A Publication of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Vol. 1/No. 1, Spring 1995
Steve Clark
Bicyclists are getting organized in Wisconsin. You are holding the proof in your hands. The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin has been in existence for over six years but only recently, with the hiring of an executive director, and the adoption of a strategic plan, have we been in a position to fully respond to the needs of bicyclists in this State.
But we can't do it without a strong membership base. If you care about safe roads, clean air, or just promoting good fun and exercise, you will want to join the BFW. We want this to be your publication; we want to encourage cyclists all over Wisconsin to discuss the issues, learn the solutions, and enable all of us to act. Tell us what you think!
Marcia Miquelon
The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is a statewide, non-profit organization that advocates increased bicycle use, access, safety and education. Its members are recreational and utilitarian bicyclists, environmentalists, bicycle shops, clubs and local advocacy groups throughout the state, who believe in promoting bicycling as a sustainable, efficient and healthy means of transportation and recreation.
There are plenty of reasons to promote bicycling, and to do it now. For the past fifty years, the growth of our cities has been centered around the automobile. We now are faced with a myriad of environmental, traffic, land use, health and safety problems which can only be mitigated by decreasing our dependency on cars.
As Ivan Illich points out in Energy and Equity, "The bicycle... uses little space. Eighteen bikes can be parked in the place of one car, thirty of them can move along in the space devoured by a single automobile." Because our land-use planning centers around the automobile, we find ourselves in a cycle of ever-widening urban sprawl, which leads to traffic gridlock on the highways, which leads to costly road expansion, which promotes still more sprawling development. With the U.S. population doubling by the year 2050, rural areas will be increasingly affected by this cycle. Preserving our wild, undeveloped and rural areas for future generations and redirecting our cities' growth in a more human-scaled direction will demand a more space-efficient transportation system.
Bicycling is non-polluting. According to the American Lung Association, ground-level air pollution causes more than 50,000 cases of respiratory illness annually nation-wide. Auto emissions are a major contributor, not only to such human illnesses, but also to the planetary illnesses of ozone depletion and global warming. And the most polluting motor-vehicle trips tend to be the shortest ones, trips easily made by pedaling.
According to a 1985 National Health Interview Survey, forty percent of all adults are almost completely sedentary, the single biggest risk factor in developing heart disease. More than 69 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, costing the U.S. as much as $135 billion annually. Bicycling to work, school, shopping, or simply for pleasure is an affordable, sustainable, convenient and effective form of exercise which can help to fill the fitness void, bring health-care costs down, and provide many other benefits such as increased alertness, relaxation and improved self-image. Furthermore, since auto accidents are far and away the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., shifting from cars to bikes may reduce this death toll as well.
Add to all this a few more observations: Bicycling is immensely popular. According to the Bicycle Institute of America, 99 million Americans rode their bikes in 1992. It is relatively inexpensive and therefore accessible to all income groups. Bicyclists relate much more closely to their communities and neighborhoods, and so as more and more people leave their cars at home, quality of life improves. And bicycling is, quite simply, a lot of fun. Add it all up and you'll see why BFW wants to be known as the group Pushing Pedaling.
Marcia Miquelon
The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin works to promote bicycling by:
More specifically, here is a summary of our current goals and projects:
We hope that you enjoy this complimentary copy of The Wisconsin Bicyclist, and find it to be a valuable resource to keep around for many months to come. And we hope that you will support us in our efforts to bring you a better bicycling environment by joining the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin today.
Richard Wilson
You're biking through Wisconsin's farm country on a beautiful spring day. And so you feel good-- thankful for the sights, the sounds, and the shoulder that has been paved for you. Not a care in the world, you hardly notice the car approaching from the rear. But suddenly....
You awake in the emergency room; your companions tell you the car turned right into you.
Months later you are maddened (but not too surprised) to find out that the motorist's insurance company won't pay your medical bills; More of a shock when the court agrees, saying you were at fault!
What did you do wrong? You were bicycling on the shoulder! Sorry, but vehicles are not permitted to operate on the shoulder, even though both the DOT and the Division of Tourism both promote shoulder use by bicyclists.
So what is the solution? Come to a hearing April 27 and help get some legislation passed. A.B. 96 - will correct many of the present ambiguities and harmful language contained in Wisconsin's bicycle traffic statutes.
What other illegal or possibly illegal things do you do while bicycling? Ride two abreast? Sorry, while it's permitted in 46 states and by the Uniform Vehicle Code, the only time it's legal in Wisconsin is when the road you are on has no center lines! Or perhaps you use a flashing light on the rear of your bike-- that may also be illegal.
And if you have been trained as an effective cyclist, you will no doubt ride far enough from the curb to avoid potholes and debris, and give yourself room to manuever - some cops will ticket you for that under current statutes.
A.B. 96 addresses all these issues. Most important, however, is that A.B. 96 would eliminate the "local option." Presently every municipality (county, city, village or town) can write bicycle laws as they see fit, and their laws may contradict or overrule state laws.
Do you know the laws of your municipality? What about the laws of your neighboring municipalities? Are you aware of each township line you cross while on a bike ride?
Do you know where in Wisconsin you must:
Remember that ignorance of the law is no excuse. So before you get on your bicycle again, zip on down to your local city hall/town hall (and every place where you might be riding your bicycle) and get a copy of the local laws.
So... what's in it for me? Why should I support A.B. 96?
There's a saying in politics, Be careful what you ask for; you might just get it. Think about that the next time you ask for better enforcement of traffic laws relating to bicyclists. Look at the list above and ask, "Is that what I want?"
Guest editorial by Jay Windahl
I always get a little nervous when I learn about a new organization claiming to represent me as a bicyclist. I've lived in enough states and have seen enough bicycle advocacy groups to know that the types of bicyclists that are chosen to become board members rarely view things the way I do. All too often they are motorists first, and bicyclists second.
I'm the guy who the official bike leaders often forget to contact when an important meeting is scheduled. I'm the guy called politically naive by those same well-meaning leaders.
Maybe it's sour grapes, but I've concluded it's better to be politically naive than naively political. It's not that I'm opposed to organizing. We need organizers- people who can empower us to take back the street; to turn our roads into civil, public places once again- not high speed corridors for the motorized elite. But what we don't need are organizations pretending that with enough meetings we can help WisDOT create the "best state bike plan ever."
Tell me this: How can we expect WisDOT to produce even a reasonable bike plan when their expenditures for new highways and reconstruction is proposed to be 500 times more than what is budgeted for pedestrian and bicycle facilities?
Motorists already have 500 times more options, more advantages and more pavement than the non-motorist.
But would any well-respected, professional bike organization want to bring up such a disparity? Would any dare call for WisDOT to disarm and give society a chance to heal itself? To rid itself of its incredibly destructive addiction to the automobile?
The reality of the situation is this: there's already plenty of pavement. We have more square feet of pavement per capita in these United States than any nation on Earth, and nearly ten times more per capita than we did in 1930 and traffic congestion just keeps on getting worse! The problem isn't going to be solved by increasing the amount of pavement. The problem will only be solved by decreasing the number of cars. That means saying no to new roads. And saying yes to getting cars off welfare (they're subsidized to the tune of $300 billion dollars per year). It also means demanding lower speed limits, an end to free parking, and the creation of car-free zones and bicycle boulevards.
ISTEA might help us get more pavement, but it's doubtful it will get us a less lopsided transport system. Although it could, if enough of us...
But will our fearless leaders dare to criticize a $100 million expenditure for an unnecessary bridge across the wild and scenic St. Croix River if at the same time the WisDOT bureaucrats promise us 8 foot bike lanes on each side? Will we oppose the expansion of Hwy 12 through fertile fields north of Madison if it might mean alienating them from considering our desire for wider shoulders on this highway and that?
So what am I saying? Just that I'm tired of milk toast efforts. I'm tired of bicycle leaders making compromises that end up allowing the highway builders to pretend to the public that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians have been considered. I don't want to see Thompson stand up and wave a copy of a state bike plan and declare that Wisconsin is somehow on the cutting edge of transportation when the reality is business as usual.
If you stop and think about it, bicyclists have become the co-dependents of a society addicted to the automobile. Instead of facing the problem directly, we behave as if we're the ones needing to be excused; and how grateful we are for the crumbs the addicts throw our way!
Don't expect me to be too hard on my husband about his drinking- he could throw me out of my house, you know. At least he's not beating me-- at least not often.
Don't expect us to be too assertive about our rights to have safe access and breathe clean air-- after all, they could force us off the road, you know. At least we still have the right to use the road, er, most roads, and most of us are managing to survive....
Of course WisDOT will want us to buy into their plan; and yes, it can and will be argued that to have something in writing that calls for specific bike projects is certainly better than no plan at all. But before we get all giddy about a bike path here and a bike lane there, let's take a serious look at whether the plan will make even the smallest dent in the automobile dominated system that WisDOT has locked into place. And if it won't, then let's not lend our name to it. While this might not help the BFW make friends in important places, it would certainly make your claim to represent cyclists- at least this cyclist, closer to the truth.
Real change will come only when we end our denial about cars. Don't hold your breath for it to come from a WisDOT bike plan-- when you start breathing again, it will be the same old pollution.
Arthur Ross
Working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to develop a state bike plan is a major goal of BFW. What I will answer here is why this is so important to bicyclists and what a comprehensive bike plan should include.
ISTEA is the Federal law that guides the spending of billions of dollars in Federal highway funds for 1991-1997. While a lot of bicyclists have been excited about the flexibility of these funds to be used on bicycle projects, there's been less said about ISTEA's planning requirements. Yet, it is through transportation and land use plans now being developed for the next 20 to 25 years by State and local governments that bicyclists are likely to wheel in the largest and longest lasting improvements.
Each state is required to undertake a continuous transportation planning process which takes into account many factors, including the incorporation of bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways in appropriate projects.
WisDOT recently issued Translinks 21: A Multimodal Transportation Plan for Wisconsin's 21st Century. Translinks 21 is proposed to guide Wisconsin's transportation policies, programs and investments for the next 25 years.
A new Federal highway spending bill will be passed in 1997, when ISTEA expires. It is not known if the next version will retain the spending flexibility of the current one. If recent actions by the new Congress are any indication, we can expect less. This is why the policies now under development by WisDOT are so important to bicyclists. If these policies truly reflect our interests, there will be continuing gains even without the help of Congress. This is why the BFW wants to develop a positive working relationship with WisDOT and help them with this bicycle plan.
Translink 21 (TL21) provides the framework for developing this plan. TL21 notes that six to nine percent of all Wisconsin work trips are made by walking and bicycling, with the percentage being as high as 20% in some metropolitan areas. Thus, "bicycle and pedestrian accommodations will be considered on urban state highways where they are included in metro-area or local plans or justified by their projected use. Additionally, $50 million [$2 million per year] will be provided for bicycle lanes on existing highways, and a new $50 million [$2 million per year] state program will fund standalone urban bike and pedestrian projects."
The statement empasized in italics above shows why local plans are so important. Good local bicycle plans will be the backbone of long range improvements for bicyclists. The 14 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are also required to develop bicycle and pedestrian elements for their local transportation plans (See page 7). The State plan is supposed to include the MPO plans.
By working together, BFW and WisDOT can create one of the best bike plans in the nation.
While $100 million for bike and pedestrian projects may seem like a lot, spread over 25 years it's only .26% of the $39 billion highway budget.
The BFW would like to see the Plan include clear statements of policies and goals. The inclusion of bicycle facilities on a roadway if bicycle use is expected to be at least 25 bicycles per day (WisDOT's current policy) is a good example of a policy statement. The U.S. DOT has as a goal the doubling of bicycling and walking trips while at the same time reducing injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians by 10%. Examples of other policies affecting bicyclists include bridge access, use of rumble strips, street sweeping, and snow removal. Network performance criteria, such as providing both mobility and access, system continuity, and ease of major street crossings could also be included.
Just as WisDOT engineers have a long list of highway projects they want to build, bicyclists have a long list of specific roads that need improvement. These lists need to be merged, so that when roadway repairs or reconstructions are being planned, the bike improvements will be designed in from the beginning. A policy statement of considering the need for bicycle improvements whenever a roadway project is being planned should also be included.
There are many non-construction programs that are equally desirable. Examples include education of bicyclists and motorists, law enforcement training in bicycle issues, training of traffic engineers and planners in bicycle compatible design, and provision of bicycle parking.
By working together, the BFW and WisDOT can create one of the best bicycle plans in the country. Your help is needed in this process. Once a draft has been written there will be public hearings around the State. Your input at these meetings will be an important step in bringing a draft plan to final form.
As you are riding this spring and summer, think of what would make your ride better, write your ideas down and bring your list to one of the meetings. You can also send your suggestions to the BFW office. This is our opportunity as bicyclists to make a real difference, let's do it!
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Covers Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine Contact: Nancy Holguin SEWRPC PO Box 1607, Old Courthouse Waukesha, WI 53187-1607 414/547-6721 Local bike plan status: Completed and adopted Janesville Metropolitan Planning Organization Covers: Janesville Contact: Ron Chicka, MPO Coordinator Janesville Planning department 18 N. Jackson St. Janesville, WI 53547-5005 608/755-3095 Status of Local Plan: No draft yet. Dane County Regional Planning Commission Covers Madison urban area Contact: Bob McDonald DCRPC 217 S. Hamilton St., Suite 403 Madison, WI 53703-3238 608/266-4137 Local Bike Plan Status: plan being updated State Line Area Transportation Study Covers: Beloit WI & IL Contact: John Adams, MPO Coordinator Engineering Division City Hall 100 State St. Beloit, WI 53511 608/364-6606 Status of Local Plan: Completed, not yet adopted Brown County Planning Commission Covers: Green Bay Contact: Pat Vaile Room 608, City Hall 100 North Jefferson St. Green Bay, WI 54301 414/448-3400 Local Bike Plan Status: Completed and adopted. Chippewa-Eau Claire Metropolitan Planning Covers: Eau Claire Contact: Don Kush West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Banbury Place, Suite D2-401 800 Wisconsin St. Eau Claire, WI 54703-3574 715/836-2918 Status of Local Plan: Completed and adopted. Duluth/Superior Metropolitan Interstate Committee Covers: Superior Contact: Scott Peters D/SMIC Arrowhead Regional Development Commission 330 Canal Park Dr. Duluth, MN 55802 218/722-5545 Status of Local Plan: Completed and adopted Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Covers: Sheboygan Contact: Jeff Agee-Aguayo Old Fort Square, Suite 211 211 North Broadway Green Bay, WI 54303-2757 414/448-2820 Status of Local Plan: Currently being updated. LaCrosse Area Planning Committee Covers: LaCrosse Contact: David Truckenbrod City Planning Department City Hall LaCrosse, WI 54601 608/789-7512 Local Bike Plan Status: Completed and adopted Wausau Metropolitan Planning Organization Covers: Wausau Contact: Barbara Weber Marathon County Planning Department Courthouse Wausau, WI 54401-5568 715/847-5227 Status of Local Plan: Short draft completed. East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Covers: Appleton-Neenah, Oshkosh Contact: Fred Scharnke ECWRPC 132 Main St. Menasha, WI 54952-3100 414/751-4770 Local Bike Plan Status: Draft completed
Arthur Ross
Representative Rudy Silbaugh is again sponsoring the "Bicycle Bill" in the State Assembly. The Bicycle Bill was originally drafted by the Governor's Bicycle Council and has been introduced twice before. Last year it was supported by the Assembly Committee on Highways and Transportation, but was referred back to Committee by the full Assembly. This year's bicycle bill, AB 96, is the same as last year's bill, after it was amended to reflect concerns by some Representatives. After reviewing the amendments and concluding that they do not adversely affect the bill the Governor's Bicycle Council voted to support AB 96 at its March meeting.
Passing A.B. 96 will benefit bicyclists, and update Wisconsin's laws to be consistent with laws in other states. The Assembly Committee on Highways & Transportation will hold a public hearing on AB 96 on Thursday, April 27, around 9:30 a.m. subject to change. Call to confirm time and date and for information on location (608/266-9960 or 800/362-9472). Contact the members listed below to show support:
David Brandemuehl (Chair), 49th Dist., Fennimore
Clifford Otte (Vice-Chair), 27th Dist, Sheboygan Falls
Rudy Silbaugh*, 46th Dist., Stoughton
Eugene Hahn*, 47th Dist., Cambria
William Lorge*, 40th Dist., Bear Creek
Robert Zukowski, 69th dist., Thorp
Terry Musser, 92nd Dist., Melrose
Michael Lehman, 58th Dist., Hartford
Donald Hasenohrl*, 70th Dist., Pittsville
James Baumgart, 26th Dist., Sheboygan
Robert Turner, 61st Dist., Racine
John Ryba, 90th Dist., Green Bay
Leon Young, 16th Dist., Milwaukee
Antonio Riley, 18th Dist., Milwaukee
James Kreuser, 64th Dist., Kenosha
What A.B. 96 would change:
If you have questions about the Bicycle Bill, call the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin office at 608/251-4456. For a copy of the bill, call 608/266-2400 and ask for a copy of 1995 Assembly Bill 96.
Peter Flucke
Kit Keller
Renee Callaway & Lisa Goodman
In analyzing the data from police department crash reports, City of Madison officials discovered what is true in most bicycling cities: Most crashes are the fault of the motorist, and most happen when a driver turns at an intersection in front of an oncoming bicyclist.
The study also found that almost a thousand bicycle accidents were reported over a four year period in the Madison area, with the vast majority involving adult bicyclists.
While only about 10 percent of the crashes were deemed to be the fault of bicyclists, a recent Madison survey showed that most people believe that bicyclists are more often at fault.
The survey also found that:
JoAnne Pruitt Thunder
The WisDOT Office of Transportation Safety offers the following opportunities for bicycle safety advocates to improve their communities:
We want to hear your views!
Please send your contributions to:
BFW, Wisconsin Cyclist, PO Box 1224, Madison, WI 53701
Steve Meier
In the fall of 1990 a suburban Baltimore county was the first jurisdiction in the nation to enact a law mandating that bicyclists wear helmets. Since then the idea has taken off with 12 states covering a third of the population and numerous smaller jurisdictions, enacting helmet laws.
Many of those supporting such laws see the issue as being clear and simple:
Every year, almost 400,000 kids go to hospitals with bike related injuries. 300 of them die. Is that evidence of the value of mandatory bicycle helmet laws? It is more than that- it is proof. (USA Today, May 31, 1994)
For the last six years I have worked with thousands of kids, encouraging safe bicycling and helmet use, and I've helped raise thousands of dollars so that kids could have helmets regardless of their families' economic status. I wish I could say the issue is that simple for me.
Few things upset me more than to see a family riding together when all of the kids have helmets and Mom and Dad don't. These parents are showing that helmets are kids stuff and they don't care if their kids become orphans. Helmet laws that set age limits (and all of the state-wide ones passed so far do) send the same message. I am concerned that throwing away one's helmet when one reaches a certain age will become a rite of passage form many youth.
"I like helmets because they keep you safe," Jeremy age 8 wrote me. Sorry Jeremy, you are wrong. Helmets can reduce injuries if you get involved in a crash but no helmet has ever prevented a crash from occurring.
Age restrictions also ignore the fact that bicycle related injuries for those over the age of 21 rose 50 percent during the 1980's and that cyclists over the age of 14 account for 62 % of all bicycle related deaths.
I recall a boy coming to us while we were inspecting bikes in a low income area before doing a safety program. He brought us two bikes and asked if we could put together one bike that worked. We couldn't.
A mother came up to me after a presentation to discuss helmets for her children. She said, "I'm struggling to put food on the table. I don't know how I can find money to get the kids helmets."
We need to recognize that for too many families getting a safely working bike, much less a helmet, is out of their reach.
California has at least recognized this by setting aside a percentage of helmet fine monies to help families purchase helmets. This is a commendable idea but it doesn't address the magnitude of the problem as one of four Wisconsin children lives below the poverty line.
The next time you get a chance, ask a police officer how big of a priority they will place on ticketing the parents of a 7 year old without a helmet. As you are listening to the officer laugh, ask yourself if it really is to our benefit to pass a law that won't be enforced.
It's not just 8 year olds that miss this point. One company has produced a comic book encouraging helmet use. It would be bad enough if the book never mentioned anything about safe riding but it actually shows unsafe behavior. But of course the kids are wearing helmets so they are safe.
Education can go a long way toward preventing crashes and some states have education provisions in their laws. But what does that mean- distributing coloring books? Certainly a comprehensive educationl program is not going to pass in these times of government cutbacks.
A mandatory helmet bill was introduced in the 1994 legislative session but died in commitee. It is not likely that a bill will be reintroduced in this session but its time is coming. We must use this time to discuss among ourselves the issues a helmet bill raises so we are prepared and organized to respond effectively.
Steve Meiers is a safety educator with the Madison Department of Transportation. The opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily represent the view of the Department of Transportation, nor the view of BFW.
Dave Peterson, President Bombay Bicycle Club
Why should the recreational rider be involved in advocacy? Isn't advocacy mostly a concern of the intrepid bike commuter, fighting the dangers of city traffic day in and day out? Why, you might ask, can't we just enjoy our recreational rides and let others worry about advocacy?
First, let me state the obvious. We bicyclists are greatly outnumbered by motorists and this probably won't change in the forseeable future, despite our wish that large numbers of able-bodied citizens would abandon their cars in favor of the joys of bicycling. As a minority our political clout is weak. Recent events in Madison regarding failed efforts to get a temporary bicycle route during construction of the Convention Center should dispel any doubts about this. My point is whether we bicycle for fun or transportation, we need to maximize our presence on the roads and in the council chambers and legislatures. We need to advocate together, all of us, for bicycling. Motorists and their advocates must realize that we are not going to go away, that we are legitimate users of the roads, urban and rural, so they had better learn to accomodate us.
Are there any particular issues about recreational riding that we must advocate for? I can suggest several. Consider recreational trails. Wisconsin is well ahead of most states in developing a system of recreational trails, mostly on abandoned railroad beds. We can't just take these trails for granted. They need to be maintained, and in this era of government downsizing, officials are going to be looking for areas to cut budgets. They need to know that cyclists use the trails and care about their condition. I noticed last summer, for instance, that washouts on the Military Ridge Trail near Verona were filled with sand, rather than the usual crushed limestone surface. As a bicycle advocate, I should have found out who is responsible for trail maintenance, and explained to that person why sand is not satisfactory surface to ride on. He/ she needed to know that we noticed and that we cared.
Consider mountain biking. I think there is a paucity of mountain biking trails in Southern Wisconsin. We can advocate with the DNR to designate more State Park trails for mountain bike use. We can also take the initiative at county and city level, and volunteer to help construct trails as was done at the Badger Prairie Park between Madison and Verona. What do you think about mandatory helmet laws? Although most of us believe in helmets and use them regularly, would you want them to be mandated by law? Many states are considering such legislation. Perhaps your legislators should hear your views.
One particular concern that touring cyclists can advocate is for safer roads. The League of American Bicyclists ran an article last year exhorting non-activists to help create a safer bicycling environment. The author suggested that touring bicyclists note and report road hazards to local authorities. Not only would this alert them to initiate maintenance, it would also reinforce the idea that bicyclists use the roads too. Touring clubs could even sponsor survey rides to comprehensively examine road conditions. Such a survey would cover the roads that are frequently used on club rides, so the benefit to club members would be direct. Even if the local officials didn't get around to correcting the hazards quickly, a warning could be noted on cue sheets.
I hope I've given you several reasons why even recreational riders should advocate bicycling. I know most of us would rather just enjoy our rides, but unfortunately, if bicycling is to be enjoyed by all, all of us must get involved.
Renee Callaway & Lisa Goodman
Bicycle Transportation Alliance of Dane County
The plan to send bicyclists out over Lake Monona to get around the buildings of the Convention Center once complete is a cause for some concern. Apparently the bikeway around the building will also be a promenade for conventioneers for a view of the lake. We are worried about the potential for ice to accumulate on this same bikeway during winter months. We need better answers than we have to these and other problems. We know about the planned automobile parking accommodations (voluminous!)- will there be a token bike rack?
Name_____________________________ Address__________________________ City_____________________________ State_____________Zip____________ Phone(s)_________________________ Please check Individual __ $15.00 Household __ $20.00 Club __ $30.00 Business __ $50.00 SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR BICYCLE COMMUTING. ORDER A Bike to Work Day T-shirt ___ Yes, please send me a colorful, Bike-to-Work day T-shirt! I need a ________ size. Members $10 Non-members $12 (please include $2 for shipping) Please send to: BFW, P.O. Box 1224, Madison, WI 53701 (608) 251-4456
Tom Huber became Wisconsin's first bicycle coordinator in 1991 after having worked as a planner for a private consiulting company as well as public agencies. He is a year 'round bicycle commuter.
WB - Tom, maybe you can tell us a little bit about the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) or at least how it has affected WisDOT's dealings with bicycling issues.
Huber Sure. ISTEA contains a significant amount of language about bicycling as transportation, but one of the most important innovations in ISTEA is the requirement for state and metropolitan planners to fully include the needs of bicyclists in long-range transportation plans. Because of the hundreds of projects that WisDOT designs or funds, we need to establish a process and set of policies that allow this consideration to be made in a uniform, meaningful manner.
WB - Which is the reason you will be working on a State Bike Plan?
Huber - Exactly. Last year, WisDOT concluded its overall multi-modal transportation plan, including an element on bicycling and walking. This year, WisDOT will develop a comprehensive state bicycle plan. This plan will communicate to the public our overall bicycle policy and represents one of the most basic ways we will consider the needs of bicyclists. The plan will provide an appropriate level of guidance to both WisDOT and local authorities when they consider bicyclists in specific projects.
WB - How will the plan deal with local issues?
Huber - Most of the metropolitan bicycle plans have been completed. The Wisconsin Bicycle Plan needs to tie these plans' policies and recommended bicycle systems together into the state plan. Although Translinks 21 established several recommendations related to funding, the proposed bicycle plan will take a closer look at needs and expected expenditures.
WB - Can you give us some ball park figures in terms of what might be spent on bike facilities?
Huber - Currently, about $5 million annually is spent on independent bicycle projects, but far more is potentially available by folding in bicycle accommodations on new and reconstructed street and highway projects. Again, the success of how we can make these investments rests on both how well we plan and design for the integration of bicycle accommodations in these projects.
WB - As you know Tom, the Bicycle Federation has pledged our assistance in generating interest and valuable input as WisDOT meets in different regions of the state to discuss the plan. Could you tell our readers what the process will be, and how they might best participate?
Huber - Sure. In April, we will begin this process by meeting with a number of state bicycle organizations, including the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, to discuss in more detail the proposed work program for the plan. We will be looking to the Bicycle Federation and other bike groups, for ways to foster substantive input into the planning process. Later, a series of meetings will be conducted around the state to give local governments and citizens the chance to discuss different drafts of the plan and provide input at different stages of the plan instead of expecting comments only at the tail end of the process.
WB - So what would you like to tell our readers and members about how they can get involved?
Huber - I encourage all bicyclists to get involved either through organizations like the Bicycle Federation or on a person-by-person basis. Feel free to contact me at WisDOT, Box 7913, Madison, WI 53707 or 608-267-7757 to be placed on a mailing list. I'm looking forward to working with bicyclists from around the state.
A periodic column where the confused, frustrated and alienated may seek guidance on all matters of life by the renowned Amos T. Redenhoffer
Dear Amos,
I've managed to commute every day by bicycle so far this winter. This morning the mercury dipped to 1 degree F, and I found myself with a flat tire and fever. I guess I'm losing my will to continue. Can you give me any reason why I shouldn't power up my '84 LeSabre and drive to work in luxurious 70 degree comfort? - Zero Kelvin
Dear Zero,
Now hold on, don't do anything rash. Your letter appears to be a desperate cry for help. Many before you have slipped over the edge, and lived to regret it. I'm at least thankful that you've written before taking the plunge (I'm just sorry that by the time you read this in the newsletter, winter will be over). Your four wheeled beast may seem enticing now, but imagine the bitterness you'll feel in a few weeks, slavishly filling its insatiably thirsty tank at the gas station. Once one's will is broken, it is rarely restored. The false temptation of your automobile will never release its tenacious grip on you. Hey, if you can't presevere out of concern for yourself, at least do it for your bike, who has faithfully served you throughout the cold, salty, chain-corroding months. Fight the temptation while you still can. Fight! Fight! Fight!