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WASHINGTON - District Mayor Adrian Fenty is using police officers, Homeland Security vehicles, and your tax dollars to help his cycling team practice and go to races, WTOP Radio's Mark Segraves found in an investigation.
He says the mayor's daily exercise routine is having an impact on public safety and your commute.
Segraves followed the mayor over the course of the past few months and every time he did, he saw the mayor and his team running red lights, ignoring stop signs and even riding on roads like the Clara Barton Parkway in Bethesda, where bicycles are not permitted.
All of it happened under the watchful eye of a D.C. police officer.
Fenty routinely takes a one- to two-hour break during the middle of the day to exercise. On the days that he trains with his cycling team, the mayor has a uniformed police officer taken from their regular duties and assigned as an escort for his bike ride. And everywhere the mayor's bike team went, traffic jams followed, Segraves reported.
Fenty declined to comment on the use of police but did acknowledge there's a balance between focusing on exercise and traffic around him.
"Do I strike that balance each and every time I ride my bike, and should I do a better job? Yes," Fenty said.
But many D.C. residents don't see it as a problem.
"I don't care that he uses his security detail to ride his bike," said Keilon Forest. "They're there to protect him while he's the mayor."
On one occasion after the mayor spotted Segraves videotaping him he abruptly left his team and headed off into the woods. And it's not just the use of police officers that has people asking questions.
"Special favors, riding where other people can't ride -- I'm not so keen on that," said Gordon Olsson, a D.C. resident.
According to records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the mayor has been using federal Homeland Security vehicles meant for emergencies to transport his bike to races.
"Again, I don't have any comment on the police department, and their use of vehicles," Fenty said. "I'd have to refer you to the chief of police for that."
And the use of security to transport his bike is costing taxpayers. Records show the mayor's security has racked up nearly $400,000 in travel over the past two years, some of which was used to fly his bike around the country.
You can learn more about this investigation on WTOP Radio, CLICK HERE, and listen Tuesday at 2:04 p.m.
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