Speaking out for the pedestrian via Dr. Gridlock

Barracks Row, 8th Street SE, after reconstruction of the street and public realm with a greater focus on the pedestrian. From a case study on the Barracks Row Main Street/8th Street SE Streetscape Redesign Project.

Image of Woodrow Wilson Bridge from the State of Maryland.

There's something about the Greater H Street neighborhood and the Dr. Gridlock Column in the Washington Post.

Kevin Palmer (original creator of the H Street DC website, now on hiatus) wrote a letter in August 2001 or 2002 that was a tremendous screed about Dr. Gridlock's pro-automobile agenda. Kevin's sense of outrage was stoked by Dr. Gridlock's response to a woman commuting from Pennsylvania to work in DC. Great ANC6A Commissioner Cody Rice had a letter or two in the column over the years. Today it's neighborhood resident and blogreader Ralph Garboushian.

Here's Ralph's letter:

I am writing in response to Sarah Lennon's griping about pedestrians blocking her way as she tries to make a right turn [Dr. Gridlock, Jan. 19]. I can't believe a suburban motorist would be critical of pedestrians, especially of pedestrians walking to a Metro station!

Her complaint typifies the sense of entitlement all motorists seem to share. They bought a car, and all of society and government should now cater to their decision to get around in an impractical, inefficient and destructive way.

Never mind that the majority of suburban motorists driving through my neighborhood break traffic laws: speeding, running red lights and stop signs and being aggressive toward pedestrians crossing with the light.

I have drafted my top eight reasons to be thankful for pedestrians:

1. Pedestrians do not contribute to global warming.
2. Their walking does not give children asthma.
3. They don't kill or maim other people when they accidentally bump into them.
4. Our nation does not need to maintain an army halfway around the world to enable them to walk.
5. They are not heavily subsidized by the general taxpayer.
6. Walking improves health and fitness and reduces overall medical and medical insurance costs.
7. Walkers improve public safety by populating the streets.
8. Every pedestrian means one less car blocking your way.
__________
Sarah Lennon's letter angered me also, but I never wrote about it. Thank you Ralph!

As Len Sullivan wrote in a NARPAC report on the K Street Busway, "Pedestrians are a nuisance." We have a ways to go before people begin to have a sense of "balance" among all transportation modes.

The car is and continues to be dominant. And it's people like us who have to continue to stridently advocate for non-automobile centric policies and practices.

Pedestrian Sign, 8th Street SE, Washington, DC

Index Keywords: walking