A street safety advocacy group in the District organized an action on Memorial Day, blocking off streets to cars in protest of lack of social distancing space for pedestrians and bicyclists during the coronavirus pandemic.
Demonstrators used traffic cones and tape across streets in a number of D.C. areas, including the Linden Place, Adams Morgan neighborhood and the H Street corridor.
Blocked off 13th and Otis for some play time! And to ask Mayor to block traffic for walkers, bikers and outdoor seating! #ArminArm #DCStreets4People pic.twitter.com/6chxoLCWRo
— Leah Karrer (@LeahKarrer) May 25, 2020
D.C. residents taking part in the protest asked Mayor Muriel Bowser to halt vehicle traffic on several streets of the city to make room for walkers, bikers and outdoor seating. They shared videos and photographs of the blocked streets on social media under the hashtag #DCStreets4People.
“Mayor Bowser, please make some D.C. streets closed for pedestrians, bikers and local traffic/deliveries only! It is too hard to social distance on D.C. sidewalks,” an activist wrote in a tweet.
Frustrated DC activists, closing off neighborhood #streets to traffic, making room for bicyclists and pedestrians. @CoryNBC tells what they hope to accomplish coming up on News4 at 5&6. @nbcwashington @DCDOTRA pic.twitter.com/SRpm4HfTMV
— Pat Lawson Muse (@PLMuse) May 25, 2020
According to the organization’s Twitter account, 12th NE, 16th NE, 4th SE, 8th NW, A SE, Champlain NW, Church NE, D NE, E NE, Fuller NW, I NE, Linden NE, Morton NE, N SW, Oates NE, Old Morgan School NW, Orleans NE, Otis NW, Upshur NW and Wylie NE were all closed as part of the action.
The activist group that led the protest, the “D.C. Department of Transformation,” describes itself as “a tactical urbanist organization that believes cities should be designed for people, not cars.”
Other groups such as Shut Down D.C. and Arm in Arm also participated in the event.
Streets are for people, popcorn, and punch #DCStreets4People pic.twitter.com/hzLFynWFIm
— Matthew Holden (@_MatthewThomas) May 25, 2020
Last week, D.C. council members Mary Cheh (Ward 3), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1) and Charles Allen (Ward 6) wrote an open letter to Mayor Bowser, asking her administration to close or narrow some public streets to motor vehicles so that pedestrians and cyclists can use them safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kids playing at 12th and E St NE #DCStreets4People #ArmInArm pic.twitter.com/UZpgHPyS5q
— Sultry and Sexy Department of Transformation (@DCDOTRA) May 25, 2020
DC Council Members Seek Closure of Public Roads to Make Room for Pedestrians and Cyclists