NEW ORLEANS - District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer has issued the following statement in response to the recent Esplanade Avenue killings:
"I was shocked to hear about the tragedy on Esplanade Avenue, and my thoughts are with the families and friends of Sharree Walls and David Hynes. By all accounts, these were individuals who brought great joy to those around them, and Sharree, in particular, was a champion of uplifting worthy causes in our community. The sudden and senseless nature of Saturday night's events make this loss even more painful, and I urge anyone affected to reach out for any help you might need. I also wish a speedy recovery to those injured and know that the resources of the City stand ready to support in any way possible.
When I worked to get the Complete Streets policy passed, it came from a firm belief that our roads needed an upgrade, with the needs of cyclists and pedestrians taken into account. Aside from the fact that well designed and maintained infrastructure that promotes walking and bike riding yields positive public health benefits, there are also real-life concerns that we can address through rethinking and redesigning our streets. In a city where 1 in 5 New Orleanians is without a car, which is more than twice the national average, it is critical that we have safe routes for our citizens to travel on bicycles to get to work, or the store, or any other number of daily tasks.
Unfortunately, as Saturday night proved, simply painting a bicycle lane on the road is not enough to ensure the degree of safety our citizens deserve. Recently, the City piloted a 3-month demonstration that showed new ways to create more protected bike lanes. While some of the changes seem counterintuitive and require a shift in mindsets about how we can best share the road, I believe it is critical that we embrace this type innovation as we move forward expanding the City's bike network. Requiring slightly new habits from motorists to ensure everyone has a safe commute is a minor price to pay when confronted by the terrible alternative."
###
Media Contact:
Tiffaney Bradley
Communications Director
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"
Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov
(504) 295-4970