Letters to the Editor
Washington Post, October 26, 1994
On the afternoon of Oct. 18, I heard that a bicycle courier had beenkilled by a motorcyclist who ran a red light at the intersection of NewYork 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 onPage 3 of the Metro section, following a story about Jack Kent Cooke'scoyness about his plans for the new football stadium.
Included as part of the abbreviated news account of the accident wasD.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 whowas 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 careeningdown the highway in a BMW after a night of drinking. Indeed, if that werethe case, we may have had ample opportunity to explore the details, presentedin 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 andwhich should get merely a nod of recognition. Obviously, it is the mediathat 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 killedin a collision with a motorcycle. Bicycle couriers gathered around thespot where Mr. Jensen was killed to mourn the loss. While the loss of lifeis always tragic, most accidents can be avoided, and this one was probablyno exception.
Apparently the motorcyclist was cited for speeding, but the articledoes not explain if the courier was legally in the intersection. I havemy doubts, because I have watched bicycle couriers weave in and out oftraffic, run red lights, ride on the sidewalk dodging pedestrians and ridethe wrong way on one-way streets (L Street, for instance).
Jerry McCalop, another courier in the area, was quoted as saying "couriersget little respect on the road." This may be true, and Mr. McCalopdoes have, as he said, "every right to be on the street like othermoving vehicles," but he and other couriers must obey all the roadsigns, traffic lights and stay off the sidewalks in order to receive myrespect.
When the couriers start obeying the law, maybe they will get the respectthat they deserve as they continue to provide a valuable service to hundredsof companies throughout the Washington area.
DENNIS DAY
Arlington
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