Pointless Prize: DC Safe Accommodations Extravaganza

[jrenaut]

Some of you may know that trying to get DDOT to enforce the Safe Accommodations Act of 2013 is one of my pet projects. In short, the Safe Accommodations Act says that, should a sidewalk or roadway need to be closed for construction, safe accommodations must be made for pedestrians and cyclists. It seems like a small thing, but it turns out it’s a mess of bureaucracy, indifference, and unfeathered metal plates. WABA is working hard on this, but what they really need is documentation of the problem.

So here’s the contest. I want documentation. If you see construction in a bike lane, on a sidewalk, wherever, and there isn’t a safe passage for cyclists and pedestrians, take a picture. Either post it to this thread or email it to me [my forum name]@gmail.com. If the bike lane is blocked, construction crews must make every attempt to make a temporary lane. That means, for example, temporarily removing parking from the opposite side of the street so that lanes can shift rather than closing a lane. If you’re not sure it’s a violation, take a picture anyway. Good faith pictures that seem bad but aren’t actually violations of the law will be counted. If possible, the picture or picture should show the whole street. Be safe – get to a safe spot before taking the picture.

This is only for DC. If someone from VA or MD wants to partner with me to include those jurisdiction, hit me up.

Most violations documented wins. The prize will be some sort of baked good and likely some homemade hot sauce (it is Freezing Saddles, after all). An additional prize is that I’ll share these violations with DDOT Public Space, who know me well, and WABA, who also know me well. There is a real chance for this to make a difference for safe cycling in DC

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[cvcalhoun]

@jrenaut 157766 wrote:

Sorry, prize cancelled due to lack of interest

Dang, I was hoping for that pie!

[Author]

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