From the Archives: The lost fight for winter bike commuting in Arlington Cemetery

Back in 1992, some cyclists started a petition to keep Arlington National Cemetery open for bike commuters until 6pm in the winter (The cemetery still closes at 5pm from October to March, but 7pm for the rest of the year, just as it did in 1992). Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) even wrote a letter asking that the cemetery remain open until 6 p.m. for all visitors, not just bicyclists. But alas it was rejected.

"Arlington National Cemetery is our nation's most hallowed burial grounds . . . {and} is not to be interpreted as a shortcut for commuters," wrote cemetery Superintendent Jack Metzler.

According to Metzler, keeping the unlighted cemetery open after dark would make it difficult to clear the grounds at closing time, creating safety risks.

Not only that, but the request almost cost cyclists all access entirely. Access which is once again at risk.

Metzler said last week that the bicyclists, by raising their public profile, also have angered veterans and that he will reexamine the issue of access to the national shrine.

Since the bicyclists' request became public, Metzler said, he has been contacted individually by about 20 veterans who are angry that bicyclists are allowed to ride through the cemetery at any time.

"More than I realized, there's a silent majority that's given their opinion that they don't like {the bicyclists} here at all, who feel the bikes have lost the meaning of what Arlington National Cemetery was meant for," Metzler said. "Based on the number of inquiries, it's worth some of my time to reexamine the whole issue."

Metzler stayed at the Cemetery until 2010 when he was forced out and reprimanded for mismanagement of the cemetery like not knowing where bodies were buried.

A copy of that 1997 inspector general report obtained by Battleland shows some shocking deficiencies at the cemetery. It doesn’t say anything about not knowing where all the bodies are buried, which turned out to be the real scandal.  But it basically says that the Army knew back in 1997 that the cemetery was out of control in myriad ways under the Superintendent there, Jack Metzler, and his deputy, Thurman Higginbotham. The Army finally forced them out last summer, 13 years later.

And here is the kicker — the 1997 report follows yet another report that found problems back in 1992.

It also says that Metzler may have been involved in “inappropriate business activities with Services Corporation International, a major national funeral industry leader.” But the inspector general said the report does not get to the bottom of that issue which was “not within the approved scope of the assessment.”

Warren M. Stern on the other hand rose up to become Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in August 2010, where he served for 2 years. He's now a Senior Advisor at the Brookhaven Lab. No word on whether or not he still bike commutes.

[In 1993] he testified on behalf of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Compensation and Employee Benefits. Stern presented the opinion that federally-employed bicycle commuters should receive the same transportation subsidies that were awarded to users of public transportation.

According to the transcript of that hearing, Stern was the President of WABA at the time. (That hearing will be the subject of next week's article. Oh can you feel the excitement?)

Comments

[John Flack]

Quite frankly, I agree that the cemetery shouldn't be used for bike commuting - anymore than it should be used for car commuting. And I am an occasional bike commuter myself, and I work in Rosslyn, so I would love some better routes AROUND the cemetery, but not THROUGH it.

[washcycle]

So, you don't think the fact that bikes are quieter, safer and less polluting means that it is any more reasonable to allow bike commuters than car commuters? I can understand saying that neither should - that's a value judgement, but certainly you don't think the damage of those two choices is equivalent.

What about pedestrian commuters?

[Will]

Two things,

1) I recently attended my friend's promotion ceremony to Lt. Col. at Arlington Cemetary, and I biked there, in a suit, and left my bike at the racks near the visitor's center. My destination was near there, so it was fine, but had I needed to bike further, my attire was far more respectful than the typical tourist's, and my conveyance was far less intrusive than the repurposed Tourmobiles and many cars that travel the cemetery. I understand they don't want roadies in kits, but a bike ban oversteps in a major way.

2) I am really excited about your post on that 1993 hearing. I wrote my grad school thesis in 2007/08 on that very topic, and at the time, I couldn't find a lot of attention on the commuter fringe benefits section of the tax code. In and of itself, it was surprising since the incentives to drive or take transit are pretty strong as a result of what is offered. Anyway, since around 2009 when the transit piece was boosted, and bike benefit included, this area of tax code has been a source of a lot of fighting and attention, so there is broad recognition of what it does. But to see some focus and attention on it from 1993 is impressive and reassuring, doubly so since the organization raising it is one I've long supported and whose mission I believe in! I think this must've been during when Ellen Jones was ED, which makes a lot of sense - she's been a tireless advocate for TDM and other progressive transportation issues at the Downtown BID.

Can't wait for the article, you should talk to Ellen about it!