when they walk at night to increase their visibility," Captain Thomas Didone <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wheaton-md.patch.com/articles/speak-out-three-pedestrian-deaths-in-three-weeks-8fe87662', '17785')" href="http://wheaton-md.patch.com/articles/speak-out-three-pedestrian-deaths-in-three-weeks-8fe87662" style="color: black">told the <em>Patch</em></a>. Didone is director of the county police department's traffic division. <p style="margin-top: 1em">As far as can be determined, all three victims were obeying the rules of the road when they died. Georgina Afful-Assare was hit while walking on the sidewalk near Briggs Chaney Road. The other two were killed while crossing major highways at intersections where unmarked (but legal) crosswalks connect bus stops to apartment complexes. Neither had any other reasonable way to get across the road. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Frank Sedwick was crossing Georgia Avenue at Heathfield Drive in Aspen Hill. The nearest traffic signal is 1,500 feet away at Connecticut Avenue, and there is no marked crosswalk or signal on the high-speed turn ramp that pedestrians must cross to reach it. According to a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wheaton-md.patch.com/articles/silver-spring-man-killed-in-aspen-hill-pedestrian-accident', '17785')" href="http://wheaton-md.patch.com/articles/silver-spring-man-killed-in-aspen-hill-pedestrian-accident" style="color: black">blog commenter</a>, Mr. Sedwick had a prosthetic leg. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Charles Aboagye was crossing US 29 at Oak Leaf Drive. He was <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://silverspring.patch.com/articles/man-dead-after-white-oak-pedestrian-crash', '17785')" href="http://silverspring.patch.com/articles/man-dead-after-white-oak-pedestrian-crash" style="color: black">standing in the median</a> and tripped. Here, the marked crosswalk is 785 feet away. To reach that crosswalk, one must walk within inches of cars and trucks speeding along what drivers perceive as a limited-access highway. The risk of tripping and falling during a long trudge down the sidewalk is far greater than in the median, where the law (universally ignored) indeed requires drivers to stop and let you pass. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Engineering fixes are needed for safer crossings at Heathfield and Oak Leaf Drives. Road design policies must change, and even then rebuilding will take time. In the meantime, the roads we have now must be made safer to walk on. That will only happen when the police stop blaming the victims and insist that drivers stop at all crosswalks, both marked and unmarked. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Other cities are teaching this. Minneapolis suburbs have <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.startribune.com/local/west/166496886.html', '17785')" href="http://www.startribune.com/local/west/166496886.html" style="color: black">launched campaigns</a> to ticket drivers who fail to yield. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In California's Ventura County, an area more suburban than Montgomery, police gave drivers <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://local.nixle.com/alert/4962921/', '17785')" href="http://local.nixle.com/alert/4962921/" style="color: black">this reminder</a> after a car that stopped for a pedestrian was rear-ended: "Pay attention while driving near crosswalks and actively look for pedestrians crossing the street. Additionally, pay attention for other cars on the roadway that might be slowing or stopping for pedestrians." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Telling those on foot to dress like hunters in the woods will not make streets more walkable. Nor will it prevent the deaths of people who are walking on the sidewalk or standing in a median strip. Lives will be saved when drivers obey the law by stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. Montgomery County police must change their attitudes and issue tickets to those who fail to yield. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17785/montgomery-police-blame-victims-for-pedestrian-deaths/#comments">228 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17785 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:33:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17789/cyclists-life-worth-140/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.capitalgazette.com/bowie_bladenews/news/driver-in-fatal-accident-receives-fine/article_41f75466-f15f-5ef4-9c2c-deceb3bb13ec.html', '17789')" href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/bowie_bladenews/news/driver-in-fatal-accident-receives-fine/article_41f75466-f15f-5ef4-9c2c-deceb3bb13ec.html" style="color: black">rear-ended a cyclist</a> on the shoulder of Route 3 in Prince George's County, killing her. The driver pled guilty to negligent driving; her sentence: a $140 fine. (Bowie Blade)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17789/cyclists-life-worth-140/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4640/12-ways-our-region-could-reform-bicycling-laws/ style="color: black">12 ways our region could reform bicycling laws</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1979/two-cases-where-reporters-police-dont-dismiss-crashes/ style="color: black">Two cases where reporters, police don't dismiss crashes</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 7, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5937/halsey-veers-from-bike-tragedy-to-ethnic-generalizations/ style="color: black">Halsey veers from bike tragedy to ethnic generalizations</a> <span class="nw">(May 24, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4660/cyclist-treatment-mpd-1-moco-police-0/ style="color: black">Cyclist treatment: MPD 1, MoCo police 0</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8821/prosecuting-negligent-driving-is-tough-time-for-new-laws/ style="color: black">Prosecuting negligent driving is tough; time for new laws?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 12, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17789 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:05:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17665/first-fatal-car-crash/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washingtons-first-recorded-traffic-fatality/2013/02/06/77c94f1c-6f23-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html', '17665')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washingtons-first-recorded-traffic-fatality/2013/02/06/77c94f1c-6f23-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html" style="color: black">first traffic fatality</a> in DC, at 15th St. and New York Ave. NW in 1904, the driver left the scene without waiting. The incident garnered little press coverage, perhaps because the victim was black. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17665/first-fatal-car-crash/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16650/what-would-you-do-if-you-came-across-a-bike-crash/ style="color: black">What would you do if you came across a bike crash?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 2, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4451/then-and-now-15th-street-outside-the-treasury/ style="color: black">Then and Now: 15th Street outside the Treasury</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 12, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4178/then-and-now-13th-and-harvard/ style="color: black">Then and Now: 13th and Harvard</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 3, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2517/before-ddot-got-to-improve-safety-a-pedestrian-was-killed-at-15th-w/ style="color: black">Before DDOT got to improve safety, a pedestrian was killed at 15th & W</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 1, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4195/then-and-now-1329-to-1337-harvard-street-nw/ style="color: black">Then and Now: 1329 to 1337 Harvard Street, NW</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 11, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17665 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:10:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16860/loudoun-principal-meets-deadly-crash-and-double-standard/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/bross/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Ben Ross</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Last Wednesday afternoon, Loudoun County school principal Kathleen Hwang was killed while walking near her Sterling home. Media and police reporting on this tragic death exemplifies the double standard used to assess blame when automobiles and pedestrians collide. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201211/251202.jpg" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/251202-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>View from the crash site in the direction of the approaching car. Photos by the author.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Ms. Hwang was hit by a westbound Dodge Durango, which an 18-year-old male was driving. She was crossing White Water Drive between Longsford Way and Levee Way. <p style="margin-top: 1em">As in many such tragic crashes, local police <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://sheriff.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=45', '16860')" href="http://sheriff.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=45" style="color: black">were quick to point out</a> that Ms. Hwang was not in a crosswalk, implying that she was at least partially at fault. Press reports, such as in the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/ashburn-elementary-school-principal-fatally-struck/2012/11/23/35de90a8-35a3-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html', '16860')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/ashburn-elementary-school-principal-fatally-struck/2012/11/23/35de90a8-35a3-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html" style="color: black"><em>Washington Post</em></a>, and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/20174062/ashburn-principal-kathleen-hwang-killed-by-teen-driver', '16860')" href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/20174062/ashburn-principal-kathleen-hwang-killed-by-teen-driver" style="color: black">Fox 5</a> repeated these statements. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Despite the way police and press reports make it sound, it doesn't appear Ms. Hwang was acting carelessly when she crossed where she did. If anything, the place where she crossed looks to be safer than the crosswalk. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Virginia law (<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-923', '16860')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-923" style="color: black">&sect; 46.2-923</a>) instructs pedestrians to cross "when possible" at marked crosswalks and intersections, just as it instructs drivers never to go even 1 mph faster than the speed limit. But it also says that pedestrians are not necessarily negligent when they cross mid-block. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Pedestrians are not allowed to cross mid-block if drivers will not be able to see them <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-926', '16860')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-926" style="color: black">&sect;46.2-926</a>). However, that is not true here. Quite the contrary, drivers are better able to see pedestrians here than at the unsignalized intersection to the east, which has a marked crosswalk. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201211/241426.jpg&ref=16860" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/241426-1.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Approximate site of fatal collision. Image from Google Earth.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">None of the news media bothered to ask why Ms. Hwang might have chosen not to use the nearby crosswalk. The reason is apparent when one visits the site. Beyond the crosswalk, White Water Drive curves to the left and dips behind a small hill. The midblock crossing would actually be safer, because drivers have a better view. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width: 504px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201211/251212.jpg&ref=16860" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/hwang1.jpg" style="margin-right: 10px; border: 0"></a><a href="/image.cgi?src=201211/251215.jpg&ref=16860" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201211/hwang2.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Driver's view 330 ft away from a pedestrian at the curb. Left: Pedestrian at crash site. Right: Pedestrian at crosswalk. Click on a photo to enlarge.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">If, as the police suggest, Ms. Hwang was not able to see the approaching vehicle, what significance does the crosswalk have? The car would have been even harder to see from the crosswalk. There, she would be in greater danger of inadvertently stepping in front of an approaching vehicle. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Police and media disparage victim, ignore possible driver factors</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The police say that the driver was not speeding. The stopping distance for a Dodge Durango moving at the 35-mph speed limit, allowing 2 seconds reaction time, is 142 feet. Visibility at the crash site is more than 330 feet, so an attentive driver moving at the speed limit had room to stop. Why did the police not address stopping distance, something far more relevant than the crosswalk location, in their public statement? <p style="margin-top: 1em">The police and the <em>Post</em> article also took the trouble to report that Ms. Hwang was wearing earphones. They did not describe her other attire. This detail has no relevance except as a hint<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>quickly seized on in <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/ashburn-elementary-school-principal-fatally-struck/2012/11/23/35de90a8-35a3-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_allComments.html?ctab=all_&', '16860')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/ashburn-elementary-school-principal-fatally-struck/2012/11/23/35de90a8-35a3-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_allComments.html?ctab=all_&" style="color: black">comment</a> <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/11/loudoun-county-elementary-school-principal-killed-in-car-wreck-82393.html#commentformstory82393', '16860')" href="http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/11/loudoun-county-elementary-school-principal-killed-in-car-wreck-82393.html#commentformstory82393" style="color: black">threads</a><wbr>&mdash;<wbr>that she was at fault for not paying attention to the road. <p style="margin-top: 1em">There is no mention of whether the driver had a car radio on, and I don't recall the <em>Post</em> ever mentioning car radios in reporting on a crash. Music, in general, is equally distracting whether one is walking or driving, but a pedestrian, whose carelessness will not harm others, does not have the same obligations as someone in control of a ton of fast-moving steel. And in this case, it's much easier to imagine that an 18-year-old new driver might have been oblivious to his surroundings than a 60-year-old school principal. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Many small changes in the circumstances could have avoided this tragedy. Clearly, had Ms. Hwang not crossed at this time, it wouldn't have happened, and pedestrians always need to recognize that they are vulnerable crossing the street. It is safer not to have music interfering with one's ability to hear. But had the driver been traveling slower or noticed Ms. Hwang earlier, he might also have been able to avoid the crash. <p style="margin-top: 1em">What police and the media should never do is automatically assume that anyone crossing outside a crosswalk or wearing earphones is to blame. Pedestrians deserve the same opportunities as drivers to use the streets without being killed, and even to listen to music while they are doing it.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16860/loudoun-principal-meets-deadly-crash-and-double-standard/#comments">94 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7642/youre-free-to-mow-down-pedestrians-in-prince-william/ style="color: black">You're free to mow down pedestrians in Prince William</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1661/police-report-for-connecticut-nebraska-crash/ style="color: black">Police report for Connecticut & Nebraska crash</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16747/montgomery-dot-tells-children-dont-cross-the-street/ style="color: black">Montgomery DOT tells children: Don't cross the street</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 13, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14227/speed-kills-traffic-cameras-save-lives/ style="color: black">Speed kills. Traffic cameras save lives.</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 27, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11407/crash-shows-need-for-safer-crossings-is-nps-listening/ style="color: black">Crash shows need for safer crossings; is NPS listening?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 25, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16860 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:46:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16735/charges-in-cyclist-assault/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/7/driver-on-trial-after-cyclist-films-truck-bike-cra/', '16735')" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/7/driver-on-trial-after-cyclist-films-truck-bike-cra/" style="color: black">charged with assault</a> after he yelled at a cyclist, swerved and allegedly hit the cyclist, and was caught on camera. Police initially said they wouldn't file charges, but prosecutors ultimately did. (Washington Times)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16735/charges-in-cyclist-assault/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16735 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:29:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16360/driver-hits-kids-on-walk-to-school-day/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.gazette.net/article/20121003/NEWS/710039428/1022/springbrook-high-students-struck-by-car-on-way-to-school&template=gazette', '16360')" href="http://www.gazette.net/article/20121003/NEWS/710039428/1022/springbrook-high-students-struck-by-car-on-way-to-school&template=gazette" style="color: black">ran off the road and hit 2 teens</a> on Randolph Road during Walk to School Day. Police statements and press reports use <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1850/', '16360')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1850/" style="color: black">tortured language</a> to avoid describing the driver as controlling the car. (Gazette)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16360/driver-hits-kids-on-walk-to-school-day/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4996/safety-is-no-accident-says-carr/ style="color: black">Safety is no accident, says Carr</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3245/the-hazards-of-driving-michael-phelps-and-you/ style="color: black">The hazards of driving: Michael Phelps and you</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 18, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11254/rebuilt-wheaton-high-could-give-community-a-new-face/ style="color: black">Rebuilt Wheaton High could give community a new face</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15053/bad-driver-or-bad-design-north-bethesda-and-cabi/ style="color: black">Bad driver or bad design? North Bethesda and CaBi</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 4, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14109/montgomery-continues-pedestrian-removal-in-wheaton/ style="color: black">Montgomery continues "pedestrian removal" in Wheaton</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 21, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16360 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:35:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15804/driver-lawbreaking-behind-most-crashes/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A study of all fatal traffic crashes in New York, over 14 years, shows that 60% of the crashes <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/06/ta-most-city-pedestrians-and-cyclists-killed-by-drivers-who-broke-the-law/', '15804')" href="http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/06/ta-most-city-pedestrians-and-cyclists-killed-by-drivers-who-broke-the-law/" style="color: black">were caused by a driver</a> breaking a traffic law. However, the NYPD rarely took any action. (Streetsblog)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15804/driver-lawbreaking-behind-most-crashes/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15804 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15625/driver-gets-prison-term/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver in Washington who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide for killing a bicyclist in June 2010 <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/driver-sentenced-for-striking-killing-bicyclist/article/feed/2014313', '15625')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/driver-sentenced-for-striking-killing-bicyclist/article/feed/2014313" style="color: black">has now been sentenced to 14 months in prison</a>. Is that an appropriate sentence? (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15625/driver-gets-prison-term/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3128/bus-driver-experiences-windshield-perspective/ style="color: black">Bus driver experiences "windshield perspective"</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 5, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5550/medical-examiner-accident-finding-causes-confusion/ style="color: black">Medical Examiner "accident" finding causes confusion</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 16, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8821/prosecuting-negligent-driving-is-tough-time-for-new-laws/ style="color: black">Prosecuting negligent driving is tough; time for new laws?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5937/halsey-veers-from-bike-tragedy-to-ethnic-generalizations/ style="color: black">Halsey veers from bike tragedy to ethnic generalizations</a> <span class="nw">(May 24, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4640/12-ways-our-region-could-reform-bicycling-laws/ style="color: black">12 ways our region could reform bicycling laws</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 22, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15625 Sat, 21 Jul 2012 15:39:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15501/mpd-gets-law-correct-in-minor-suv-bike-collision/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC's police have gotten <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-police-need-to-be-better-versed-in-bicycle-laws-complaints-board-says/2011/09/29/gIQAJKIQ8K_story.html', '15501')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-police-need-to-be-better-versed-in-bicycle-laws-complaints-board-says/2011/09/29/gIQAJKIQ8K_story.html" style="color: black">some deserved criticism</a> for misunderstanding bike laws and misapplying them in a few recent crashes, but that's not always the case. Some officers get it just right. Reader Corey wrote in:<div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 199px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/7081233729/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/7081233729/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201207/091317.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by thisisbossi on Flickr.</div><blockquote><i>My friend Abe and I went for a ride yesterday. We were in the bike lane on 4th St SW between M and I, Abe in front and me trailing, when a guy in a crossover SUV tries to make a right turn into the Safeway parking garage straight into the two of us. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Both bikes were a little bent, but we were willing to let bygones be bygones if the guy had been cool about it. Then the guy sees where my shoulder left a dent in his car and our handlebars left marks, gets righteously indignant about the fact that he had his turn signal on (claiming repeatedly that this means it was OK for him to turn into us), so he calls the cops.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>When the officer gets there and hears both side of the story, she immediately cites the guy for illegally changing lanes into traffic. I have no idea what made the driver think that calling the cops after hitting two cyclists in a bike lane was a good idea. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In any case, it was really encouraging to have an encounter with MPD in which the officer very clearly understood that the rules of the road still apply when bikes are involved. Urban, multi-modal transportation can only take root in the community when the law is applied fairly and folks know they'll be protected no matter how they choose to get to and fro.</i></blockquote>Thanks, officer! Nice work. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 151px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://blog.oregonlive.com/multimedia/2007/10/right_of_way_animation.html', '15501')" href="http://blog.oregonlive.com/multimedia/2007/10/right_of_way_animation.html" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201207/091607.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Image from the Oregonian.</div><i>Added:</i> For those unfamiliar with the law, when there is a bike lane, the rule is that drivers should look to be sure nobody is in the lane, then <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6528/', '15501')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6528/" style="color: black">merge into the lane before turning</a>. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Essentially, drivers should treat the bike lane just like another standard travel lane; if you're turning right and there's another lane to the right, you change lanes into that lane before turning right. A bike lane works the same way, just narrower, when turns are involved. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15501/mpd-gets-law-correct-in-minor-suv-bike-collision/#comments">36 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7028/17th-street-bike-lanes-incorrectly-striped/ style="color: black">17th Street bike lanes incorrectly striped</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 3, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3864/ddot-to-start-15th-street-contraflow-bike-lane-next-week/ style="color: black">DDOT to start 15th Street contraflow bike lane next week</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 23, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/547/are-protected-bike-lanes-actually-more-dangerous/ style="color: black">Are protected bike lanes actually more dangerous?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 14, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1244/council-passes-fine-for-blocking-bike-lane/ style="color: black">Council passes fine for blocking bike lane</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 16, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5249/downtown-bike-lane-proposal-needs-fixes-at-the-ends/ style="color: black">Downtown bike lane proposal needs fixes at the ends</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 22, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15501 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:40:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15180/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The US Secretary of Commerce <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/john-bryson-hit-and-run-obama-commerce-secretary_n_1586087.html', '15180')" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/john-bryson-hit-and-run-obama-commerce-secretary_n_1586087.html" style="color: black">was charged with felony hit-and-run</a>; he had a seizure. (Huffington Post) ... People who don't live in Virginia <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://potomaclocal.com/2012/06/13/slug-tales-out-of-towners-just-dont-understand/', '15180')" href="http://potomaclocal.com/2012/06/13/slug-tales-out-of-towners-just-dont-understand/" style="color: black">find slugging totally foreign</a>. (Potomac Local) ... Some people on the Internet are jerks, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/dont-mess-with-dc-bike-commuters/2012/06/11/gJQAwvmIXV_story.html', '15180')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/dont-mess-with-dc-bike-commuters/2012/06/11/gJQAwvmIXV_story.html" style="color: black">including some cyclists</a>. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15180/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/958/which-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/ style="color: black">Which of these things is not like the others?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 16, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13744/ask-ggw-why-are-md-house-prices-down-and-vas-up/ style="color: black">Ask GGW: Why are Md. house prices down and Va.'s up?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 16, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7692/nps-secret-service-close-to-approving-15th-street-bike-lane/ style="color: black">NPS, Secret Service close to approving 15th Street bike lane</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9246/hot-lanes-and-the-arlington-lawsuit-part-1-myth-vs-reality/ style="color: black">HOT lanes and the Arlington lawsuit, part 1: Myth vs. reality</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 14, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9379/lang-trachtenberg-economic-development-transition-pushes-archaic-transportation-approach/ style="color: black">Lang/Trachtenberg economic development transition pushes archaic transportation approach</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15180 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:46:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13730/nypd-knows-little-does-less/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The NYPD's state of the art crime tracking systems don't tell it <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://gothamist.com/2012/02/15/heres_why_drivers_get_away_with_mur.php', '13730')" href="http://gothamist.com/2012/02/15/heres_why_drivers_get_away_with_mur.php" style="color: black">how many drivers were charged</a> in nonfatal crashes. And they don't investigate serious but nonfatal crashes at all. NYC councilmembers weren't pleased. (Gothamist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13730/nypd-knows-little-does-less/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10838/weekend-videos-police-and-bikes/ style="color: black">Weekend videos: Police and bikes</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 11, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6750/struck-in-dc-this-week-8-pedestrians-4-cyclists/ style="color: black">Struck in DC this week: 8 pedestrians, 4 cyclists</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 8, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9114/frequent-enforcement-better-data-needed-for-road-safety/ style="color: black">Frequent enforcement, better data needed for road safety</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 4, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/759/ny-legislators-fail-to-lead/ style="color: black">NY legislators fail to lead</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 8, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13730 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:14:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13550/no-need-to-watch-for-bikes-peds-in-virginia/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A Virginia House subcommittee decided <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/01/bill-to-see-drivers-to-exercise-due.html', '13550')" href="http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/01/bill-to-see-drivers-to-exercise-due.html" style="color: black">drivers shouldn't be required to use care</a> not to hit pedestrians or cyclists. Republican Barbara Comstock of McLean led the vote to kill a bill set that standard. (FABB)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13550/no-need-to-watch-for-bikes-peds-in-virginia/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9004/anti-livability-bill-passes-virginia-house-committee/ style="color: black">Anti-livability bill passes Virginia House committee</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 27, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8958/virginia-republican-pursuing-vendetta-against-arlington-for-not-wanting-to-be-a-giant-interchange/ style="color: black">Virginia Republican pursuing vendetta against Arlington for not wanting to be a "giant interchange"</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 25, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9021/good-environmental-bills-die-bad-transportation-bills-wounded-in-virginia-house/ style="color: black">Good environmental bills die, bad transportation bills wounded in Virginia House</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 31, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9363/virginia-senate-kills-bad-anti-livability-wmata-board-bills/ style="color: black">Virginia Senate kills bad anti-livability, WMATA board bills</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8908/virginians-ask-your-reps-to-oppose-bad-highway-bills/ style="color: black">Virginians: Ask your reps to oppose bad highway bills</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13550 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:59:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13425/what-crazy-drivers-do/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A drunk driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/19/BAOS1MRKES.DTL', '13425')" href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/19/BAOS1MRKES.DTL" style="color: black">drove into the Muni subway tunnels</a> in San Francisco and traveled half a mile before getting stuck. (SF Chronicle) ... Anne Arundel police <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dna-sample-connects-car-to-bike-accident-anne-arundel-police-say/2012/01/19/gIQAvg1PBQ_blog.html?wprss=crime-scene', '13425')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dna-sample-connects-car-to-bike-accident-anne-arundel-police-say/2012/01/19/gIQAvg1PBQ_blog.html?wprss=crime-scene" style="color: black">used DNA evidence</a> to catch a hit and run driver who injured a cyclist. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13425/what-crazy-drivers-do/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13425 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:39:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13270/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Home prices in Prince George's County <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2012/01/home-values-plummet-prince-georges/2066411', '13270')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2012/01/home-values-plummet-prince-georges/2066411" style="color: black">drop 35%</a>. (Examiner) ... A drunk driver was <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/5/rockville-man-gets-20-years-in-fatal-crash/?page=all', '13270')" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/5/rockville-man-gets-20-years-in-fatal-crash/?page=all" style="color: black">sentenced to 20 years</a> for a fatal crash. (Washington Times) ... Retail near the Chinatown Arch <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-business/post/yo-sushi-walgreens-panera-bread-coming-to-busy-chinatown-corner/2012/01/04/gIQAggywcP_blog.html', '13270')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-business/post/yo-sushi-walgreens-panera-bread-coming-to-busy-chinatown-corner/2012/01/04/gIQAggywcP_blog.html" style="color: black">will finally be filled</a>, for the highest retail rent in DC. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13270/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-car-free-virginians/ style="color: black">Taxes lowest for DC residents and car-free Virginians</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9233/prince-georges-tod-is-big-business-opportunity/ style="color: black">Prince George's TOD is big business opportunity</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 14, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6715/join-ggw-for-a-happy-hour-on-august-19/ style="color: black">Join GGW for a happy hour on August 19</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 9, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7930/prince-georges-housing-challenges-call-for-new-leadership/ style="color: black">Prince George's housing challenges call for new leadership</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 2, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3123/prince-georges-totally-missing-the-train-boat/ style="color: black">Prince George's totally missing the (train) boat</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 4, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13270 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:15:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12676/driver-strikes-3-protestors-intentionally/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mgillick/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Moira Gillick</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dueling-versions-between-dc-police-protesters-at-convention-center/2011/11/05/gIQAHDTAqM_story.html', '12676')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dueling-versions-between-dc-police-protesters-at-convention-center/2011/11/05/gIQAHDTAqM_story.html" style="color: black">A driver hit 3 protestors</a> outside the Convention Center on Friday. Police say protestors jumped in front of and on the car, but <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=204ItdAbyRc', '12676')" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=204ItdAbyRc" style="color: black">the victims say</a> the driver deliberately sped up to hit them. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12676/driver-strikes-3-protestors-intentionally/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/985/where-should-the-buses-go-instead/ style="color: black">Where should the buses go instead?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 23, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/714/convention-center-plans-nice-except-for-skybridges/ style="color: black">Convention center plans nice except for skybridges</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 17, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1660/pedestrian-hit-at-comet-square-driver-cited-with-a-violation/ style="color: black">Pedestrian hit at Comet Square; driver "cited with a violation"</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 4, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12676 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:43:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12356/2-bike-deaths-1-set-of-charges/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A cyclist was killed in Millersville while breaking no laws, yet <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/10/cyclist-killed-on-friday-in-compliance-with-law-still-to-blame.html', '12356')" href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/10/cyclist-killed-on-friday-in-compliance-with-law-still-to-blame.html" style="color: black">police are blaming the victim</a> ... In another death, where police <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/09/charges-expected-in-natasha-pettigrew-case.html', '12356')" href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/09/charges-expected-in-natasha-pettigrew-case.html" style="color: black">initially blamed the victim</a> but then changed their mind, the driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/10/arrest-in-natasha-pettigrew-case.html', '12356')" href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/10/arrest-in-natasha-pettigrew-case.html" style="color: black">now faces charges</a>. (TheWashCycle)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12356/2-bike-deaths-1-set-of-charges/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9125/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-1-alice-swanson/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 1: Alice Swanson</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 7, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5260/mendelson-were-being-too-easy-on-drivers-who-kill/ style="color: black">Mendelson: "We're being too easy on drivers" who kill</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7642/youre-free-to-mow-down-pedestrians-in-prince-william/ style="color: black">You're free to mow down pedestrians in Prince William</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5305/mpd-unsuccessfully-pursued-charges-in-october-2008-death/ style="color: black">MPD unsuccessfully pursued charges in October 2008 death</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9276/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-4-bad-tickets/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 4: Bad tickets</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 16, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=12356 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:18:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11814/planner-right-hooked-by-turn-he-banned/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A San Francisco city planner who fought for a ban on right turns at a dangerous intersection <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/08/25/city-planner-hurt-by-illegal-right-turn-driver-at-market-and-octavia/', '11814')" href="http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/08/25/city-planner-hurt-by-illegal-right-turn-driver-at-market-and-octavia/" style="color: black">was hit by a tourist driver</a> making that very illegal right turn. Police didn't ticket the driver. (Streetsblog SF)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11814/planner-right-hooked-by-turn-he-banned/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10838/weekend-videos-police-and-bikes/ style="color: black">Weekend videos: Police and bikes</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 11, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7073/dont-block-the-box-or-else/ style="color: black">Don't block the box... or else?</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 8, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1661/police-report-for-connecticut-nebraska-crash/ style="color: black">Police report for Connecticut & Nebraska crash</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7207/a-cleveland-park-pedestrian-chronicles-her-experience/ style="color: black">A Cleveland Park pedestrian chronicles her experience</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 21, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1047/council-balks-at-bike-lane-parking-fines/ style="color: black">Council balks at bike lane parking fines</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 16, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11814 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:54:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11411/driver-killed-cyclist-in-hit-and-run/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/jscott/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Jamie Scott</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Police are searching for a driver who <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/family-seeks-help-in-finding-driver-who-fled-after-md-hit-and-run/2011/07/22/gIQAvBkCXI_story.html', '11411')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/family-seeks-help-in-finding-driver-who-fled-after-md-hit-and-run/2011/07/22/gIQAvBkCXI_story.html" style="color: black">struck and killed</a> a cyclist in Anne Arundel county on July 14. The driver got out of the car momentarily before driving away. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11411/driver-killed-cyclist-in-hit-and-run/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1755/bus-driver-assaults-cyclist-mpd-uninterested/ style="color: black">Bus driver assaults cyclist, MPD uninterested</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1698/14-year-old-cyclist-killed-will-safety-improvements-follow/ style="color: black">14 year-old cyclist killed. Will safety improvements follow?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 17, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4660/cyclist-treatment-mpd-1-moco-police-0/ style="color: black">Cyclist treatment: MPD 1, MoCo police 0</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6041/share-the-road-because-the-sign-is-blocking-the-path/ style="color: black">Share the road, because the sign is blocking the path</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 3, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9296/arlington-pd-follows-up-personally-with-cyclist/ style="color: black">Arlington PD follows up personally with cyclist</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 17, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11411 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:21:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11395/judge-tosses-charges-for-cyclist-assaulting-driver/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A Miami driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-07-21/news/miami-beach-vigilante-biker-ken-bereski-gets-driver-charged-with-felony-assault/', '11395')" href="http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-07-21/news/miami-beach-vigilante-biker-ken-bereski-gets-driver-charged-with-felony-assault/" style="color: black">intentionally swerved into a cyclist</a>, who caught the incident on video. Prosecutors brought felony assault charges, but a judge threw them out, saying the cyclist should have ridden in a different spot that's actually illegal. (Miami New Times)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11395/judge-tosses-charges-for-cyclist-assaulting-driver/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9126/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-3-charles-schwartz/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 3: Charles Schwartz</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 9, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4660/cyclist-treatment-mpd-1-moco-police-0/ style="color: black">Cyclist treatment: MPD 1, MoCo police 0</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1161/mpd-not-interested-in-investigating-cyclist-intimidation/ style="color: black">MPD not interested in investigating cyclist intimidation</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 26, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10619/assaulting-a-police-officer-may-not-mean-what-you-think/ style="color: black">"Assaulting a police officer" may not mean what you think</a> <span class="nw">(May 26, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1755/bus-driver-assaults-cyclist-mpd-uninterested/ style="color: black">Bus driver assaults cyclist, MPD uninterested</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 4, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11395 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:14:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11396/the-streets-and-the-courts-failed-raquel-nelson/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tsnyder/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Tanya Snyder</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Last week, many reported the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/07/14/mother-convicted-of-vehicular-homicide-for-crossing-street-with-children/', '11396')" href="http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/07/14/mother-convicted-of-vehicular-homicide-for-crossing-street-with-children/" style="color: black">horrific story of Raquel Nelson</a>, whose four-year-old son was killed as she attempted to cross the street with him to reach their home. Nelson was convicted of reckless conduct, improperly crossing a roadway and second-degree homicide by vehicle, all for the crime of being a pedestrian in the car-centric Atlanta suburbs. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The conviction carried a sentence of up to 36 months, while the driver who killed Nelson's son<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>who'd been drinking and using painkillers before getting behind the wheel<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>got off with six months on a hit-and-run charge. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/image.cgi?src=201107/221807.jpg&ref=11396', '11396')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/image.cgi?src=201107/221807.jpg&ref=11396" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201107/221809.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>The bus stop on Austell Road and the path taken by Raquel Nelson to get to her apartment complex across the street. No marked crossings are visible in the photo. Image from T4America.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The more information that came out, the more outrageous the charges against Nelson became. From an <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.ajc.com/news/jaywalkers-take-deadly-risks-527488.html', '11396')" href="http://www.ajc.com/news/jaywalkers-take-deadly-risks-527488.html" style="color: black">Atlanta Journal-Constitution story</a> that came out the month after the incident:<blockquote><i>On April 10, she and her three children<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>Tyler, 9, A.J., 4, and Lauryn, 3<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>went shopping because the next day was Nelson's birthday. They had pizza, went to Wal-Mart and missed a bus, putting them an hour late getting home. Nelson, a student at Kennesaw State University, said she never expected to be out after dark, especially with the children. <p style="margin-top: 1em">When the Cobb County Transit bus finally stopped directly across from Somerpoint Apartments, night had fallen. She and the children crossed two lanes and waited with other passengers on the raised median for a break in traffic. The nearest crosswalks were three-tenths of a mile in either direction, and Nelson wanted to get her children inside as soon as possible. A.J. carried a plastic bag holding a goldfish they'd purchased. <p style="margin-top: 1em">"One girl ran across the street," Nelson said. "For some odd reason, I guess he saw the girl and decided to run out behind her. I said, 'Stop, A.J.,' and he was in the middle of the street so I said keep going. That's when we all got hit."</i></blockquote>Look at all the ways the design of the city's transportation system failed Nelson and her family. Bus service runs once an hour. There is no crosswalk to connect a bus stop with an apartment building it serves<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>nor any crosswalk for three blocks. A convicted hit-and-run driver who is half-blind and has alcohol and pain-killers in his system is considered less of a threat to the public than a woman who rides the bus and walks with her kids. <p style="margin-top: 1em">And as Radley Balko wrote in the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.huffingtonpost.com/radley-balko/raquel-nelson-jail-for-jaywalking_b_905925.html', '11396')" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/radley-balko/raquel-nelson-jail-for-jaywalking_b_905925.html" style="color: black">Huffington Post</a>, the odds were stacked against Nelson from the start. <p style="margin-top: 1em">"During jury questioning, none of the jurors who would eventually convict Nelson raised their hands when asked if they relied on public transportation," Balko wrote. "Just one juror admitted to ever having ridden a public bus, though in response to a subsequent question, a few said they'd taken a bus to Braves games." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Indeed, as David Goldberg <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://t4america.org/blog/2011/07/18/prosecuting-the-victim-absolving-the-perpetrators/', '11396')" href="http://t4america.org/blog/2011/07/18/prosecuting-the-victim-absolving-the-perpetrators/" style="color: black">wrote on T4America's campaign blog</a>, "Nelson, 30 and African-American, was convicted on the charge this week by six jurors who were not her peers. All were middle-class whites" and did not ride public transit. "In other words,&nbsp;<strong>none had ever been in Nelson's shoes</strong>." <p style="margin-top: 1em">Many have asked if there's any way to help. Some expressed a desire to contribute to Nelson's legal fund. Others wanted to know if they could write a letter to someone demanding that Nelson's charges be expunged. <p style="margin-top: 1em">I've left two messages over the past week with Nelson's lawyer asking these (and other) questions. Neither message has been returned. So I can't answer your questions about a legal defense fund. Nelson's sentencing hearing is on Tuesday. <p style="margin-top: 1em">But there are now two petitions circulating. One, circulating at the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/669/545/347/', '11396')" href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/669/545/347/" style="color: black">Care2 petition site</a>, asks the governor to overturn Nelson's verdict. At the moment I'm writing this, the petition has gathered 4,369 signatures, on the way to its goal of 10,000. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Another, which currently has 1,061 signatures at <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.change.org/petitions/cobb-county-ga-release-grieving-mother-of-hit-and-run-install-a-crosswalk', '11396')" href="http://www.change.org/petitions/cobb-county-ga-release-grieving-mother-of-hit-and-run-install-a-crosswalk" style="color: black">Change.org</a>, asks not only for Nelson's release but for the installation of a crosswalk. That petition is addressed to the Cobb County Transportation Department, Cobb County Commissioner District 1 (Helen Goreham), and the Solicitor General (Barry Morgan). <p style="margin-top: 1em">We'll stay tuned for news on Nelson's sentence on Tuesday. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><i>Cross-posted at <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/07/22/the-streets-and-the-courts-failed-raquel-nelson-can-advocacy-save-her/', '11396')" href="http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/07/22/the-streets-and-the-courts-failed-raquel-nelson-can-advocacy-save-her/" style="color: black">Streetsblog Capitol Hill</a>.</i><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11396/the-streets-and-the-courts-failed-raquel-nelson/#comments">72 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7642/youre-free-to-mow-down-pedestrians-in-prince-william/ style="color: black">You're free to mow down pedestrians in Prince William</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7425/gaithersburg-police-target-people-in-the-way-of-cars/ style="color: black">Gaithersburg police target people in the way of cars</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 4, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9455/how-pedestrians-interfere-with-traffic/ style="color: black">How pedestrians "interfere with traffic"</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 28, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6820/wall-in-white-flint-endangers-pedestrians/ style="color: black">Wall in White Flint endangers pedestrians</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 18, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3960/with-great-horsepower-comes-great-responsibility/ style="color: black">With great horsepower comes great responsibility</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 7, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=11396 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:06:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10994/hit-and-run-killer-convicted/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A jury has <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/chevy-chase-woman-guilty-of-negligent-homicide-in-drunken-driving-case/2011/06/20/AGLj41eH_story.html', '10994')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/chevy-chase-woman-guilty-of-negligent-homicide-in-drunken-driving-case/2011/06/20/AGLj41eH_story.html" style="color: black">convicted Jorida Davidson</a> of involuntary manslaughter, who struck and killed Kiela Ryan in Dupont Circle in October while allegedly drunk. The jury deadlocked on voluntary manslaughter. Davidson could face almost 6 years in prison; Ryan's mother feels that's not enough. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10994/hit-and-run-killer-convicted/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8821/prosecuting-negligent-driving-is-tough-time-for-new-laws/ style="color: black">Prosecuting negligent driving is tough; time for new laws?</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9125/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-1-alice-swanson/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 1: Alice Swanson</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 7, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2921/dupont-circle-1887/ style="color: black">Dupont Circle, 1887</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 20, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1862/then-and-now-duponts-drug-store/ style="color: black">Then and Now: Dupont's drug store</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5305/mpd-unsuccessfully-pursued-charges-in-october-2008-death/ style="color: black">MPD unsuccessfully pursued charges in October 2008 death</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=10994 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:58:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10964/in-crime/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">MPD <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2011/06/17/did-d-c-cops-know-how-to-deal-with-mt-pleasant-standoff/', '10964')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2011/06/17/did-d-c-cops-know-how-to-deal-with-mt-pleasant-standoff/" style="color: black">fatally shot a mentally ill man</a> who lunged at officers with a screwdriver; is the department well-equipped to handle the mentally ill? (City Paper) ... Rapes <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/06/fbi-rapes-dc-jumped-20-percent-2010', '10964')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/06/fbi-rapes-dc-jumped-20-percent-2010" style="color: black">increased 10-20%</a> (depending whose statistics you use) in 2010. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10964/in-crime/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=10964 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:26:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10927/lapd-blames-cyclists-for-being-hit-by-drunk/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A drunk driver <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bikesidela.org/update-video-christine-dahab-blew-a-07-lapd-preliminarily-blame-cyclists/', '10927')" href="http://www.bikesidela.org/update-video-christine-dahab-blew-a-07-lapd-preliminarily-blame-cyclists/" style="color: black">injured 11 cyclists</a> in Culver City, Calif. Yet the preliminary LAPD report blames "pedestrians in the roadway" as the main cause and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://la.streetsblog.org/2011/06/17/how-many-defenseless-people-need-to-be-hit-before-its-a-felony/', '10927')" href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2011/06/17/how-many-defenseless-people-need-to-be-hit-before-its-a-felony/" style="color: black">makes many other excuses</a> for the driver. (Bikeside LA, Streetsblog)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10927/lapd-blames-cyclists-for-being-hit-by-drunk/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7642/youre-free-to-mow-down-pedestrians-in-prince-william/ style="color: black">You're free to mow down pedestrians in Prince William</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 15, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7129/struck-in-dc-this-week-6-pedestrians-4-cyclists/ style="color: black">Struck in DC this week: 6 pedestrians, 4 cyclists</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 14, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1979/two-cases-where-reporters-police-dont-dismiss-crashes/ style="color: black">Two cases where reporters, police don't dismiss crashes</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 7, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8293/struck-in-dc-this-week-dont-be-a-jerk-edition/ style="color: black">Struck in DC this week: Don't be a jerk edition</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 28, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/539/driver-vs-pedestrian-perspective/ style="color: black">Driver vs. pedestrian perspective</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 10, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=10927 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 09:30:38 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10870/he-messed-with-the-wrong-cyclist/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A driver deliberately tapped a woman on a bike with his car<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>twice. Unfortunately for him, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://girlonabicycle.blogspot.com/2011/06/victory-sort-of.html', '10870')" href="http://girlonabicycle.blogspot.com/2011/06/victory-sort-of.html" style="color: black">she's a cop</a>. She called it in and officers ended up finding drugs and more as well as charging him with assault. (A Girl and Her Bike)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10870/he-messed-with-the-wrong-cyclist/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1755/bus-driver-assaults-cyclist-mpd-uninterested/ style="color: black">Bus driver assaults cyclist, MPD uninterested</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4660/cyclist-treatment-mpd-1-moco-police-0/ style="color: black">Cyclist treatment: MPD 1, MoCo police 0</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9296/arlington-pd-follows-up-personally-with-cyclist/ style="color: black">Arlington PD follows up personally with cyclist</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 17, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9125/ped-bike-safety-enforcement-stories-part-1-alice-swanson/ style="color: black">Ped/bike safety enforcement stories, part 1: Alice Swanson</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 7, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10838/weekend-videos-police-and-bikes/ style="color: black">Weekend videos: Police and bikes</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 11, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=10870 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:41:00 EDT