Volume 4, No. 2
Summertime, 1998
Newsletter of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.![[BFW Logo]](/images/bfw1.gif)
Wisconsin BicyclistVolume 4, No. 2Summertime, 1998Newsletter of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. |
|
Here is Vol. 4, No. 1, of Wisconsin Bicyclist (Springforth, 1998).
by Peter Blommer
This is the title of a new guidebook describing the best route between Milwaukee and Chicago and a connector route to the west side of Milwaukee to tie into the bike path from Cottage Grove and Madison.
In the summer of 1997, since my wife and I had exhausted our supply of the better bike routes around Milwaukee, our hometown, we rode our bikes to Chicago, feeling our way along and asking directions and recommendations as we went. We were surprised to discover a route that took us on a series of bike paths, which we struggled to interconnect. After a number of trips between Chicago and Milwaukee, we felt that we had put together the best way to connect the bike paths that we had found. Our intention was to avoid traffic and pass by the most interesting places but continue to progress directly to our destination.
We found out that few cyclists realized that they could pedal out on their local bike paths and find their way to Chicago or Milwaukee with relative tranquillity. So now I've become a guidebook writer, and I start with the last and nearest route of my bicycle experience.
The route from Chicago to Milwaukee is 95.8 miles. Because of a different route on the Chicago streets section, the route from Milwaukee to Chicago is 95.9 miles. This guide takes you the best way possible, but there are varying enjoyment levels because of the diversity of the routes. This diversity leads to unequal distances in the different sections, but each section is integral in the type of riding. These sections vary from quiet paths to somewhat busy streets. The long, good sections far outweigh the short, poor sections.
The highlights are:
"Biking on Bike Paths between Chicago and Milwaukee" describes in 18 sections going south and 18 sections going north the route, surfaces, traffic conditions, points of interest, facilities, side lights, alternatives, other information, and parking and side trips for each. Complete directions and a map are part of each section.
Information about "Biking on Bike Paths between Chicago and Milwaukee" is available from Blommer Books, 2676 N. Lake Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53211, (414) 291-7833.
by Amy S. Kinast
Part One: DeKalb, Ill.
I've seen the ghosts of Madison's bicycling past and future; I lived them the past five years as a resident of Illinois.
The past one and one-half years spent in DeKalb County, Ill., "corn country," convinced me things don't necessarily get better by turning back the development clock. The three years before that, in DuPage County, Ill., I learned that bicyclists can get perilously penned in when development carpets a county and transportation planning means building another interstate toll road.
This first article will cover DeKalb County, the ghost of Madison past. (Check out the second part, dealing with DuPage County, in the next issue of Wisconsin Bicyclist.)
What's my bike?
If I get on my bike, I want to accomplish something, and on the normal workaday schedule that means commuting and errands - go to work, buy food, shop for necessities and socialize. Madison's network of bikeways makes all this possible, and with due precaution, safe.
I moved to Madison for college in 1984 and biked all over the campus and Capitol area with relative ease. During graduate school, I bought a car and traded in my Giant hybrid mountain bike for a proportional sized touring Terry bike. This is the bike I took to Illinois in 1993, and the one I brought back this year.
DeKalb County, Ill.
Go 80 miles straight South of Madison, then 40 miles East, and you're in DeKalb, Ill. The city has the only bike shop in the county, a Schwinn dealer with knowledgeable staff. Maybe the new mall that they're building on the eastern edge of town will house a second bike shop. If residents are lucky, planners might put a path in so kids and biking adults can get there.
Half the county's, 35,000 people, live in city of DeKalb. If not for Northern Illinois University on the west side of town, DeKalb would be just another farm town, where men in suspenders congregate for coffee before buying agricultural inputs, and where their kids go to school. As it is, the co-eds are more into skateboards than into bicycles, and half the student body commutes to campus by car, many from outside DeKalb.
Keep it up Kiwanis
DeKalb has no on-street bike routes posted, but the blessing here is just about every residential street is low traffic and bikable. The Kiwanis have made a fair attempt at linking the city with a nine-mile north-south path along the Kishwaukee River, which cuts through the center of town. One break in the off-road path is at Route 38, an east-west state highway cutting across the middle of town.
Route 38 is the main biking bugaboo in DeKalb. Unfortunately, I lived right on it at the far eastern edge of town.
From two lanes in the countryside, expanding to four lanes through town, Route 38 is a genuine "main drag" on Saturday nights, when farm boys cruise the family pickup truck. For work and pleasure, I'd usually ride or walk the well-maintained sidewalk that stretched clear across town along Route 38. This was the only way to enter town, since the network of city streets didn't start for a good two-thirds mile from our house. From there, I'd duck onto a side street, cross the one freight train track that crossed downtown, and be on my way with minimal hassle to the library, to campus, to the newspaper building or to the grocery store.
Looking over my shoulder
In terms of bicycle awareness and education, in case you haven't already guessed, DeKalb is a backwater.
My husband and I had numerous close calls and daily witnessed other bicyclists and pedestrians endangered from cars speeding up to make right turns that cut off the non-motorized traveler. We also learned, paradoxically, that taking the precaution of looking over one's left shoulder at intersections for brazen right-turning vehicles was an invitation for them to mow one down.
While bicyclists are considered a nuisance by DeKalb drivers, pedestrians are bona fide sport.
My husband and I were harassed three times in one day along the four-mile walk to and from campus along Route 38.
This is not Dairyland
Tiring of the post-industrial scenery of funky warehouses and factories, I sometimes felt like biking into the countryside. I never did it. Heading out of town, the sidewalk ended just past my house. The two-lane highways shooting through cornfields were heavily traveled and had gravel shoulders, if any. Rural roads we take for granted as bikable in Wisconsin are not necessarily so in northern Illinois, where many secondary roads aren't even paved! So, despite the flatness, (which by the way is countered by winds of animal intensity), rural on-road riding is very unsafe in DeKalb County.
However, if I still lived there, I'd now have an alternative when I want a long scenic ride. With the recent addition of a measly three miles of paved path, DeKalb County connected my old DeKalb home almost to Chicago some 60 miles east. Caveat: I haven't tried it, and I don't know what glitches might arise; but it illustrates what a great big conceptual difference these itty-bitty additions do make.
by Angela Graf
BFW Board Member
Several Madison businesses are participating in a new program to encourage their employees to bicycle to work. By joining the Madison Bicycle Commute Project (MBCP) St. Marys Hospital, Home Savings Bank and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority are helping to reduce automobile congestion. The MBCP is a year-long effort of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (BFW), a state-wide advocacy organization based in Madison.
The BFW is working with employers to assess employee commute habits, provide informational workshops on bicycle commuting, find safe and enjoyable routes to work, and support employees with bicycle facilities and incentives. "These businesses are providing the framework and experience for publishing a Bicycle Commuter Handbook," says Jeanne Hoffman, BFW Executive Director. "This comprehensive 'how to' guide will be available to any business and organization interested in starting an employee bicycle commute program."
"The MBCP could be beneficial in helping to reduce congestion on downtown streets and parking facilities," says Dave Philips, President of Downtown Madison Inc. According to the Dane County Regional Planning Commission, most roadways and parking facilities downtown are at or beyond capacity. The geographical constraints of the isthmus leave little room to expand the roadways and build additional parking facilities.
Many businesses downtown are feeling these pressures. "We want to do our part to alleviate these pressures on our employees and customers," says Home Savings President, Jim Bradley. "It's enjoyable, economical, and healthy." expressed Mr. Bradley, an avid bicyclist. "We're glad to do our part to promote a healthier community," added Bradley.
Thirteen percent of Madison residents already bike or walk to work regularly. Bicycling Magazine rated Madison the fourth best bicycling city in the country. "In Madison alone, there are over 100 miles of bike paths, bike lanes, and shared-use streets assigned as designated bike routes," said Arthur Ross, Bike/Ped Coordinator for the City of Madison. With the MBCP, many more commuters will enjoy bicycle friendly Dane County.
The MBCP is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Dane County Bicycle Association. For more information, please contact the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin at 608-251-4456.
| WisDOT Report |
by Tom Huber
State Ped/Bike Coordinator, WisDOT
The preparation of the State Bicycle Plan has been concluded and one final meeting will be held this summer to present the plan. Several additions were made to the plan based on comments made at six public meetings held through-out the state and issues raised by the plan's Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee was concerned about ensuring consideration of bicyclists on all road projects and measuring the overall performance of the plan. In response to these concerns, WisDOT will review its project review procedures to ensure project-by-project consideration of bicyclists. Additionally, a statewide bicycle use survey will be conducted this year to establish a baseline count of bicyclists in the state, thus permitting the gauging of future bicycling in the context of the plan's goal of doubling bicycle use.
The Wisconsin Bicycle Map is finally a reality. Panels showing southeast and northeast Wisconsin have been completed. The six other panels of the map will be completed in July. The University of Wisconsin - Madison Cartographic Lab has done a commendable job in improving the readability and overall appearance of the map.
Effective Cycling courses are being taught throughout the state thanks to a partnership between WisDOT and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. To take full advantage of these courses, WisDOT has been making the courses available to its District Office personnel in specially designed courses. Much thanks goes to Peter Flucke and Arthur Ross of BFW who worked with Tom Huber to specially tailor the courses to make them more applicable for planners and highway designers.
by Gary Schultz
District 2 Ped/Bike Coordinator, WisDOT
It's almost been a year since I was given responsibilities as the District 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, and things sure have been getting busier. The most prominent role has been my increased involvement in the project review process. District planning staff have become increasingly more involved with the overall project review process, and our project design engineers have been doing a great job getting me more involved with project review for bicycle accommodations.
What we are attempting to do is to go beyond the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) Bike Plan and try to accommodate bicycles in as many projects as possible. For this to succeed, communication with the local units of government is critical. In order to properly accommodate bicycles, we need to understand such things as future development patterns and plans for bicycle facilities at the local level.
The process is still evolving, and I still have much to learn. We are seeing results from the new collaboration between our District's Planning and Design teams. In the future, we expect this collaboration to grow stronger, which will greatly benefit the entire bicycling community.
by Gary Schultz
District 2 Ped/Bike Coordinator, WisDOT
The residents and visitors to the Village of Walworth will benefit after the State Highway (STH) 67 resurfacing project is completed in the Summer of 1999. Two distinct sections of STH 67 will be resurfaced, an east-west urban section of State Highway (STH) 67 between STH 14 and County Highway (CTH) B, and a north-south rural section from the CTH B junction to South Main Street.
The urban section will receive a five foot striped bike lane that will extend from STH 14 east to a point just before CTH B. The southern portion of the rural section , which has a wide road width due to business needs, will accommodate bicycles with minimal improvements. The narrower northern portion will receive five foot paved shoulders.
Current conditions make it difficult to ride along this very popular bicycling route. For example, in the urban section of STH 67 vehicles sometimes use the curb lane for driving side-by-side.
Much of the credit for this improvement goes to the officials with the Village of Walworth who recognized the need for accommodating bicyclists along this stretch of roadway. The officials understanding of the needs of the community helped WisDOT create a friendlier environment for bicyclists. WisDOT project engineer Steve Hoff also deserves credit for working bicycle accommodations into the project plan. For more information call Gary T. Schultz, (414) 548-8794.
by Peter Flucke
BFW Board Member
One of the goals of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is to become the leader of bicycle education in the state. If the following items are an indicator, we are well on our way!
Top Ten!
According to the League of American Bicyclist's 1998 Almanac, Wisconsin, with 15 Effective Cycling instructors, is currently tied for ninth place with Connecticut and Arizona for the state with the most Effective Cycling Instructors. Florida with 37, California and Illinois with 33 each top the list. And following the May 15-17 Effective Cycling Instructors Seminar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is expected to jump to 4th place in the nation, tied with New York. Congratulations Wisconsin!
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Effective Cycling Course Available
Road II will be available beginning in June. Road II builds on the skills developed in Road I and is for intermediate riders who want to enhance their riding skills and become more proficient with bicycle maintenance. Road II brings to four the number of Effective Cycling courses available in Wisconsin. Other Courses include Road I - for bicyclists 16 years old and above, Commuter - for Road I graduates interested in learning more about bicycle commuting and Kids I - for parents who want to learn and teach proper bicycling skills and knowledge to their children. To find out more about any of the above courses contact one of the Effective Cycling Instructors listed in this publication or contact the BFW office at (608) 251-4456 for other instructors recently certified.
Effective Cycling - Road I for WisDOT Employees
On May 5th and 6th, 16 employees from the Wisconsin Department of Transportations District I office in Madison participated in a nine hour Effective Cycling - Road I Course. "The idea behind having DOT employees participate in the course is two-fold" says Peter Flucke, EC Instructor and BFW Board Member. "First, the course gives DOT planners and engineers, the people who are building bicycle facilities, the chance to experience bicycling from the seat of a bicycle. This helps them get a better feel for bicycling and how to accommodate bicyclists. Second, it gives other employees, those not directly involved with bicycling, a chance to learn more about bicycling so that they too can be safer and get more out of it."
The Road I training which the DOT employees are taking is essentially the same as that which is available to bicyclist all over the state through the Effective Cycling program. The course consists of about four hours of classroom and about five hours of on-bike training. Students, including DOT employees who successfully complete the course become certified Effective Cyclists.
During the months of May and June, Road I training is being offered in 7 of the eight DOT districts and the Central Division Office as well. Up to 20 employees from each division may be trained. Funding for the training is provided by WisDOT's Bureau of Transportation Safety. To find out more about these training sessions contact Tom Huber, State Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, at (608) 267-7757.
Parks and Recreation Departments Discover Bicycle Education
In November of 1997 I attended the annual conference of the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association (WPRA). While at the conference I had the opportunity to ask several dozen park and recreation professionals why bicycle education is not offered at most departments. Much to my surprise many answered, "We just never thought of it." Needless to say, I was appalled to think that one of the only reasons that quality bicycle education is not available at most park and recreation departments in Wisconsin is because, "We just never thought of it."
In response to that experience I wrote an article, Bicycling - The Benefits Are Endless, which was published in the Winter, 1998 issue of IMPACT Magazine, the quarterly publication of WPRA. The article simply asked "þis there a difference between the need for swimming programs (which most departments provide) and bicycling?"
I received nearly a dozen responses to the article from park and recreation department throughout the state and three have decided to provide bicycle education as part of their summer offerings. Waukesha Park and Recreation is offering an Effective Cycling - Road I course for adults using a BFW provided instructor. Ashwaubenon Parks and Recreation is offering a Road I course, an Effective Cycling - Kids I course for parents (both using BFW provided instructors) and a Basics of Bicycling course for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. And the Allouez Parks Department is certifying their own Effective Cycling Instructor and will be offering a variety of bicycle related programming.
At the end of May the WisDOT conducted a "Teaching Safe Bicycling" Workshop (TSB) exclusively for parks and recreation professionals in Fond du Lac with the assistance of the Fond du Lac Parks and Recreation Department. TSB is an instructor's course for people who are involved in teaching safe bicycling to children.
If your parks and recreation department is not currently offering quality bicyclist education please contact them and ask them to give it a try. For more information about bicycle education courses and training available to parks and recreation departments contact the BFW office at (608) 251-4456.
To find a course near you, look in the 1998 Wisconsin Bicycle Events or call one of the EC instructors listed above or the BFW office. More Effective Cycling courses are being scheduled all the time. If you would like to be notified about upcoming courses in your area or if you would like to sponsor a course please contact the BFW office or any of the instructors listed above.
by Joyce Harms
Chair, Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force
The City of Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force was created in May of 1993 with the purpose of aiding city staff in guiding bicycle policy development. Consisting of seven citizen members, the Task Force meets on a monthly basis and is charged with making recommendations to the Mayor and the Common Council regarding recreational and commuter biking within the city. Representatives from the Department of Public Works, the Department of City Development, and Milwaukee Police Department are frequently included at Task Force meetings to collaborate on and address the issues of bicycle safety, education, and facilities.
In addition to making policy recommendations, members of the Task Force have taken an active role in promoting bicycle commuting by volunteering time to staff informational booths at major bike rides, the bike expo, and Bike to Work Day. The Task Force uses these forums to advocate the use of bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation, inform and educate the public about bike route alternatives, and bicycle safety issues.
The Task Force has been keeping a close eye on the reauthorization of ISTEA and other grant programs and has encouraged and supported the submission of several projects for funding by the Department of Public Works.
Funded projects already in the works include the completion of a comprehensive (county-wide) bicycle route map and the placement of bicycle lockers in strategic locations throughout the downtown area.
Members of the Task Force frequently attend advisory group meetings convened by the DOT regarding route alternatives. The Task Force also helps coalesce public involvement in the planning process.
In 1998 the Task Force intends to work more closely with various Business Improvement Districts within the City to provide bicycle-friendly shopping alternatives.
For more information on Task Force meeting dates, contact Jeff Polenske, City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works: (414)286-3144.
| Around the State |
by Tracy Zafian
New Bike Map - A new bike routes map of the La Crosse area will be published this summer. Sponsored by the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the map will highlight suggested routes for travel within and through La Crosse and will also describe a number of scenic bicycle rides in the greater La Crosse area. This map is badly needed and the first update of routes in almost twenty years. The Convention and Visitor's Bureau will be promoting the map as part of its Bike Package to encourage bicycle tourism in La Crosse. With the package, bicyclists who check in to participating lodging establishments will also be guaranteed secure bicycle parking.
School District Bicycling Course - The La Crosse School District will be once again holding two summer sessions of a bicycling course based on the Basics of Bicycling curriculum for bicycle safety and education. The sessions, targeted to 4th graders, will be held June 29 - July 2 and July 6 - July 9.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies - State dignitaries convened in La Crosse for two ribbon cutting ceremonies on June 10. Both ceremonies celebrated the completion of local ISTEA-funded projects. The first project is the bridge linking the Great River and La Crosse River State Trails, which was also funded by DNR. The bridge eliminates the need to cross at the busy County Highway B-Highway 16 intersection and allows for longer stretches of travel along the State Trail system without interruption. The second project is the $1.9 million historic renovation of the La Crosse Amtrak Depot. The renovation, was completed by the Alexander Company and paid for, in part, by the City of La Crosse.
Tracy Zafian is the Associate Planner for the City of La Crosse and the City's main bicycle and pedestrian planner.
by Peter Flucke
BFW Board Member
De Pere - Easy Living Pedicabs in De Pere, Wisconsin is currently seeking Pedicab Operators. Operators must be Effective Cycling - Road I certified or willing to become certified. Easy Living is currently operating four cabs and plans are in the works to expand to eight cabs this fall, just in time for football season.
Brown County - The 1994 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Brown County has been updated and approved by the Brown County Planning Commission. For more information about the plan or to obtain a copy contact Cole Runge - Principal Planner at (920) 448-3400.
Oneida - More than 800 mountain bike racers participated in the Duck Creek Classic at the Norbert Hill Center May 2nd. Ryan O'Conner and Amy Hunter-Dillinger took first-place honors in the Expert Division. The race was the first of 12 in the Wisconsin Off Road Series. The series returns to Northeastern Wisconsin just once more this year, on July 12th near Hilbert.
Peter Flucke, Northeast Wisconsin's bike advocate extraordinaire, is the President of WE BIKE®.
by Tracy Zafian
BFW Board Member
|
La Crosse will be hosting the 1998 Governor's Bicycle Conference October 11 through October 13. The Conference, sponsored by the Governor's Bike Council, is aimed at planning professionals, transportation engineers, advocates, recreational service providers, and other interested parties. The Conference will begin on Sunday, October 11, with afternoon workshops and an evening reception. The following two days will include a variety of hands-on and educational presentations on a large range of topics - from the economic impacts of trails, to ride and race organizing, to planning new facilities, to case studies from around the state.
Ample time is being set aside to encourage attendees to bicycle in the Coulee Region and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Mississippi River valley. In addition, early morning and afternoon rides are planned to showcase accomplishments and planned projects in La Crosse County. The Conference will be held at the La Crosse Civic Center, and accommodations at a special conference rate have been arranged at two downtown hotels: the Radisson, (608)784-6680, and the Holiday Inn, (608)784-4444.
Tracy Zafian is the Associate Planner for the City of La Crosse and the City's main bicycle and pedestrian planner.
I enjoyed Heather Putnam's article! (Kids and Cars Don't Have to Mix, Spring 98). I think lots of pregnant women would gain many benefits by riding their bikes! I would probably not have survived my pregnancy without my bike. I had to switch in early spring (I had my baby on 7/9/92) from my touring bike (drop bars) to my mountain bike so I could sit up straighter. I also had some skinny tires put on so the pedaling was easier on my commute to/from work.
I work for the upward bound program at UW-La Crosse. Our summer academic residential camp (June and July) requires a lot of running around campus - delivering stuff, making arrangements with people, picking stuff up, etc.
I worked until two days before I had my child (age 39). Because of a problem with swollen ankles for the last two or three months I really wouldn't have been able to continue working if I didn't have my bike. I rode it up to the day before delivery. The doctor ordered bed rest that day. I started riding again as soon as I could.
Cathy Van Maren
La Crosse
by Jennifer Zahn
Seventeen years ago, Madison's Bike to Work program began as a fun way to get people involved with bicycle commuting. Since then, the events and committee composition have changed, but the same basic ingredients remain: bicycles, something to nosh on, more bicycles, several slightly-crazed committee members, and a great big vision. Fifteen months ago, I joined in the festivities, coming together with a core seven-member Bike to Work committee, informally - and perhaps dyslexically - known as the "Leaders of the Velorution." What follows is my abridged version of the committee's collective knowledge, The Big Five Morals to Our Story. If you believe in bicycling as transportation and want to start a Bike to Work program in your community, then use this information as your guide, raise your arm and repeat after me, "¡Viva la Velorución!"
Lesson #1: - Start your planning early, and don't forget to account for random acts of chaos. In 1997, the Bike to Work Committee first came to order in February, energetic and anxious to lay plans for our May 30th event. After carefully culling our strategies into "what was necessary," "what could be done next year," and "what was that?!" we came up with a fool-proof design, complete with a timeline to be fully executed by...November. Whoops! Okay; trim the timeline, and assign tasks and leadership roles.
But wait - Marcia's going to Utah for three weeks beginning next Tuesday, Peter's interviewing for a new job, and....augghhh! Did I mention it's going to rain on May 30th? (See #2.) This year, we began our planning on October 3rd. The payoff for an early start has been tremendous: we created and implemented a four-level sponsorship structure and successfully secured over 15 sponsors; we added a "Bike to School" component to the program; and we designed a party to cap off the week's events. Heck, we even bought a dry erase calendar so we can more effectively track when the next random act of chaos will strike.Lesson #2: - Increase your chances of good weather... by any means necessary! Last year's Bike to Work program was concentrated on a single day at the end of May with a few satellite events beforehand, thus not giving us good odds against Wisconsin's traditionally wet springtime weather. This year, we expanded to a week-long series of events, which would either increase our likelihood of seeing good weather or lengthen our drizzly misery.
Lesson #3: - You don't need cash flow, but it helps. Dane County Bicycle Association, Budget Bicycle Center, and Williamson Bicycle Works, in addition to our media partners, other grantors, and cash and in-kind sponsors have raised our budget from nearly zero last year - all donations - to just under $20,000 this year. Working with the Mayor's Office, Department of Transportation, the Bicycle / Pedestrian coordinator for your locale, and a few bicycle shops is a good way to get your event started. I can't speak for the years prior to 1997, but trust me, event planning is a lot more fun when you have money to spend.
Lesson #4: - Target first-time bicycle commuters through frequent commuters!
Statistics from our registration cards revealed that 10% of riders who registered in 1997 were first-time commuters. However, we also learned that nearly 75% of Bike to Work registrants commuted 3 times or more per week. Imagine our Bike to Work attendance if each of those regular commuters had invited a newcomer to ride along! Enter 1998's Bike Buddy program which encourages just that! Rent a tandem to promote the "new with old" pairings. Reward first time commuters with water bottles, movie passes, or other small promotional items. Whatever you do, just remember to ask yourself, "Who else can I ride with come May 23rd??"
Lesson #5: - If you expand your event, make sure you proportionately increase your volunteer base. In 1997, we hosted 53 private work site registration centers, ran three public registration sites, and registered over 800 bicycle commuters. It was a fulfilling process and extremely satisfying to surpass our original rider goal (200), but by May 31st, as food / beverage coordinator, I would have sworn that I PERSONALLY delivered enough bagels and coffee throughout the city to feed the entire free world. In a nutshell, all areas needed more help to carry off this event.
This year, we aimed to recruit 100 worksite registration, host public registration sites at most Madison area bicycle shops, and register over 2000 bicycle commuters. We beefed up our volunteer support base commensurately.
You can get involved with next year's Bike to Work Week, obtain official BTW downloadable materials, and find other commuting resources for cyclists by checking out the Bike to Work web site: http://www.tds.net/btw1/, calling us at (608) 251-4456, or sending email to btw1@mail.tds.net. ¡Viva la Velorución!
| Planning for Bicycles |
MR. SMITH GOES TO WisDOT
by Steve Halmo
Bay View Bicycle Club
On Wednesday, April 8, 1998, the Bay View to Downtown Milwaukee Bikeway Study - Advisory Group Meeting #5 took place at the WisDot's Monitor Traffic Operation Center in Milwaukee.
WisDOT's Michael Maierle presented a slide show summarizing the work that had been done to date on the study. The focus of the meeting was on the Hoan Bridge alternative. Mr. Maierle presented a number of graphics from a traffic modeling analysis on the Hoan Bridge, forecasting traffic impacts to the year 2015 and 2020. By then traffic would be rated E, which means converting your vehicle to a non-transportation use, such as a planter when on the Hoan Bridge.
Bureaucrats: Bicycles Will Bankrupt Us!
Jacki Lawton, of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) had concerns about the Hoan Bridge alternative citing traffic impacts, estimate of ridership, safety and benefit-cost analysis. Maureen Murphy, from Milwaukee County Executive's office, again stated that "the Milwaukee County Executive is opposed to a Hoan Bridge bike path for safety and cost reasons". The Port of Milwaukee indicated that they would be opposed to an alternative that reduces capacity or removes the interstate designation. Also, the traffic impact on the Hoan Bridge due to the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange in 2005 was raised. This graphic indicated a spike in the gentle upward curve, moving towards an E and we know what that means.
Jimmy Stewart Rode a Bike
Okay, and so, "in this corner", or so it seemed to me as I sat there representing the Bay View Bicycle Club, at least "our" side had popular support in Bay View for a Hoan Bridge bike path. Boy, this has all the makings of a Frank Capra movie. But wait, another alternative had been formulated by WisDot: A modification of the Hoan Bridge alternative which addressed some of the traffic concerns. This alternative would place a bike path on the Hoan Bridge in 2001; exactly one year after the Lake Parkway was open and operating. The bike path would have a temporary designation and could be removed (the bikeway, not the designation) in the year 2015 or when the traffic impacts started to occur. This Hoan Bridge alternative would be combined with the 2nd Street Route. Also this alternative would close the Hoan Bridge path during the winter months. Hmmm, well maybe Frank was involved in some way after all.
So now what? WisDot will hold meetings with FHWA, other WisDot District management types and then follow-up with the City and County. The Advisory Committee will become involved again when the Phase 2 design phase of the study begins. Sounds like a happy ending right!? Well actually I think this is more of a Quintin Tarantino story line than a Frank Capra script. The Hoan Bridge alternative is barely hanging on (so it is imperative that we continue to get support from the biking community for this project). The temporary bike path designation could very well mean a no bike path designation. This plan will need an implementation strategy in order for it to become viable. As you know, there is a lot of heavy weight opposition to the Hoan Bridge bike path, so the folks at the FHWA, WisDot, Port of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County need to have their concerns addressed. But at the same time, these folks should not just dismiss the Hoan Bridge bike path out of hand. The popular support for this plan is real. If you support the Hoan Bridge bike path, please let us know.
Steve is a member of the Bay View to Downtown Milwaukee Bikeway Study Advisory Group, and can be reached at: c/o Bay View Bicycle Club, P.O. Box 7455, Milwaukee, WI 53207 or halmo@execpc.com.
by Steve Barney
Oshkosh Bus/Bike Advocate
It was all too easy with the help of the BFW. If the City of Oshkosh is any indication, it should by quite easy to persuade your city bus system to give a bus bike rack a try, too. The key to the final approval of a June bus bike rack trial run in Oshkosh was the BFW's offer to provide one rack for one month free of charge, not to mention a federal grant which pays 80% of the full program cost (as opposed to the trial run cost). That offer neatly removed what was the one and only obstacle which has to be overcome by the Oshkosh Transit Advisory Board and Oshkosh Transit System (OTS) Director, Mark Huddleston., in order to go ahead and give it a try.
Initially, the OTS Advisory Board approved the proposal to do a trial run with one bus bike rack, and then requested the funds to purchase the rack. The funds were to come from the bicycle fund, which is under the control of another city advisory board, namely the Parks Advisory Board. Therefore, the trial run was subject to the approval of a second level of bureaucracy.
On to Plan B
As fate would have it, neither myself, the OTS Director, nor any others who had supported the measure earlier were able to attend and provide information nor persuasive influence at the parks board meeting. Lo and behold, with none of us present, the funding request was not approved.
That is the story of how Plan-A failed. Now on to Plan-B. Wait a minute. 'Plan-B'? What Plan-B? OK, Plan-B wasn't so much of a 'plan' as a matter of simple persistence. (Around these parts, I am rather famous, or infamous, for my persistence.) All that I did, actually, was keep moving to figure out what had gone wrong, and what to do next.
BFW To the Rescue!
The big break came, shortly, when I received an e-mail message which
from Michael Barrett, Executive Editor of BFW's Wisconsin Bicyclist
Subsequently, I read that the BFW had donated the use of the bus bike rack which Green Bay was using for the month of May. Now I was excited. My problem was solved! We don't need the approval of a second level of bureaucracy after all. All I had to do now was to forward this information to Mark Huddleston, the OTS Director, and give him a quick briefing on it. Mark immediately saw the light and called the BFW. This was just hours before the Transit Advisory Board's next meeting.
Then, at the meeting, Mark explained that, thanks to the generosity of the BFW, the trial run is set to go in the month of June - no purchase necessary. Next, we rolled the video, I presented a brief case for the study, and voila! - the board unanimously approved the proposed bus bike rack trial run - again. This time, the transit board's approval was final. Since no funds were needed, no more bureaucracy run-around was called for. For this success, I give thanks to the BFW.
Info: Oshkosh Transit Service (920) 232-5340, or myself (920) 235-4887, e-mail: barnes99@uwosh.edu.
by Peter Flucke
BFW Board Member
For the month of May, Bicycle and Transit Month, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Green Bay Transit (GBT) and Sportworks have teamed up to experiment with a Sportworks Bike-Rack-For-Buses on bus # 951. The "Bicycle Bus" (as Tim Collins - Green Bay Transit Director - calls it) will circulate between routes in the Green Bay system giving both bicyclists and bus drivers a chance to put the rack through its paces.
The rack is attached to the front of the bus and can hold two bicycles. Bicyclists will like easy operation and the fact that the rack is designed to hold the bicycle without touching any metal parts. Bikes are held in place by means of a guide for the wheels and a support arm which is extended over the front wheel of almost any size bike holding it securely in place. Loading time varies between 10 and 15 seconds.
There are currently no plans in place to equip all GBT buses with bicycle racks. But if this does occur, both bicyclists and transit officials can expect to benefit.
Bicyclists:
Transit would likely experience an increase in ridership. The bus system in Duluth, which has been equipped with bicycle racks for several years, transported 7000 bicycles last year according to Tom Elwell of the Duluth Transit Authority. La Crosse Transit is equipping all of their buses with racks.
Funding is available from the federal government to cover up to 80% of the cost of equipping buses with racks. Local advocates hope to be able to raise all or some of the additional 20% for GBT. Each rack costs approximately $400.
For more information on the GBT "Bicycle Bus" contact BFW Board Member, Peter Flucke at (920) 497-3196 or GBT at (920) 448-3450.
by Gary Sanderson
BFW Board Member
Have you every tried riding a penny-farthing bicycle? For those who haven't heard the term before, a penny-farthing bicycle is an "ordinary" or a "hi-wheel" bicycle from the 1880's. Well, my wife and I spend 19 hours on airplanes in February 1998 to get to the Village of Evandale in Tasmania, Australia for the Evandale Village Fair and National Penn-Farthing Bicycle Races. Sixty-two people came to Evandale to participate in these races including five from the United States. And the competition was fierce. There were slow races and slalom races that were hotly contested and very exciting.
The first big race was a free-for-all mile down the main runway at the Launceston Airport (only about two miles from Evandale) on Friday, Feb. 20. All air traffic was stopped for 30 minutes so that the race could take place. The race course was straight and there was a 20 MPH tailwind to speed the ride. The airport fire tricks were on the finish line pumping water in an arch over the heads of the riders as they came across the finish line. This was certainly an experience of a lifetime.
Saturday, Feb. 21, was a race day from 9:00am until 3:00pm. The main streets of Evandale were blocked to automobile traffic, and all corners on the race route were padded with stacks of baled straw. Races were run continuously all day long ending up with the fastest racer overall being named the Australian National Champion of Penny-Farthing Racing. The honor of being National Champion went to Steve Passlow of Western Australia which was well deserved considering the very strong competition that at least 20 other riders furnished. Hopefully, the picture accompanying this report will convey some of the excitement of these races. It is noteworthy that several hundred people traveled to Evandale for the day, and paid an admission, to view the races and to enjoy the Village Fair.
There was a 30 mile road race on Sunday, Feb. 22, which took all riders to Clarendon Estate about 10 miles out of town. Clarendon Estate is a grand old house that goes back to the early days of European settlement of Tasmania in the 18th Century when most hard labor was performed by prisoners from England (virtual slaves of the colonists in this part of the world). The "social riders" took a short direct route to the finish line so everyone ended up at the grand finale of this penny-farthing bicycle race weekend. The end consisted of a picnic, an award ceremony, and much picture taking.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Penn-Farthing Bicycle Races in Evandale is the seriousness of the riders and the nature of the machines. The racers ranged in age from teenagers (a 17 year old won one of the major races) to seniors over 60 years old. And some of the best times were achieved by women riders. These racers had trained for these races, and they wore modern bicycle clothing suitable for racing. As for the machines, they all had the geometry of the antique penny-farthing bicycles, but most of them were relatively new machines constructed with modern materials and precision bearings: They were built to race. In fact, this situation does mimic the situation that would have been encountered in the 1880's since the 1880's was a time when bicycle racing was a most important national pastime, and the bicycle manufacturers were regularly refining their machines to make the lighter, stronger, and faster.
It is interesting to reflect on the situation found in Australia and to compare this situation to that of the United States. In the United States, the emphasis is on collecting, restoring, and showing (parades, etc.) antique bicycles. Some high-wheel bicycle riders in this country are interested in long distance riding, but there is almost no racing in the USA. Also, the emphasis is on genuine antique bicycles with "reproduction machines" being viewed as being somewhat inferior.
Having experienced the situation in both Australia and the United States, I vote for a move towards the Australian way. This provides an opportunity for more people to participate (after all, there are a limited number of authentic antique penny-farthing bicycles around,) and the excitement of the races is appreciated by more people. We had so much fun that we will probably go back to Tasmania for the Penny-Farthing Races next year.
 |
| The Wisconsin Bicyclist |
|
Wisconsin Bicyclist is published four times per year by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
| Executive Editor | Michael Barrett |
| Copy Editor | Michael Barrett, Tracy Zafian |
| Layout Editor | Victoria Horn |
| Production Manager | Help Wanted! |
| Circulation Manager | Robbie Webber |
| Ad Sales | Jeanne Hoffman |
| Graphics | Victoria Horn |
| Contributors | Peter Blommer, Angela Graf, Amy Kinast, Gary Schultz, Joyce Harms, Tracy Zafian, Jennifer Zahn, Steve Halmo, Steve Barney, Gary Sanderson, Peter Flucke, Tom Huber, Paul Lata, Cathy J. Van Maren |
Submission Guidlines: Wisconsin Bicyclist welcomes your opinions, news, features, artwork, and photograph submissions. Editorials should be no more than 300 words. News, and feature stories should not exceed 600 words. Please submit text on disk or email (we have no paid typists on staff). Please include name, phone number, and address. We reserve the right to edit or reject all submisions.
Mail to:
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
104 King Street, Ste. 204
P. O. Box 1224
Madison, WI 53701
E-mail: bfw@mailbag.com
Phone: (608) 251-4456
Deadlines:
Springforth: March
Summertime: June
DogDays: August
FallColors: October
Board of Directors Michael Barrett Madison Peter Flucke Green Bay Angela Graf Madison Dan Herber La Crosse Chris Kegel Milwaukee Paul Lata Marinette Arthur Ross Madison Gary Sanderson Milwaukee Richard Schwinn Waterford Tracy Zafian La Crosse
BFW Members Get 10% Off* at These (WAY) Cool Businesses
Bike Shop City Adventure Cycle and Fitness Green Bay Adventure Cycle and Fitness DePere Appleton Bicycle Shop Appleton Bahnhof Sport Mequon Bikesmiths Milwaukee Blakley Hobbit B&B Viola BMX Megastore Madison Bodin's On the Lake Ashland Brookfield Ski & Cycle Brookfield Budget Bicycle Center Madison Competition Cycle Services Sheboygan Falls Connors Bed and Breakfast Cable Cycle Smiths, The Hartland Dyckesville Cycle Luxemburg Emery's Cyclery Milwaukee Emery's Cyclery II Menomonee Falls Fox River Sports & Spas Waukesha Free Flight Bikes Platteville Haack's Cycle Janesville Haack's Cycle Madison In Competition Green Bay Jammer Sports Wausau J.B. Cycle & Sport Green Bay KettleBrookFarm B&B New Prospect Marinette Cycle Center Marinette Maximum Performance Neenah Maxson's Inc. Eagle River Michael's Cyclery Madison Michael's Cycles Janesville Milhaupt's Bicycle Mart Appleton Mokros Cycle Waukesha Parkview General Store Campbellsport Perkins Sports Inc. Marshfield Quiet Hut Sports Whitewater Quiet Woods B & B Mazomanie Riverside Bike & Skate Eau Claire Riverside Bike & Skate Menomonie Rainbow Jersey Bicycle Shop Milwaukee Scotty's Bike Rental & Sales Tomahawk Smith's Bicycle Shop Inc. LaCrosse Stoton Cycle Stoughton Sun City Cyclery Sun Prairie Superior Sport & Bike Superior Swan Song Bed & Breakfast Tomahawk Team Sports Waukesha Trek Bicycle Store Madison Wandering Wheels Cyclery Milwaukee Wares Cycle Fitness Milwaukee Wheel & Sprocket Milwaukee Wheel & Sprocket South Milwaukee Wheel & Sprocket Hales Corners Wheel & Sprocket Milwaukee Wheel & Sprocket Delafield Wheel & Sprocket Glendale White River Cycle Iron River Williamson Bicycle Works Madison
Discount available with your Official BFW Membership card. If the bike shops in your area are not on this list, ask them to sign up! *Some restrictions apply.
| Back to BFW |