Testimony - Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

HILLCREST COMMUNITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE JUDICIATION

RE: ENFORCEMENT OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2010

We would like to thank Councilmember Mendelson and the honorable members of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary for the opportunity to speak this afternoon on the Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. Today’s testimony is a joint effort of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) Committee on Public Safety and Preparedness and the Committee on Street, Traffic and Transportation.

The mission of HCCA is to work “to enhance the quality of life and prosperity of residents, families, community organizations and institutions located within the designated geographic boundaries.” As described in “the DC Real Estate Guide,” the Hillcrest neighborhood has a population of about 7,000, and the average age of its residents is 40. Hillcrest is one of the most residential zip codes in DC and approximately one in every four households has children.
Hillcrest includes the Good Hope Market Place, Skyland Shopping Center, Naylor Gardens Coop and Fairfax Village and its shopping center along with single-family homes.

We are here today to highlight the importance of enforcing pedestrian and bicycle safety in our neighborhood. Since Hillcrest sits on the borderline with Maryland, where there are typically higher speeds, a constant challenge for us is motorist speeding through the neighborhood. As a community, we have been actively working with the DC Department of Transportation to install traffic calming solutions such as speed humps, “Stop for Pedestrian” signs, changing the timing of traffic lights, adding medians on Branch Ave and repainting crosswalks.

Despite our best efforts, in 2010, motorists hit three pedestrians and one bicyclist. Fortunately, none of the accidents were fatal. One pedestrian was a child who was hit in front of Anne Beers Elementary School. The other two pedestrians were struck at the intersection of 32nd St. SE and Alabama Ave. SE. The bicyclist, who was the victim of a hit-and-run at the intersection of 38th St. SE and Alabama Ave SE, was an on-duty police officer on bike patrol. Because of that accident, the police officer was on medical leave for three weeks.

A vital link from our community to Capitol Hill is the Sousa Bridge (Pennsylvania Ave., SE). The street geometry makes it difficult for motorists to see pedestrians and bicyclists. Couple this with motorists who disobey the law by turning right on red from the off-ramp of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway creates unsafe conditions.

Motorists who drive through our neighborhood have a total disregard for pedestrians and bicyclists in our community. We have witnessed children and seniors struggling to cross Alabama Ave. SE at 32nd St. SE, and Fort Davis at Pennsylvania Ave despite a "Stop for Pedestrians" sign in the middle of the street, and a painted crosswalk. We have witnessed motorists go as far as to run over the “Stop for Pedestrians” sign. We have witnessed motorists regularly use the bike lanes on Alabama Ave. SE, between Pennsylvania Ave. SE and Massachusetts Ave. SE as an additional travel lane.

There is an obvious link between pedestrian safety and sidewalks. Many streets in Hillcrest still lack a sidewalk on either side, so pedestrians are forced to walk in the street. Kids, parents with strollers, young professionals with dogs, and seniors are forced to walk down the middle of streets such as Hillcrest Dr, Camden St, Fort Baker Drive, while hoping to avoid speeding motorists.

Our community has been very vocal regarding the need for more enforcement of traffic laws. We want motorists to respect the people who walk and bike in our community.

We thank you for your time. We look forward to working with the Committee for Public Safety and the Judiciary to develop solutions.

Veronica O. Davis
Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee Chair

David Kirkpatrick
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair

On behalf of the HILLCREST COMMUNITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION