SEVEN PLAYS. SIX READINGS. TEN MINUTES. 80 HOURS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ Local cyclists see Council holds taxi crash course forum By THOMAS JARDINE [email protected] The Iowa City City Council held an open forum Wednesday for taxi companies regarding the newly im- posed regulations on vehicles and drivers. Companies generally offered little resistance to the ordinances, calling them “long overdue,” but one owner expressed cost-related concerns. The regulations, passed Monday, come in response to an incident that occurred in January 2014 in which a driver of an unmarked cab sexually assaulted one of his passengers, Iowa City police Capt. Doug Hart said. One primary regulation being imposed upon taxi services in Iowa City is that all companies are re- quired to keep their cabs to one color scheme of their choosing to prevent ambiguity. Additionally, every cab will be re- quired to post driver identification in the front and back of the vehicle and be visible to passengers. “The purpose of these new regula- tions are primarily for the safety of the passengers,” Hart said. “By re- quiring cab companies to keep their A cyclist rides down Washington Street on Tuesday. A recent report said Johnson County has the second-most bike crashes in the state. (The Daily Iowan/Sergio Floes) cabs to a pre-approved color scheme and having the driver’s ID visible to passengers, drivers can be immedi- Johnson County ranked second in Iowa bike crashes. ately identified in the event of driver misconduct.” By BENJAMIN TOWAR dent and bike rider Kiana Ihm said. Joe French, the general manager [email protected] In 2014, Johnson County had 34 of the 313 bike crashes of Marco’s Taxicab Company, 116 in the state. Stevens Drive, has been advocating Johnson County remained in the same gear last year in Of the 313, 159 had minor injuries, 42 had major inju- for these regulations for years. terms of bike collisions. ries, three were fatal, and three were unknown. The re- “Safety has always been our pri- Recent data from the Iowa Department of Transporta- mainder was recorded as possible injuries. mary concern,” he said. “We’ve been tion Traffic and Safety Office revealed that Johnson Coun- pushing for these regulations long ty ranked second for the most bicycle collisions in the SEE BIKE, 3A before the incident that occurred state, behind Polk County. last year. These ordinances were In both 2013 and 2014, the county accounted for 11 per- long overdue.” cent of all bicycle crashes in Iowa. Johnson County ranks There was initial confusion that fifth in the state in population. Bicycle crashes in Johnson County the city would not provide enough With larger metropolitan areas such as Davenport and color variation options for the taxi In 2014, Johnson County had the second-highest Cedar Rapids having more population, some area resi- number of bike crashes in the state. color schemes, but it has been more dents were left scratching their heads about why Johnson than generous in giving them op- 38 County surpasses such areas in bicycle-related accidents. 34 tions, French said. “Probably the simplest answer is that we have more bi- 33 Though all of the taxi service rep- cycles,” said Mark Wyatt, the executive director of the Io- 27 resentatives at the forum approved wa Bicycle Coalition. “Typically, college towns tend to have of the regulations’ efforts to improve a higher frequency of bike accidents.” 17 safety, not all were content with Iowa City is no exception. what they said would be financial For many, riding bicycles to class proves much more repercussions. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 time- and energy-efficient than walking, as well as being much more convenient and affordable than a car, UI stu- GRAPHIC BY KRISTEN EAST SEE TAXI, 3A Bank slides into Brown Bottle space No takers MidWestOne Bank will open temporary teller lines in the building formerly occupied by the Brown Bottle. By BILL COONEY yet for new [email protected] MidWestOne Bank will soon occupy the former home of the downtown Brown Bottle. program “We’re going to be moving the teller lines into that build- ing due to construction in our main lobby that will start By CARLY MATTHEW soon,” said Matt Fettkether, the security and facility officer [email protected] for MidWestOne Bank, 102 S. Clinton St. He said the bank will occupy the facility at least until The College of Public Health opened August, but it could remain longer because of several con- up its undergraduate to graduate de- struction projects. The bank is undergoing renovations in gree program to stu- its lobby, which are a part of multimillion-dollar histor- dents for the first time ic-preservation project. this spring semester. “Since we don’t exactly know when we’ll be done with the Signs hang in the windows of the former of the downtown Brown Bottle on Tuesday. The Brown So far, no students space, its impossible to say what could move in there when Bottle closed after 40 years of business, and the building is undergoing major renovations prepar- are officially enrolled. we are; we’ll just have to see,” Fettkether said. ing for the next tenant. (The Daily Iowan/Lexi Brunk) “We are yet to have Joni Schrup, the owner of Discerning Eye, 119 E. Wash- a student in it,” Mary ington St., said she was aware that MidWestOne will move in,” she said. “There’s a good number of those downtown Aquilino, an associate into the space. already.” Aquilino dean for the master of “I’d like to see some retail move into the space once One resident, however, said he would like to see a associate dean public health and un- they’re done,” she said. “Maybe a cooking store or some kind restaurant. dergraduate programs. of children’s store, something that isn’t downtown yet.” “I don’t think we need another restaurant or bar to move SEE BOTTLE, 3A SEE HEALTH, 3A WEATHER DAILY IOWAN TV ON THE WEB INDEX HIGH LOW CLASSIFIED 7A 12 5 • SCAN THIS CODE CHECK DAILYIOWAN.COM FOR HOURLY DAILY BREAK 3B • GO TO DAILYIOWAN.COM UPDATES AND ONLINE EXCLUSIVES. FOLLOW Mostly sunny at first, very windy, OPINIONS 4A chiseling wind chills, 40% chance • WATCH UITV AT 9 P.M. @THEDAILYIOWAN ON TWITTER AND LIKE US SPORTS 8A of snow late. SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE CONTENT. 80 HOURS 1B 2A NEWS THE DAILY IOWAN DAILYIOWAN.COM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 COOKIES & CONDOMS The Daily Iowan Volume 148 Issue 129 BREAKING NEWS STAFF Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher 335-5788 Email: [email protected] William Casey Fax: 335-6297 Editor-in-Chief 335-6030 Jordyn Reiland CORRECTIONS Managing Editors 335-6030 Call: 335-6030 Dora Grote Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for accuracy Tessa Hursh and fairness in the reporting of news. If a Metro Editors 335-6063 report is wrong or misleading, a request Nicholas Moffitt for a correction or a clarification may be Chris Higgins made. Opinions Editor 335-5863 Nick Hassett PUBLISHING INFO Sports Editor 335-5848 The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360) is pub- Danny Payne lished by Student Publications Inc., E131 Arts Editor 335-5851 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa Emma McClatchey 52242-2004, daily except Saturdays, Sun- Copy Chief 335-6063 days, legal and university holidays, and Beau Elliot university vacations. Periodicals postage Photo Editor 335-5852 paid at the Iowa City Post Office under the Margaret Kispert Act of Congress of March 2, 1879. Design Editors 335-6030 Taylor Laufersweiler SUBSCRIPTIONS Patrick Lyne Call: Juli Krause at 335-5783 Projects Editor 335-5855 Email: [email protected] Stacey Murray Subscription rates: Politics Editor 335-5855 Iowa City and Coralville: $20 for one Kristen East semester, $40 for two semesters, $10 Convergence Editor 335-6063 UI students receive free cookies and condoms during the Cookies and Condoms event at Hillcrest on Wednesday. Students also made Valentine’s Day cards and learned about the for summer session, $50 for full year. Quentin Misiag languages of love. (The Daily Iowan/Mikaela Parrick) Out of town: $40 for one sememster, $80 TV News Director 335-6063 for two semesters, $20 for summer Dora Grote session, $100 all year. TV Sports Directors 335-6063 Send address changes to: The Daily Iowan, Chelsie Brown 100 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Jalyn Souchek Iowa 52242-2004 Web Editor 335-5829 Tony Phan Advertising Manager 335-5193 Business Manager 335-5786 Republicans elect new leaders Renee Manders Debra Plath Advertising Sales Staff Classifed Ads/Circulation Manager By GRACE PATERAS as she watched the 2000 Republicans meetings,” she stay in our group.” Bev Mrstik 335-5792 Juli Krause 335-5784 [email protected] presidential election. said. “Being in charge, the Newly elected Secre- Cathy Witt 335-5794 Production Manager 335-5789 Her interest continued Executive Board and I will tary Jada Holst predicts Heidi Owen Yearly elections for the into middle school, proven decide where we want to do the group will succeed in University of Iowa College when nicknamed “Politic” our work. I’ll also be talking this area. Republicans occurred on by some of her teachers. to a lot more outside people.” “I think we will stay suc- Tuesday night. Her involvement in poli- Den Herder, a Kap- cessful on that because it’s The students selected a tics continued throughout pa Alpha Theta member, on the forefront of all our new Executive Board for high school and has con- said she volunteered with minds,” she said.