As Washington, DC officials consider adding a bike lane, the United House of Prayer is firmly opposing it in the name of freedom:
The District government is going through the rather municipally boring process of determining where to build a bike lane on the east side of downtown.
And one church has given a charged response to some proposals, saying that a bike lane near its property would infringe upon “its constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom and equal protection of the laws.”
Are they serious? Yes. Yes, they are.
The parking loss would place an unconstitutionally undue burden on people who want to pray, the church argues, noting that other churches already have had to flee to the suburbs because of similarly onerous parking restrictions. The church says that DDOT lets cars park diagonally on the street during busy times, which would be seemingly impossible if a protected bike lane were on the street.
The city says is it listening to all sides and hasn't made a decision yet. The debate is going to continue to heat up:
Jimmy Russell, who attends Bethel Baptist nearby, says its not fair what the city is doing. The church was there first and should not have to lose its parking. But, Martin Moulton, resident and vice president of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, cites the need for hundreds of people to get to work and school by bike in the area of 6th St..i see the churches argument and the need to be easily accessible to it's congregation, but wouldn't that time be primarily on Sunday's when the major bike traffic would be not as populated because of weekend???????????? both have an argument as to whose is more relevant i don't know but that area iof town is generally a White issue of riders going to work and bike deliveries not so much recreational and church is there really that much activity that requires that much parking space during the week???????????????
the 6th street corridor is pretty wide IMO SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMODATE BOTH WITH A LITTLE COMPROMISE AND INGENUITY. but this is hometown DC who knows???????????????????? it will be interesting though being that the White working class would be more affected.
http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/47000/47100/47120/VT-2009-05.pdf
