Volume 5, No. 2
Summertime, 1999
Newsletter of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin BicyclistVolume 5, No. 2Summertime, 1999Newsletter of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. |
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Here is Vol. 5, No. 1, of Wisconsin Bicyclist (Springforth, 1999).
Thanks to 90 work site coordinators at 80 businesses, 35 generous sponsors, dozens of volunteers, and months of preparation, Madison's Bike to Work Week 1999 was a huge success, building on the solid growth of past years.
"Do
Not Be Alarmed, This is Only a Parade!"
The week was kicked off with a colorful and photogenic Art Bikes Parade on Saturday May 22 during the Farmer's Market. The Red Bikes were there, marking the beginning of Madison's free bikes program for the year. Other innovative bikes were the Jungle Bike, Road Rage Bike, Shower Bike, Glitter Bike, and Music Box Bike. Tandems, commuter, mountain, road, big, small, and tall bikes all were on display.
The Big Cheese on Bikes
Monday dawned cold and windy. However this
did not deter the VIP's from attending Bagels With the Big Cheese on the Capitol
Square. Mayor Sue Bauman, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Sheriff Gary
Hamblin, State Rep Spencer Black, as well as representatives from statewide
non-profits spoke of the joys and benefits of biking to work. 
Even Governor Thompson rode (center-right) in from the governor's mansion. His escorts included BFW Executive Director Jeanne Hoffman, BFW board members Michael Barrett and Arthur Ross, Northwoods to Capitol tour directors Kathy Thompson and Eric Schramm and Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine(!), Jeffrey Miller.
Later in the morning, local advocates sat down with the mayor to stress the importance of maintaining Madison as a bikable community. Business owners spoke of how bike access was important in recruiting and retaining employees. Health care representatives emphasized that biking is a great way to work moderate exercise into an adult¹s busy day and a way to battle childhood obesity. A Department of Natural Resources Air Quality specialist was on hand to explain that air quality could be improved if fewer cars were on the road every day. Each of the fifteen participants, attempted to explain to the mayor that many new residential, commercial, and retail developments are far from ideal for biking and walking. Results are pending....
The Commuter Cup
Tuesday's Commuter Race - bike vs. car vs. bus - resulted in yet another bicycling victory. All commuters traveled four miles during morning rush hour, obeyed all traffic laws (including speed limits and stop signs), and parked their vehicles legally. The bikes arrived four minutes before the first driver who arrived three minutes before the first bus rider. The big difference, of course is that the cyclists did not have to pay for parking, and got a bit of exercise along the way!
UbiquicycleWednesday encouraged everyone to Bike Everywhere. Businesses gave discounts to those arriving by bike, and participants enjoyed doing shopping, socializing, short trips, and errands on two wheels.
An Academic ExerciseThursday was Bike to School Day. Three middle schools actively encouraged students to ride to school with special programs, prize drawings, safety classes, and other group rides. UW-Madison also had campus registration and tune-ups on Thursday. Although many undergrads are gone, the faculty, staff, and year-round students appreciate not having to drive or pay for parking in the campus area.
Party on, Garth!Friday we finally got to party! A festive spirit prevailed at Olin-Turville Park on Lake Monona. Music, free pizza and beer, drawings for prizes, bike valet parking, displays of art and vintage bikes, a silent auction, and free tune-ups - not to mention a beautiful day - added up to a superb celebration of bicycle commuting.
Information on Bike to Work Week and bicycle commuting in general can be found on our web page at http://www.btww.org, or bfw@mailbag.com or (608)251-4456. Maybe you can get a bicycle commute celebration going in your community!.
Robbie, aka 'The World Wide Webber,' is currently perigrinating about the state, hawking Wisconsin Bicycle Maps at local bike shops, book stores and other retail outlets.On Saturday, May 15 the La Crosse Area Planning Committee held its third annual Bicycle/Pedestrian Fair. The fair was held in conjunction with Bike to Work Week and focused on alternate modes of transportation for local commuters.
There were numerous booths and demonstration focusing on recreational and commuter bicycling issues. Bikes Limited, Smith's Cycling and Fitness, Buzz's Bike Shop, and Valley Ski and Bike gave free tune-ups and safety checks to area bicyclists. Smith's Cycling and Fitness also brought their 8 person bicycle to the fair. The La Crosse Police Department held a mini-bike rodeo for kids.
In conjunction with promoting and raising awareness levels for bicycle commuting, Dan Herber of the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility (MTU), held classes on how to attach a bike to MTU buses as a part of their bikes on buses program. This program allows bike commuters to use buses for part of their commute if they have long distances to travel or only want to ride one way.
The fair was made possible by a number of key sponsors in the La Crosse area who also had booths at the fair. These sponsors included the local bike shops, La Crosse Premium Water, the La Crosse Tribune, the Livable Neighborhoods Association, the La Crosse Wheelmen who are sponsoring three local bike tours this summer and fall, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, and local radio station WKBH which broadcasts live from the event.
The La Crosse Area Planning Committee's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is already planning for next year¹s Bicycle/Pedestrian Fair. The committee is looking into possibly combining the event with another local bike event and including bike tours and races. Overall the third annual La Crosse area Bike/Ped fair was successful in spreading the word on bike safety, alternate modes of commuting, and the wide range of recreational biking opportunities available in the Coulee Region.
Matt Anderson is the Transportation Planner for the La Crosse Area Planning Committee and has been seen bicycling to work.
Bicycle racing has existed for more than 100 years. Men and women at the turn of the century would gather for impromptu "gentleman's races" in city parks on Sunday afternoons. The thrill of racing seems to have been programmed into our psyche. The training, preparation, travel and high-charge pace triggers a certain unexplainable euphoria. Man¹s competitive nature is healthy, and the camaraderie gained from training and racing with teammates is priceless.
But, getting started can be a challenge, and in some cases, somewhat daunting. Local clubs or pro bike shops are the best place to find out where the action is. Plenty of bike shops have at least two or three racer heads on staff to educate you on the finer points of racing: what equipment works best, what training routes to take, and sometimes, a list of racers in your area to contact for group rides.
Often, racing clubs have sponsored teams for road and off-road racing, including track and cyclo-cross. The hierarchy of road, track and cyclo-cross racing is categorized by experience, broken down from least to most: Cat. 4/5, Cat. 3, Cat. 2, Cat. 1, and professional. Off-road racing is broken down as follows: Beginner, Sport, Comp, Expert and professional. Club dues are about $40 a year, with an additional $35 license fee due to USA Cycling, the governing body of racing based in Colorado Springs, CO. This usually gets you a team jersey and shorts. Each race has an entry fee which varies from $12 - $25, depending on your category. Most times, cash prizes are awarded to the top five, 10 or 20 finishers. Medals, clothing, or food are sometimes handed out to the winners.
The amateur team structure consists of a
manager (who also races), and anywhere from three to 23 racers. If a manager
is well-connected, teammates can receive equipment or cash in return for placement
on the jersey and/or shorts. It is important to understand that the professionals
we read about in the bike magazines get paid to race because racing is their
full-time job. They don't make a lot ($15,000-$60,000) compared to the average
Joe Weekend Warrior, and between a rigorous training and travel schedule, don¹t
lead glamorous lives. The life of a professional cyclist is no different than
a traveling salesperson; a different hotel each week, plenty of driving and
(in the case of high-level professionals) too much airport hopping.
Racing at the amateur level is really no different than what our forefathers (and mothers) participated in 100 years ago. Most races are held on the weekends, as families gather in county parks and downtown squares for a thrilling day of racing and socializing. Mountain bike and cyclo-cross racing is getting very popular, so your race menu is growing.
If racing is in your blood, find someone in your town with experience and ask them for some friendly advice. Riding solo is sometimes a bummer, and group rides are always a blast. The pace will be fast, but in time you¹ll catch on to the nuances. Before you know it, you¹ll be the one doling out advice to the next novice racer.
Gary is the Global Communications Director for Airborne Cycles in Madison (www.airborne.net). He thinks racing is cool, but isn't very fast. You can catch him at garyb@airborne.net.
by Jeanne Hoffman, Executive Director
On the Capitol Square
The Joint Finance Committee passed the state's transportation budget out of committee. It will now move to the floor of the assembly and senate. The JFC's budget includes $1.3 million in pork projects from the Transportation Enhancements fund. These projects include the Richard I. Bong Air Museum in Superior, the Flambeau River Recreation Bridge in Park Falls, and the Little Lake Butte des Morts Trestle Trail Causeway in Menasha. These projects bypass the normal application process for these funds. The public review process is good, rigorous and fair. Bypassing the public review process sets a bad precedent. Hence, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin cannot support these projects. BFW is committed towards funding good bicycle projects and not projects that are funded through backdoor maneuverings.
JFC also created a Milwaukee Lakeshore Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Grant for $2 million. WisDOT will make grants to the DNR until June 30, 2002 for the construction of bike and pedestrian facilities in conjunction with the establishment of a Milwaukee lakeshore state park. Finally, JCF inserted a $2.1 million federal CMAQ grant for the Kinnickinnic River Bike Trail in Milwaukee.
Toward a More Bikeable EnvironmentAs things are shaping up Wisconsin will get a new Scenic Byways Program. WisDOT would be required to develop, implement, and administer a program to designate highways or portions of highways in the state that have outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, or archaeological qualities as scenic byways. The state can then seek federal designation as a scenic byway. Federal discretionary grants could then fund the program. Federal scenic byway grants cover up to 80% of the cost of projects such as safety improvements, construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, rest areas, overlooks, passing lanes, and marketing programs.
Finally, JFC's budget included a million dollar grant program for planning. Of course wrangling continues. For instance, the Republican caucus wants to delete the $1 million for local transportation planning. The caucus also wants to restrict highway related land conservation purchases.
Mayor Norquist, Milwaukee Needs a Bike Coordinator! BFW recently met with Mayor John Norquist.
In the follow-up letter to the meeting, BFW wrote, "As a transportation choice,
bicycling has a lot to offer... The City of Milwaukee states this in the city¹s
plan for bicycling. 'The City of Milwaukee is serious about the bicycle as a
means of transportation...' ... In order to have a comprehensive bicycling system,
no one component is better than the other, all must be pursued to the fullest
extent possible...'
"The first objective in the City's Bike Plan is to institutionalize bicycle
transportation... The plan reads "The Bicycle Milwaukee plan is founded on the
premise of assertive, coordinated municipal action. A permanent, full-time bicycle
coordinator is necessary to fulfill this premise and to address the bicycling
needs of a community of over 600,000 people...' ³ "I strongly encourage the
City of Milwaukee,...to actively pursue options for establishing a full-time
bicycle coordinator."
In another letter, BFW wrote of the need to accommodate bicycles on Lincoln Memorial Drive.
As per my usual plea, these good things will not happen for bicycling without an active membership. Please write those letters to your legislators and in the case of the Milwaukee issues, write to the Mayor and your alder!
The State Bicycle Plan is being distributed to local governments and the public. Meetings will be held with District DOT offices this summer to review the plan and to help explain our role in implementing it.
Results of a Statewide Bicycle Use Survey which was conducted in October of 1998 and continued in May of this year will be available soon. The survey is intended to establish a baseline count of bicycle trips in the state. This will provide a yardstick for measuring the success of the plan. The ultimate goal is to double bicycle use.
The popular WisDOT Bicycle Planning Guidelines will soon undergo an update. New features include chapters on rural bicycle planning and bikeway design. If you are aware of any good Wisconsin planning and design bikeway practices (state or local) to be featured in these guides, please let me know.
We are interested in photos of Wisconsin bikeway facilities for this guide. I have seen some nice bikeway examples (for instance, bike lanes in DePere with a nice treatment over railroad tracks), but all to often have forgotten to bring my camera!*¿#*!
Wisconsin is on track to double its spending of Transportation Enhancement funding. A state highway system version of the popular local enhancement program will begin this year. Following increases in federal funds from the new TEA-21 legislation, WisDOT began an initiative to spend $6.25 million per year on a State
Enhancement program (a similar amount is spent on the local enhancements program). It is anticipated that a large share of these funds will go to bicycle projects throughout the state and the new Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan will be used to help identify key projects. Bicycle projects will be 'over and above' what WisDOT typically does on state highway projects.
Tom, WisDOT's bicycling lone ranger, can be reached at (608)267-7757 or thomas.huber@dot.state.wi.us.
Your assistance is sought as District 2 continues to include bike accommodations as part of our roadway improvement process. As part of the construction process, the state Department of Transportation conducts 'scoping' meetings to ensure that everything related to a transportation project is discussed form the start. This includes discussion of bicycle accommodations. Currently the department attempts to gather information on bicycle accommodations prior to the scoping meetings. To improve the process in District 2, the department is looking for bicyclists in southeastern Wisconsin who would like to know when road improvement projects are scheduled in certain counties. This is a chance to have your voice heard.
When a scoping meeting is scheduled for a roadway improvement project in a particular county, District 2 will send an e-mail message to interested bicyclists requesting information for suggestions on bicycle accommodations. District 2 will take the information you give him to the scoping meetings as part of the discussion on bicycle accommodations. This is another way in which the department is improving our roadways so that the bicycle accommodations will better meet the future needs of areas bicyclists. Bicyclists in the following counties,
Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington or Waukesha, can e-mail WisDOT¹s Gary Schultz at gary.schultz@dot.state.wi.us, or call (414) 548-8794 and let him know of your interest.
Gary is the bike/ped planner at WisDOT District 2 (Milwaukee).
On 22 June 1999, Madison's Ped/Bike/Motor Vehicle Commission considered a proposed four-lane expansion of Old Sauk Rd. This road happens to be a favorite escape route for Madison cyclists. It is also the last non-four lane route leading directly west into the wonderful cycling of the Driftless area.
Despite scheduling shenanigans and City of Madison Engineering staff¹s slick presentation, a coalition of bicycle transportation advocates and other environmental groups presented a united front and were able to convince commissioners that a four-lane expansion of this road is not appropriate.
Commissioners Jesse Kaysen and Mark Shahan provided insightful and inspiring comments on behalf of pedestrians and cyclists which could not be ignored or refuted.
Aldermen Ken Golden and Steve Holtzman characterized those in opposition to the expansion (particularly Bicycle Transportation Alliance of Dane County and 'those bicyclists') as anti-growth and anti-development.
Bicyclists speaking against the expansion actually never expressed 'anti-growth' sentiments. Rather, there was expressed opposition to willy-nilly growth and poorly-planned, anti-pedestrian, anti-bike development.
The next step is the approval/disapproval by the Board of Public Works. Then the Old Sauk project goes before the full City Council.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance of Dane County is stepping up its ongoing campaign for an improved two-lane Old Sauk with bike lanes.
BTA strongly encourages Madison cyclists to contact their alder on this issue
Pam, a Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer, recently lectured the mayor of Madison on the deleterious effects of automobile-centric development on the health of children and adults.
Another hurdle was cleared for the proposed 13.9-mile Fox River Trail on Wednesday, May 19th, when the Brown County Board voted 20-4 to approve a development and use plan for the former railbed. According to the plan, the trail will be:
While several members of the local bicycling community were present, it was the in-line skaters and disabled wheelchair users who carried the day. Some of the most forceful testimony came from wheelchair racer Joe Counard, 15, of Bellevue. He argued for an asphalt trail, saying it would provide a safer alternative than the streets. Joe stated, "I want it to be blacktopped because if I don't have someplace to go work out away from the cars, it makes the chance of me getting hit a second time that much greater."
Progress on the acquisition of the rail corridor continues at the state level. Wisconsin Central Ltd. and the Wisconsin DNR entered into a preliminary transfer agreement in January. This agreement is expected to be approved by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board at their next meeting which will take place June 30th at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha. Following approval by the Natural Resources Board, the trail will head to the State Legislature¹s Joint Finance Committee for stewardship funding. Once this is achieved, the acquisition will be complete and development of the trail may proceed. Completion is expected by late Fall 1999. Info: Sean Ryan (920) 405-8109.
Sean is the Political Director of the Bay Shore Bicycle Club.
I had an experience the other day that reinforces my belief that many of us think it¹s tougher than it really is to sell people on vehicular cycling. I brought my bike to my 25th college reunion, figuring I'd skip the softball game and see some of the countryside in the Philadelphia suburbs. I asked a few cycling friends if they¹d brought bikes, and finally got linked up with someone.
My riding companion was a 47-year-old lady who had been riding less than a year. A friend sold her a used Fuji Roubaix. She has clip-in shoes that she's not completely adroit with yet. She mostly rides alone near her home in rural Vermont, and hopes to do a century this year. Like most folks, she'd never heard of Effective Cycling or the body of knowledge Effective Cycling trained folks know so well. Her name is Patty. Patty was fit enough to ride as fast as I felt like riding that day‹no problem there. Her bike handling was about what you'd want from someone about to take a Road I class‹plenty of room for improvement, but she had some of the basics down.
Neither of us was in the mood for a sky-police lecture, so I tried to be subtle in my teaching. Mostly, I demonstrated good signaling and lane positioning, and I (correctly) figured she'd be impressed at how a well-signaled left turn got us through a busy intersection quickly and easily. Another time, I showed how dismounting and walking was indeed the fastest and safest way to handle a particularly brutal left turn on a multi lane highway. (High traffic count and no left turn lane, folks.) She got curious and started asking and I told her about EC and maximum performance braking and instant turns and all this stuff, and she wants to know more.
For me, the piece of resistance, or however the French say it, came when we big-chainringed a mile-long stretch of busy two-lane highway. It's a typical old Pennsylvania highway ‹ 10-foot lanes, constant overtaking and oncoming 40 or 45 mph traffic, no shoulder. I just picked a sensible lane position, rode steadily, and occasionally glanced rearward to make sure Patty was following‹which she was. As always, I ignored the overtaking traffic. It took care of itself. The road¹s two positive features: it¹s a very slight downhill, and it's tree-shaded.
When we finally turned (left, of course) off that stretch onto a quiet road, and resumed side-by-side positioning, Patty said to me, "That was nice." She liked the downhill and shade, and had, like me, ignored the overtaking traffic.
Now that was a victory. Most of us think only die-hards would ever call a road like that 'nice.' But this complete novice thought so. All she needed was to follow someone carving a straight path and showing off some self-confidence.
I¹ve always believed there are millions of people like Patty. We just have to reach them.
No one ever really expects to be involved in a serious bicycle or pedestrian crash. But,if you or someone you know ever is, you will want to have a crash reconstructionist professional on your side.
Bicycle and pedestrian crash reconstruction is a sometimes gory but fascinating and necessary business.
Ask most police officers who is most likely to be at fault in a bicycle versus motor vehicle crash and more often than not the answer will be, 'the bicyclist.'
However, we know from crash statistics that, at least in the case of adult bicyclists, this is not true. The crash is usually the fault of the motorist.
But, with most police officers already assigning the blame for the crash to the bicyclist who will stand up for the bicyclist's rights? There is a highly specialized field within law enforcement called crash reconstruction. It is the job of crash reconstructionists to put the pieces of a crash back together to determine what really happened.
If you were not at fault in a crash, a well trained crash reconstructionist can be your best friend. However, as with many aspects of bicycling, a lack of bicycle specific training often deprives the bicyclist of his or her rights.
Bicycle and pedestrian crash reconstruction is a specialty within a specialty. For this reason WisDOT-Bureau of Transportation Safety, BFW, the Madison Police Department - Traffic Enforcement Safety Team and WE BIKE® co-sponsored a Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Reconstruction Workshop June 14-16 at the Madison Police Department. Twenty officers from around the state participated in this course.
The course was lead by Bobby Jones, assistant Chief with the Knox County, Tennessee Sheriff¹s Department. Officer Jones is a nationally respected crash reconstructionist. He is also a Police Cyclist Instructor with the International Police Mountain Bike Association and he specializes in bicycle and pedestrian crash reconstruction. He is truly one of the good guys. Throw away your stereotypes about cops. The equations and calculations that Officer Jones put these officers through put both me and my scientific calculator through our paces. Physics and mathematics do not lie.
If you are ever in need of someone trained specifically in bicycle or pedestrian crash reconstruction, contact BFW at (608)251-4456.
Peter used to be a cop up in the Land o¹ Lakes.
Milwaukee area cyclists will soon find it easier to get hazardous road conditions identified and repaired.
On June 29th WisDOT District 2 will be sponsoring two orientation sessions about the state¹s Road Hazard Identification Project.
The Road Hazard Identification Project is a system that municipalities and advocacy groups can use to facilitate the identification and repair of conditions such as potholes and unsafe drain grates which are hazardous to bicyclists. The system provides bicyclists with postcards which they can use to report road hazards needing repair. The system is supported by a computer program which tracks hazards from identification through repair.
The June 29th sessions are for organizations interested in finding out more about the project. On July 15th there will be a one day training session conducted on the actual implementation of the project. Attendance and materials are free. To find out more about the Road Hazard Identification Project contact District 2 Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Gary Schultz at (414) 548-8794.
The BFW Bicycle Newspaper Column is making quality bicycling information easier to get for bicyclists and wannabe bicyclists alike. Since April, articles on such topics as family bicycling, choosing the right bicycle for you and the benefits of bicycle commuting have been distributed to newspapers around the state.
Articles are targeted towards new and beginner bicyclists who may not have discovered other sources of quality bicycle information yet. It is hoped that this column will encourage more people to try bicycling and provide them with the information and encouragement that they need to continue riding.
Articles are provided free of charge to any newspaper in the state which would like to receive them. If your local newspaper is running this column, please let us know. Clip any articles you find and send them to BFW. If your local paper is not currently running the Bicycle Newspaper Column, have them contact WE BIKE at (920)497-3196, e-mail: webike@aol.com, or BFW. This project is being made possible by a WisDOT - Transportation Demand Management Grant.
Peter is President of WE BIKE®
According to "Environmental Marketing, Trend or Fad?" by GSD&M Advertising, "in the future, what a company stands for will be as important as what it sells." Support for bicycle commuting says to the public that a company is concerned about pollution, traffic congestion, energy use, overall public health, and the well-being of its employees.
Madison area employers now have a new tool to help them create programs that encourage employees to bicycle to work. By doing so, they can fuel employees¹ health and productivity while burnishing their corporate image.
Free! Parking for Free!M
Parking For Free: A Bicycle Commute Program Guide For Madison Area Employers is a 60-page handbook which provides employers with an easy, step-by-step protocol for designing and implementing a bicycle commute program specifically tailored to their business. It is based on lessons learned from the Madison Bicycle Commute Project, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Dane County Bicycle Association. Over the past year and a half, St. Mary¹s Hospital, Home Savings Bank, Alliant Energy and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) participated in the pilot project. Fill in the request for to download the Bicycle Commute Program Guide.
The handbook is loaded with useful materials for both administrators and employees. It contains ideas for incentives and promotional activities, sample transportation surveys and press releases, resource lists and facilities guidelines, and a stand-alone section that outlines the nuts-and-bolts of bicycle commuting.
While supplies last, Parking For Free is available free of charge to Madison area employers. Just call BFW at (608)251-4456. BFW also plans to adapt the handbook for statewide sale, and to make the current handbook available for download from its website.
Marcia, the world-renowned Bike to Work Week Czarina, is currently writing the great American novel on the banks of the Wisconsin River.
Getting StartedLaunching a successful bicycle commute program that¹s tailored to your business may seem daunting at first, but it is as easy as 1,2,3!
On June 1st, the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility (MTU) became the first transit system in the state to have a bikes on buses program. All MTU buses are now equipped with front-mounted bike racks, making it the only fleet in Wisconsin which integrates bicycle and transit modes of transportation.
MTU purchased 24 of the racks for use
on its buses. Additionally, 24 advertising frames which fit on the front
of each rack were purchased. Each rack and advertising frame cost approximately
$700.00. Eighty percent of the racks' costs were paid for by Federal transit
funds with the remaining 
local
share paid for by the City of La Crosse.
Supply & Demand
To bike and ride, rack users must possess a 'Bikes on MTU' permit. The bike permits were one of the main attractions at this year¹s La Crosse Area Bike and Pedestrian Fair held on May 15th. Due to overwhelming demand, MTU staff trained and permitted enthusiastic bicyclists for five straight hours (the Fair lasted only four hours).
Excited bicyclists aged 13 to 87 received 'hands-on' training in effective bike rack use. Noted bike permittees included La Crosse City Planner Larry Kirch, Bike Federation Executive Director Jeanne Hoffman, and MTU Board Member Charles Marx.
But Who Broke the Bottle of Champagne?
On June 18th, MTU officially launched the program with a press conference held outside La Crosse City Hall. Transit Manager Keith Carlson was joined by MTU Board President and La Crosse Mayor, John Medinger in a ribbon-tying ceremony in which a ribbon attached to a bicycle and a ribbon attached to an MTU bus were tied together to symbolize the creation of a multi-modal program.
The myriad of officials on hand for the ceremony included the following: City Finance Director, Director of Public Works, City Planner, City Engineer, City Council President, City Council Finance Chairman, and the mayor of neighboring - and MTU-served - La Crescent, MN. The event was well received by those attending including a number of media representatives. While still too soon to judge the long-term success of the program, MTU officials have seen weekly growth in both the number of permittees and bike rack use since the program¹s inception.
Dan Herber, an MTU transit manager, can be spied on La Crosse¹s many bike-friendly streets cruising around on his fancy trike. He claims that it is fast. But will it fit on an MTU rack?
Ten years ago, I proposed a broad initiative to protect the best of what remained of our state¹s natural lands and wildlife habitat. I made that proposal because development pressures were threatening the scenic beauty, biological diversity and outdoor recreational opportunities that make Wisconsin so special.
In 1989, my proposal - The Stewardship Fund - was passed by the Legislature with the support of environmental and conservation groups. My proposal authorizes spending $250 million during the 1990¹s to expand state parks and forests, protect natural areas and wildlife habitat and provide outdoor recreational opportunity. To date, almost 200,000 acres of the best of outdoor Wisconsin has been protected. Key accomplishments include purchase of the Turtle-Flambeau and Willow Flowages, expansion of the Kettle Moraine Forest and Devil's Lake State Park and protection of the Lower Wisconsin River. The Stewardship Fund has also enabled a large expansion of the state trail network including construction of the ³400², Chippewa River, and many other bike trails.
The future of the Stewardship Fund will be decided by the Legislature since Stewardship will be part of the state budget. Because I believe we should build on the success of the Stewardship Fund, I have proposed Stewardship 2000 to continue and expand Stewardship. My proposal would double the size of the Stewardship Fund to make sure that we protect the scenic beauty, biological diversity and outdoor recreation that makes Wisconsin so special. With land prices skyrocketing, increasing the funds in Stewardship is necessary just to maintain current purchasing power.
The strong economy has led to unprecedented development pressures. More than half of our original wetlands, 99 percent of our native prairies, and 60 percent of our hardwood forests are gone. Without Stewardship 2000, many natural areas that remain could be lost to development.
Unfortunately, the future of the Stewardship Fund is threatened by Governor Thompson's budget. Thompson's budget contains a cut in the purchasing power of the Stewardship Fund.
I have been working to convince the Legislature to disregard the Thompson cuts and to expand the Stewardship Fund. The good news is that the Joint Finance Committee (the Legislature¹s budget committee) recently voted to renew Stewardship and increase funding to $40.4 million per year. Now the budget goes to the full Legislature. Conservationists are fighting to further increase the Stewardship Fund.
Protecting our Wisconsin inheritance of natural beauty, abundant wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities is one of the wisest investments we can make. We need to make sure our kids have the same opportunity to enjoy the outdoors that we have had. We must renew our commitment to leaving a beautiful and biologically rich Wisconsin for future generations to enjoy by continuing and expanding the Stewardship Fund.
Representative Spencer Black is the author of the Stewardship Fund. He also is author of the Mining Moratorium and the Recycling Law.
I have commuted by bike to work for many
years now, and our City of Winnipeg is slowly becoming a bit more bicycle
friendly, so this can be done with increasing ease. Sure beats driving a
car! I think you folk are doing a great job in this paper, toward advocating
ways that we can all more enjoy cycling for work and play! Well done! With
kind regards,
Todd Sellick
WINNIPEG, CANADA
04/16/99
Entering our third year, Hostelling International¹s Madison Summer Hostel continues to provide strong support for bicyclists. Our already low rates are even lower for BFW members, who receive a 25% discount on overnight accommodations. Self-contained touring cyclists also receive this discount. Best of all, we are offering a 50% discount for riders on the cross-country Bike Aid tour and the cross-Wisconsin Northwoods to Capitol tour. With the 25% discount, a night at the hostel is some ridiculously low price like $12/night for a shared room (with at most one other person) and $23/night for a private room (for 1 or 2 people).
By the way, the hostel is located in the heart of Madison, a few blocks from the University of Wisconsin campus, State Street, and the State Capitol. All rooms have at most 2 beds and are air-conditioned to cool you off after bicycling into town. Call (608) 285-8750 or email madisonhostel@yahoo.com. We close on August 18, so come on in soon for a visit!
The Madison Summer Hostel is Stuart's brainchild. His brain is pregnant yet again with the idea of a year-round Hostel.
Executive Director, Jeanne Hoffman, and Board member, Joyce Harms represented the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin at a recent meeting in Milwaukee of state, county, and municipal agencies, businesses, and bike clubs in southeastern Wisconsin. Hosted by Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, the meeting provided a forum for commuter and pedestrian bicycling interests.
Initially, a meeting with the Mayor had been requested by the City of Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force, as a means to report on and coordinate efforts among various city agencies. At the Mayor¹s request, the meeting was broadened to include other parties with an interest in bicycle facility planning and/or maintenance, and promotion of bicycle riding in the metro area.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from the Department of Transportation, Milwaukee County Parks, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, City of Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force, Cream City Cycle Club, Emery¹s Cyclery, BayView Bicycle Club, Wheel and Sprocket, Citizens for a Better Environment, and City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.
Some of the ideas that surfaced during the meeting include the need for a bicycle pedestrian coordinator for the metro area, coordination of a metro Bike to Work Week, possible funding options for bike path maintenance, and approaching the Southeastern Municipal Executives group as a means to provide bicycle commuting coordination for the four-county area.
Though no meeting date was formally set, it is anticipated that the group will meet again in six to twelve months to provide follow-up on the ideas that resulted from the meeting.
Engineers at Strand Associates have started a two-year project to define the details of the Monona Drive reconstruction. There will be three or four "alternatives" mapped out in the first year. The second year will consist of obtaining new rights-of-way as identified in the first year's plans.
Design work will continue until 2003 and construction would start in 2006. Strand has submitted a proposal to Dane County authorities so the $7 million project can be factored into capital budgets, 80% of funding coming from the Feds. Strand¹s primary goal is to find a way to add turning lanes, but they are uncertain they can find enough right-of-way to make room for the lanes.
The most notable quote in a recent Wisconsin State Journal story came from Joan Peterson, an engineer with Strand:''...bike lanes could be eliminated from the design ... if the city wants the road wider." Yet another freeway dumping into city.
Madison's Isthmus does not bode well for other neighborhood arterials such as Atwood Avenue, Winnebago and First Street. Local bicycle transportation advocates fear that these too will face demands by transportation engineers for widening all the way to the new, widened E. Washington Avenue.
Individuals interested in supporting bike lanes on the Monona Drive project should contact Village of Monona Engineer Paul Kachelmeier at (608) 222-2525.
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