Comments on: “Black people don’t like the cold.” http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/02/black-people-dont-like-the-cold/ Race, Class, The District. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jaleo2000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/02/black-people-dont-like-the-cold/#comment-293 Jaleo2000 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:18:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=3912#comment-293 Sorry, not a bike lane, but a sidewalk exists, and I hardly ever encounter pedestrians on it. It's just as dangerous as biking in most other areas of DC, ie those without bike lanes. Sorry, not a bike lane, but a sidewalk exists, and I hardly ever encounter pedestrians on it. It’s just as dangerous as biking in most other areas of DC, ie those without bike lanes.

]]> By: Jaleo2000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/02/black-people-dont-like-the-cold/#comment-292 Jaleo2000 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:16:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=3912#comment-292 umm, i bike to Anacostia from near the zoo three times a week in good weather. There are bike lines on the S. Capitol Street/Frederick Douglass Bridge. umm, i bike to Anacostia from near the zoo three times a week in good weather. There are bike lines on the S. Capitol Street/Frederick Douglass Bridge.

]]> By: Skeeweet http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/02/black-people-dont-like-the-cold/#comment-284 Skeeweet Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:40:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=3912#comment-284 What the story lacks is an analysis of the difficulty to bike from East of the River, specifically Ward 7, to the Main Land (West of the River). There are no bike lanes anywhere East of the River and traversing the Benning, East Capitol or Pennsylvania Ave. bridges requires you to be certain you have paid for your cemetery plot and headstone because it is a death wish to bike across those bridges where no bike lanes exist. Crossing the Benning bridge, while there is a walkway for a portion of the bridge, once you get over the hump there is no way to peddle to safety--you are just dumped into the middle of the roadway with motor vehicles that weigh hundreds of pounds more than you and your bike. Same holds true for the Pennsylvania Ave and East Capitol bridges. Biking safety is a major reason for low Bikeshare ridership East of the River. What is needed for East of the River residents is the ability to safely bike to work or play West of the River as well as within the confines of Wards 7 and 8. Regarding the "Blacks don't like the cold" comment, as a Black native of Detroit who has weathered more snow and cold weather in one month of a winter season in Michigan than in Washington in my 25 years living in DC -- I don't know what Black people the writer is talking about. Many of my Black fellow Midwesterners (including the folks living in the White House currently) don’t think it is cold until the thermometer reaches below 30 degrees and many of us don't put on snow boots until the snow reaches 5 or more inches. Personally, I can’t stand wearing a coat and don’t put one on until it’s in the twenties and the Nordic bloodline in my family is minute. I guess Ms. Davis hasn’t met Black people who don’t freak out and hide in our homes at the mere mention of flurries and wonder why a city and region has to shut down. Washington, it snows here every year at least 3 times—get over it and keep it moving. As an avid biker, I'd rather bike than try to find a vehicle parking space West of the River, it just is not safe. Our Councilmembers, Mayor and city planners need to provide bike lanes East of the River instead of concentrating on lanes only in Wards 1-6. I have pointed this out to them on several occasions at community meetings. That will increase the Bikeshare users East of the River and aide in greening our environment while helping residents attain a healthier lifestyle. What the story lacks is an analysis of the difficulty to bike from East of the River, specifically Ward 7, to the Main Land (West of the River). There are no bike lanes anywhere East of the River and traversing the Benning, East Capitol or Pennsylvania Ave. bridges requires you to be certain you have paid for your cemetery plot and headstone because it is a death wish to bike across those bridges where no bike lanes exist. Crossing the Benning bridge, while there is a walkway for a portion of the bridge, once you get over the hump there is no way to peddle to safety–you are just dumped into the middle of the roadway with motor vehicles that weigh hundreds of pounds more than you and your bike. Same holds true for the Pennsylvania Ave and East Capitol bridges. Biking safety is a major reason for low Bikeshare ridership East of the River.

What is needed for East of the River residents is the ability to safely bike to work or play West of the River as well as within the confines of Wards 7 and 8.

Regarding the “Blacks don’t like the cold” comment, as a Black native of Detroit who has weathered more snow and cold weather in one month of a winter season in Michigan than in Washington in my 25 years living in DC — I don’t know what Black people the writer is talking about. Many of my Black fellow Midwesterners (including the folks living in the White House currently) don’t think it is cold until the thermometer reaches below 30 degrees and many of us don’t put on snow boots until the snow reaches 5 or more inches. Personally, I can’t stand wearing a coat and don’t put one on until it’s in the twenties and the Nordic bloodline in my family is minute. I guess Ms. Davis hasn’t met Black people who don’t freak out and hide in our homes at the mere mention of flurries and wonder why a city and region has to shut down. Washington, it snows here every year at least 3 times—get over it and keep it moving. As an avid biker, I’d rather bike than try to find a vehicle parking space West of the River, it just is not safe.

Our Councilmembers, Mayor and city planners need to provide bike lanes East of the River instead of concentrating on lanes only in Wards 1-6. I have pointed this out to them on several occasions at community meetings. That will increase the Bikeshare users East of the River and aide in greening our environment while helping residents attain a healthier lifestyle.

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