Fenty Bike Workouts Under Scrutiny

WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is riding on the defensive after video of him biking with a police escort has surfaced. Safety advocates say it also raises serious questions.

In it, the mayor appears to run red lights and clog traffic over several months.

Nobody likes to sit in traffic, and the video shows the mayor himself may be responsible for congestion. Many wonder why Mayor Fenty isn't using his newly-created bike lanes instead of the open highway. With his red white and blue biking tights, the mayor shows he is an avid biker.

The problem in the video captured by WTOP Radio shows the mayor and his team being escorted by cops, clogging traffic and even blowing through lights.

On Monday, the mayor was put on the spot over his biking practices.

"The motorcycle is behind us, and isn't escorting us," Fenty said, defending his ride.

"The police department takes the position that they should comment on how much and when and how often I have security with me," added Fenty.

When the mayor rides around town in his Smart Car, he rarely uses police detail. However, the police union says D.C. Police's Special Events Branch is routinely detailed for the "mayor's bike ride", like one that was captured on video by WTOP through Rock Creek.

The union complains it costs taxpayers and uses up police resources to clear a path and even blocks traffic for the mayor's ride.

Traffic advocates like AAA Mid-Atlantic say the mayor should put the brakes on the practice.

"It should stop. It's a shame-on-you moment in the sense that you're violating traffic laws. It's problematic and sends wrong message and projects wrong image," said AAA Mid-Atlantic's John Townsend.

Fenty said he needs to balance safety and exercising better.

"Do I strike that balance each time I ride my bike and should I do a better job? Yes. Should I? I will work as hard as humanly possible," said Fenty.

The WTOP video shows cops, at times, waiting up to an hour for the Mayor. In one video, the mayor and his team are riding through the Clara Barton Parkway. The problem is that park police say it's against the rules to ride bikes on the parkway.

"It's an issue of safety, and it raises the question of rank having its privileges," said Townsend.

D.C. Police did not return calls today when FOX 5 asked about security detail for the mayor on his bike adventures.