Letters to the Editor
Washington Post, October 26, 1994
On the afternoon of Oct. 18, I heard that a bicycle courier had been killed by a motorcyclist who ran a red light at the intersection of New York Avenue and 14th Street NW. I anxiously watched the news all evening, but heard nothing.
On the morning of Oct. 19, I scanned The Post and found the story on Page 3 of the Metro section, following a story about Jack Kent Cooke's coyness about his plans for the new football stadium.
Included as part of the abbreviated news account of the accident was D.C. Police Sgt. Lionel Millard's opinion that "some {bicycle couriers} ride like crazy downtown. It's fortunate we don't have more people killed."
According to The Post's account, however, it was the motorcyclist who was speeding. There was no indication of fault on the part of the courier. This man tragically lost his life through no fault of his own.
I assume that this courier does not live in Potomac, nor was he careening down the highway in a BMW after a night of drinking. Indeed, if that were the case, we may have had ample opportunity to explore the details, presented in such a way that we would all grieve the loss of his life.
In a city that tragically and pointlessly loses citizens every day, it is apparently the media that decide which deaths we should mourn and which should get merely a nod of recognition. Obviously, it is the media that get to decide which citizens are more equal than others.
JEANNE JONES
Washington
I was saddened to read that Paul Jensen, a bicycle courier, was killed in a collision with a motorcycle. Bicycle couriers gathered around the spot where Mr. Jensen was killed to mourn the loss. While the loss of life is always tragic, most accidents can be avoided, and this one was probably no exception.
Apparently the motorcyclist was cited for speeding, but the article does not explain if the courier was legally in the intersection. I have my doubts, because I have watched bicycle couriers weave in and out of traffic, run red lights, ride on the sidewalk dodging pedestrians and ride the wrong way on one-way streets (L Street, for instance).
Jerry McCalop, another courier in the area, was quoted as saying "couriers get little respect on the road." This may be true, and Mr. McCalop does have, as he said, "every right to be on the street like other moving vehicles," but he and other couriers must obey all the road signs, traffic lights and stay off the sidewalks in order to receive my respect.
When the couriers start obeying the law, maybe they will get the respect that they deserve as they continue to provide a valuable service to hundreds of companies throughout the Washington area.
DENNIS DAY
Arlington
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