In 1995, after the Oklahoma City bombing, President Clinton ordered that Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House be closed. E Street south of the White House was also closed, rerouted farther from the White House and reopened. After 9-11, President Bush closed it again and it's been closed ever since, even though, as Dr. Gridlock pointed out
it is further away from the government buildings than 15th and 17th Streets, which run right along the Old and New Executive Office Buildings. There is no reason to keep E Street closed. (I note that the White House now uses E Street to access the Ellipse parking, which used to be public but has now become a private parking lot for White House employees--apparently the only reason E Street is closed.)
[I recently re-watched 2010 - it's only OK - and in one scene they're sitting in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue with traffic driving by. It made me sad.]
Pennsylvania Avenue seems like a lost cause, but at least it's been opened to bikes and pedestrians. There might be hope for E Street though. It should be completely reopened. Not just for bikes but, at least, for bikes. Right now the only way to get through there is to get up on sidewalks with pedestrians. According to Mayor Williams spokesman Tony Bullock
studies have shown that there's virtually no risk to the president or the White House. Pennsylvania Avenue, as well as E Street, needs to be opened to passenger vehicles.
"We have accepted the fact — but we haven't given up the fight — that Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed indefinitely," said Tony Bullock, spokesman for Mr. Williams. "But in the interim, E Street must be reopened."
No one is convinced that an open E Street is a security threat. Not outgoing Mayor Williams. Not Del. Norton. Not the Committee of 100 on the Federal City.
I believe you know that the White House was strengthened during the Truman Administration with steel girders, steel reinforced concrete and stronger window glass. It is set back from the Avenue over 300 feet and at much greater distances from 17th, 15th and E Streets. An additional option in regulating traffic could include weight sensitive gates on the Avenue, and if needed, on E Street.
And even if one were to make such an argument about traffic, that absolutely can not include bicycles. There is no way that allowing cyclists on E Street could serve as a security threat. A route through E Street, as well as all the necessary lighting, signage etc..., should be established for bicycles in this important downtown route. This is the area where bike commuters commute, where bike messengers messeng (is that the right verb?) and as Mayor Williams said:
The next important step in delivering our White House from the signature of terrorism is to reopen E Street for use by the American people.
And as importantly, for the people of DC.
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