An example of "why" you should ban cars: "crime cars"

Left: getaway car.

I remember a community meeting back in the early 1990s, when I wasn't really involved in stuff the way I am now, where there was a discussion of the potential for the Metropolitan Branch Trail in my old H St. NE, and one of the comments by a resident that bicyclists would bring in more crime.

Now since then, we hear this argument a lot although the research demonstrates that crime on trails is less than that in abutting areas, either residential or commercial (see the discussion in the report Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety; Security; and Maintenance , from the University of Delaware).

It was probably imprudent while serving as a government employee in Baltimore County that I pointed this out whenever this particular anti-trail argument was bandied about.  However, I extended the argument further (including in the draft I submitted, although the discussion was excised from the posted document).

I said that far more crimes were committed in association with the use of motor vehicles, yet after such crimes were committed, people don't call for either a ban on cars or roads, while they do, often, with regard to transit ("Proposed Bridge Connecting Light Rail to Neighborhood Draws Concerns" from Lutherville-Timonium Patch,") or bicycling.

From "Despite incidents, bike paths are seen as safe: Crime rates are similar to surrounding neighborhoods’" in the Schenectady Daily Gazette:

“Homeowners nationwide express the same concerns and fears about proposed trails in their neighborhoods. But studies in various parts of the United States seem to show that concerns about trails lowering property values and increasing crime are unfounded. In fact, trails have consistently been shown to increase (or have no effect on) property values, to have no measurable effect on public safety, and to have an overwhelming positive influence on the quality of life for trail neighbors as well as the larger community.” -- from the National Trails Training Partnership

This is from today's Post ("Detectives search for suspects in Jimmy Choo theft"):

Detectives in Montgomery County are looking for four men who they say swiped several handbags from the high-end Jimmy Choo store in Chevy Chase on Wednesday, authorities said.

In a news release, police said three of the four came into the store on Wisconsin Avenue about noon and swiped the handbags in about 10 or 15 seconds. They then made off in a red four-door sedan driven by a fourth man who was waiting for them outside, authorities said.

In total, the bags were worth more than $10,000, police said.

Well, since they used a car, we should close Wisconsin Avenue, as a crime reduction strategy.