by Pete Strom on January 26, 2012
After a recent cyclist’s death, the James Island Connector in Charleston has been closed down for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The banning of cycling or walking on the bridge by the South Carolina Department of Transportation leaves many without automobiles stranded. Currently, there is no alternate route for those looking to get to or from James Island by bike or foot.
The Connector was initially only built for cars and trucks, not pedestrians or bicyclists. Improvements to the Connector are being discussed for the sake of cyclists and walkers.
Joe Riley, Mayor of the City of Charleston, supports a measure calling for one lane of the bridge to be dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists, but there has been no funding for this measure.
A local advocacy group, Charleston Moves, wants to reverse the ban. They feel that SCDOT is “running away from what’s needed”.
The group is in talks with engineers to discuss foot and bike traffic on the bridge. Possible alternatives for the situation include a cantilevered walkway, retrofitting the bridge, and/or lowering the speed limit. As of now, SCDOT is not including themselves in the discussion.
by Pete Strom on January 26, 2012
A Manhattan Civil Court settled a custody dispute, but not just any custody dispute, one regarding a dog.
On Thursday, the court issued a ruling regarding the former couple’s dispute over a dog. The Court held that leaving a pet with an ex for a couple of months does not amount to giving up the animal.
The couple, Adam Le Conte and Kyungmi Lee, were arguing over a 2-year-old Maltese named Bubkas and whether he belonged in a crate.
The exact settlement wasn’t revealed, but Lee’s lawyer, Ronny Buni, said the case was “amicably settled” in an interview with CBS news.
The dog was given to Le Conte in 2009 by his parents while the couple was living together. The couple broke up in December of 2010. Lee kept Bubkas for about two months while Le Conte was traveling. When Le Conte returned Lee told him she was keeping Bubkas because she felt Le Conte had relinquished care and complained of him using a crate.
Le Conte sued stating that he never relinquished care of the dog.
Justice Andrea Masley said in the ruling that Le Conte is “entitled to the return of his canine campanion”. Lee did not show the crate posed any type of danger to Bubkas. While the case was in the courts, Masley said the pair should alternate care of the dog. Masley urged the pair to work out their differences and continue to care for the animal.
As for Bubkas, he is fine. According to Buni, he fared fine during the dispute.
“Everything turned out well for the dog, and everything turned out well for the parties, too, because they settled it in a way they’re both happy with,” said Buni.
