Bike Lanes

February 24, 2020

Council of the District of Columbia

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C.  20004

Re:    Emergency Bill for the 9th Street Northwest Safety Project

Dear Councilmember,

We the members of the Missionary Baptist Minister’s Conference of Washington, D.C. & Vicinity representing over 300 concerned pastors and churches, are bothered and troubled by the emergency bill for the 9th Street Northwest safety project. A bill that would give DC’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) the authority to construct a two-way protected cycle track on 9th street N.W. from Constitution Avenue N.W. up to Florida Avenue N.W.  We are asking and requesting that you vote against this bill.  

More and more bike lanes are materializing near and within the vicinity of historic houses of worship.  A new bike lane in front of Church properties would infringe and interfere with routine religious services, services that provide inspiration, promote community safety, as well as provide the community with vital information and valuable meeting space.  

A previous letter was written by The United House of Prayer to the District Department of Transportation stated, “that a bike lane out front would snarl traffic and parking in the area, which, would place an extreme burden on the exercise of free religion.”  If this design is implemented, it would severely restrict the already limited parking for Churches, leaving them with nowhere to park to attend services and other Church functions. As such, the planned bike lane will create a permanent and untenable burden on members’ ability to attend religious services.  Any plan by DDOT to installing a bike lane/track along this thoroughfare would represent a substantial and egregious encroachment on Churches. This is another example of the city imposing their will at the expense of a community that has been a vital part of the neighborhood and without any input. 

We further submit, historically, transportation is an issue that has been the responsibility of the Executive Branch not the Legislative Branch. Where transportation rules have been imposed through the Executive Branch, it’s been at the expense of marginalized communities. This is another example of the same without justification or need other than further support to gentrify our community, culture and churches.

This legislation is being forced upon the constituents by folks who don’t represent the majority of the people that the cycle track would impact. In fact, the author of this proposed legislation does not even represent this Ward. But there is a consistent theme here – Gentrification, which says that the establishment speaks on what’s best for the masses.

We ask that you vote against the Emergency Bill for Bike Lanes on 9th Street N.W.

Yours for the Sake of the Savior,

Charles McNeil                        George C. Gilbert, Jr.

Rev. Charles McNeil                        Rev. George C. Gilbert, Jr.

President                            Civic and Social Actions, Chair