From a WABA press release:
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) expresses sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of David Williams, a fellow District cyclist who was killed Friday evening while biking along Southern Avenue, SE.
Mr. Williams was reportedly struck by two separate vehicles.WABA will install a "ghost bike" memorial for Mr. Williams along the 1400 block of Southern Avenue as part of a candlelight vigil Friday from 7pm to 9pm. A bike, painted white, will be locked near the crash site to serve as a visible memorial to Mr. Williams, a somber reminder of the consequences of such collisions, and a quiet statement in support of cyclists‟ right to safe travel.
This accident brings into sharp focus the need for better accommodation of cyclists on many of the District‟s streets, including this portion of Southern Avenue. And WABA joins with the family of Mr. Williams in asking the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to study improvements to Southern Avenue to ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, especially near Metro stations where usage is heavier, to prevent such accidents in the future.
WABA Executive Director Shane Farthing believes that: “Safety for cyclists on area roadways comes from a combination of good facilities and good behavior,” said WABA Director Shane Farthing. “Behavior can be addressed through education and enforcement, but facilities in the District are largely the responsibility of DDOT and the District government. We are fortunate to have a transportation agency that largely supports cyclists, and we hope that they will ensure that some good comes of this tragedy by committing to improve the bicycle infrastructure along Southern Avenue and near the Southern Avenue Metro station.”
WABA works in partnership with DDOT to provide bike safety courses for adults and kids. A list of upcoming courses, as well as a full list of safety tips for cyclists and drivers, is available at www.waba.org.
Photo by MikaAltskan
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