Activists: Smashed Tomatoes on Denver Bike Lanes Could Be Our Heads
Bicycle advocates Jonathan Fertig and Rob Toftness put tomatoes on top of red plastic cups and placed them along the edge of an unprotected bike lane near Union Station this morning, one of several #RedCupProject demonstrations in Denver and in cities around the world.
Fertig used social media to organize the protest after a driver killed bike activist Dave Salovesh last week in an unprotected bike lane in the nation’s capital.
“It’s to honor a fallen advocate in D.C.,” said Fertig, who is a well-known bike activist himself. “As well as call attention, in Denver and cities across the world, the need for cities to be more proactive about making protected infrastructure.”
So two hours later at my #RedCupProject site. I’m floored this many are still standing. #HeyNext pay attention to what @rightlegpegged started! pic.twitter.com/NmWAZNi9ot
— Lady at 5280 (@ladyat5280) April 26, 2019
This installation is at South Monaco and South Magnolia Way near Southmoor Elementary School
As drivers veered over the line demarcating the bike lane on Wynkoop, they smashed cups and tomatoes, leaving blood-colored detritus on the street, which illustrated the dangers cyclists face when riding on unprotected bike infrastructure. The cups also showed that adding physical protection to a bike lane does not have to be difficult or costly.
“It shows how easy it is to put something down to make a protected bike lane,” said Fertig. “But also how fragile the people who occupy these lanes are.”
#RedCupProject, Wynkoop Street, Denver /6 pic.twitter.com/jxjvVNdFhF
— Rob Toftness (@NoSquish) April 26, 2019
Fertig wanted to get the attention of mayors, telling StreetsblogUSA, “Our hope is that the #RedCupProject will impress upon Mayor Bowser in D.C., Mayor Hancock in Denver and mayors/city councilors everywhere that there’s no more time to delay rapid deployment of safe cycling infrastructure.”
#RedCupProject because paint doesn’t stop trucks pic.twitter.com/NDBaZXLye3
— Jamie Perkins (@perkja) April 26, 2019
Activists in New York City also followed along with Fertig’s idea.
“Imagine a transportation planner designing a street where the only thing protecting people on bikes from cars and trucks was a tomato or a paper cup,” cyclist Doug Gordon said. “And yet planners think nothing of ‘protecting’ bike lanes with paint.”
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
Comments are closed.
