Recent Enhancement Grants are Good News for Bikers and Pedestrians

by David McCosh

Five cities in south-central Wisconsin recently won important Enhancement Grant funds for bike/ped facilities. The grants were announced in September by Governor McCallum. The grants originate in Federal funds administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The grant recipients, Waunakee, Janesville, Madison, Fort Atkinson, and Beloit all won funds for projects that were at the top of their "wish lists." In each of these cities, the planned trail project extends the local trail system by connecting existing bike/ped routes. Beloit's funding will be used for a .7-mile trail on the south side of the city that connects to the existing Riverwalk Trail, and will rehabilitate a 500-foot bridge across the Rock River. Fort Atkinson, after an unsuccessful application two years ago, won funding to reclaim an abandoned railroad corridor in the center of the city. The new trail will provide a crossing of the Rock River in the central part of the city. At the trail's south terminus, it will connect directly to the Glacial River Trail. Madison's funding grant for the "Missing Link" trail provides nearly $1.5 million to finance design and construction of this facility at the center of the City's's Isthmus. The east end of the trail will connect to the John Nolen Trail, near the Convention Center. At the west end, the "Missing Link" will join the popular Southwest Trail. This .94-mile trail will complete the City's off-street path system through the Isthmus. Janesville's grant will fund another railroad-corridor conversion in the southwest part of the town. Two segments, totalling 2.3 miles in length, will follow the east bank of the Rock River, passing under a large STH 11 bridge and joining a developing part of the City to the central areas. Finally, Waunakee received its grant to finance planning for a city-wide bike/ped system.

Oshkosh and Neenah Parents Surveyed

The Center for Community Partnerships at the University of WisconsinOshkosh is currently surveying parents residing in the Oshkosh and Neenah school districts to learn about their opinions about the safety of bicycling by their school-age children. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is funding this study. A final report is expected to be ready in early winter. Among the most important preliminary findings are: 1) over one third of parents agree that finding suitable transportation for their school-age children is a major source of stress in their families, and almost four in ten believe that this stress would be reduced if their children bicycled more frequently; 2) the majority of parents do not believe that either motorists or child bicyclists take proper precautions when traveling on the road; and 3) a majority of parents report receiving adequate information about instructing their child to wear a helmet while bicycling. However, most reported not receiving enough information to properly educate their kids about numerous aspects of bicycling where moving motor vehicles are present. Individuals interested in obtaining a final copy of the report or learning more about this study should contact Professor Matthew Birnbaum at birnbaum@uwosh.edu.

New Grant Promotes Bike Safety

In September the Bike Fed was awarded a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to run an 18-month program entitled "Businesses Embracing Bicycle Safety." The program will recruit five major employers in the Madison area to participate in a series of lunchtime brown bag talks, after work classes, after work and weekend rides, and planned training sessions that would teach bicycle safety lessons. Family and friends of employees would be encouraged to participate in order to increase dissemination of safety messages. Information would also be communicated to employees via company emails, bulletin boards, corporate websites, and internal newsletters. BFW will also help the employers determine ways to encourage bicycle commuting. BFW staff is currently working out arrangements with the employers and plans to start lectures and classes in the early spring of 2003.

BFW Teams with America Bikes

In late 2003, Congress will pass a new federal transportation funding bill. Bicyclists across the country are organizing to include in the bill a national Safe Routes to School program, to continue funding for trails and facilities, and to ensure that new roads are safe for bicyclists and pedestrians. America Bikes is a non-profit coalition focused on convincing Congress to include these provisions. America Bikes believes that a safe, efficient, and well-connected transportation system for bicycling is an integral part of healthy communities. BFW is teaming with America Bikes in order to flex our grassroots muscle. Other organizations joining the America Bikes cause include Adventure Cycling, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, the Bikes Belong Coalition, the International Mountain Biking Association, the League of American Bicyclists, the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and the Thunderhead Alliance. For more information on America Bikes, or on how you can help assure that the next federal transportation funding bill includes the needs of bicyclists, visit www.americabikes.org.

A Letter From the Board President

2002 has marked a number of changes for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (BFW).

• Orient and involve new Board members.
• Enhance the value of our strategic plan to guide our actions.
• Energize both the staff and the Board to move BFW forward.

1. Membership growth: Membership gives BFW clout to support the needs of cyclists around the state. It also provides increased financial support.
2. Grant Selection: Two-thirds of BFW's current revenues come from grants. In the past we have been reactive to the available sources of funding. Fortunately, the current projects help us work toward our objectives, but many high-impact projects go unfunded because they donât fit the requirements of government funding plans. Examples include operating funds for regional offices (such as our Milwaukee office), road project monitoring, grant writing, and organizational/ member needs evaluations.
3. Improvements to our web site: www.bfw.org. The web represents a tremendous resource to members, the Board, and staff as well and it helps to promote the BFW's advocacy and educational objectives.
4. Finance Development: Though our organization remains healthy, growth requires proper management and planning. We must be able to broaden our funding sources if we are to improve BFW's focus and effectiveness.
5. Official business at the Board retreat included:
   1. Approving the 2003 annual budget. Marjorie presented a conservative, but balanced budget.
   2. Lengthening the terms of directors from two years to three years. This will be implemented starting with the next elections or appointments.
   3. Forming a Program Planning Committee. This committee will oversee and prioritize grants as well as other program and advocacy activities. Jerry Specht and Matt Birnbaum will co-chair the committee.
   4. Forming a Fundraising Committee to assist in next year's Annual Appeal and to investigate the development of an endowment for BFW. Bob Downs will chair this committee. The annual appeal is BFW's largest single source of unrestricted funds. Right now it nets us about 6% of our annual budget. Growing this campaign can have a significant impact on how much we can do for cyclists around the state.

Happenings at the Bike Fed

• Advocacy
  • Marjorie attended the Governor's Bicycle Coordinating Council Meeting.
  • Marjorie, Chuck, Dave, and Robbie attended the ProBike/ProWalk National Conference in St. Paul. Robbie presented her work on the Co-Exist safety grant at the conference.
  • Marjorie and Dave attended the Thunderhead Alliance Retreat.
  • Marjorie, Chuck, and Robbie attended the BFW Board Retreat.
  • BFW staff met with staff from 1000 Friends of Wisconsin to talk about issues surrounding kids walking and biking to school.
  • Chuck attended a meeting with Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of Schools, and members of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, to discuss changing school siting guidelines to encourage neighborhood schools to which students can safely walk and bike.
  • Robbie met with representatives of the Wisconsin Departments of Public Instruction, Health and Family Services, and Transportation about encouraging bicycling to school and teaching bicycle safety in schools.
• Commuting
  • Marjorie and Dave attended the City of Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force meeting.
  • Marjorie contacted Dan Penzkover at WisDOT District 6 regarding bicycle access to the Interstate 94 St. Croix River Crossing during the redecking in 2004.
  • Chuck met with members of the Dane County Environmental Smart Growth Coalition and staff of UW-Madison's Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility to discuss plans for mapping areas of the county that could be developed versus areas that should be preserved, and how to create a sustainable transportation network for the whole.
  • Chuck attended meetings of the UW-Madison Bicycle & Pedestrian subcommittee of the UW's Transportation committee.
• Facilities
  • Marjorie attended a public meeting regarding restricting mountain bike access to Quarry Park in Madison.
  • Marjorie contacted Paul Vraney at WisDOT District 3 regarding future bicycle access to the US 41 Slough and Interstate Bridges over the Menominee River.
  • Marjorie communicated with Roger Holman of Waupaca County Parks; Kent Hager, New London City Administrator; Brigit Brown of DNR; Jeff Pagels of DNR; and Sue Kinde, formerly of Fox Cities Greenways, regarding negotiations between CN Railroad and DNR for abandoned railroad right of way between Scandinavia and Manawa.
  • Robbie and Chuck met with HNTB, consultants for the reconstruction of East Washington Avenue in Madison (scheduled to be rebuilt 2004-2009), about proposed bicycle facilities there.
  • Chuck gave a presentation on effective bike facility design at the State DOT conference on Context Sensitive Design.
  • Chuck met with Vandewalle & Associates, consultants for Madison's North Mendota Parkway Advisory Committee, to discuss the design of bike facilities in their recommendations.
  • Dave worked with Milwaukee DPW staff to mark locations for more bike racks
  • Dave attended the grand opening of the Ozaukee Inter Urban Trail with members of the Cream City Cycle Club and Bay view Bicycle Club
  • Dave is working with WisDOT district 2 to investigate the possibility of an exception to allow bicycles to ride on shoulders over the Hoan Bridge.
• Education
  • Bike Club for ages 10-13 held in Shorewood Hills. Five students took the 12-hour curriculum.
  • Road 1 class was held in Madison; 4 people learned vehicular cycling.
  • Annual League Cycling Instructor training held in Madison13 new LCIs trained.
  • BFW staff and local LCIs continue to teach classes in Dane County through mini-courses, community centers, health organizations, recreation programs, etc.
  • Robbie attended the annual conference of the Wisconsin Association of Health, PE, Recreation and Dance in Green Bay to talk about teaching bicycling in the schools.
  • Ali, in a joint effort with UW Transportation Services, held 3 Bike Tours for students on the UW-Madison campus, emphasizing safe riding techniques.
  • Dave is working with the Milwaukee Metro Mountain Bikers and Milwaukee County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Culture to develop legal mountain biking trails.
  • Dave is working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to start an urban cycling club.
  • Dave taught 85 Boy Scouts the ABC Quick Check and proper technique for locking bikes.
• Community Outreach
  • BFW volunteers provided "valet" bicycle parking at the Great Taste of the Midwest and the Madison Blues Festival.
  • Robbie attending the Tour de Traffic event in Madison as part of the AARP pilot project examining environmental barriers to physical activity in adults 50 years of age and older.
  • Robbie attended the UW Volunteer Fair to recruit volunteers and provide education on campus.
  • Robbie continues to help Wisconsin Walks!, the new statewide pedestrian advocacy group, get rolling and plan its first activities.
  • Dave finished production of the Bike to Work PSA for the City of Milwaukee.

Northwoods to Capitol Tour 2003

June 21-June 29, 2003 - - Wautoma to Washburn, Wisconsin

2003 marks the Northwoods to Capitol Tour's 5th year of providing quiet scenic two lane roads, delicious food, friendly people, and a great way to get to know the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. 2003's route will include Chequamegon National Forest, Apostle Islands, Lake Superior and more! Experience a well-organized small tour with a family feel (personal service and hugs). This is a fully supported tour, which means we move your luggage, so all you have to do is bike! Best of all, this tour helps raise funds for BFW! Bike Fed staff will be along to talk bike safety, education, and enthusiasm! Register before January 31st for only $170 or before May 1st for just $200! (Meals and reverse transport extra). Sign up now, this tour will fill fast. For more information or to register visit http://www.bikenorthwoods.com/, email info@bikenorthwoods.com, or call 608-244-6598.

Trail Proposed in Winnebago County

by Sherry Seubert

BikeEd for Teachers

Each week another news story arrives reminding us that Americans are sedentary and overweight. Health officials are especially concerned about these trends in children, a group that is generally active and healthy. School administrators are attacking this trend in two ways. First, Physical Education teachers, instead of concentrating on team sports or competition, are beginning to emphasize "lifetime activities" to encourage children to grow into active adults. Some schools are interested in incorporating bicycling into PE programs. Second, schools are also encouraging children to walk or bike to school so that they receive the benefit these activities provide. Because of concerns about traffic and lack of safe biking and walking routes to schools, teachers are beginning to provide safety information during class time. In response to these two trends, BFW has created a class for teachers that want to teach bicycling or bicycle safety. In order to assure that teachers are providing the most accurate and important lessons to children and youth, BFW modified the nationally recognized Road 1 class (aka Effective Cycling) to include information relevant to instructing people ages 10 to adult. The new course will cover how children perceive traffic at different ages, common crash types and how to avoid them, when children are ready to learn bicycling skills, and how to pick a safe route to ones destination. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Safety (BOTS) has a course geared towards teaching safe bicycling to children in elementary school, but they asked BFW to provide training for teachers of higher grade levels. The Bicycle Federation is happy to be providing this training in order to encourage more bicycling in the generation of tomorrow.

Meet Your Board

This is a new column for the Wisconsin Bicyclist that will feature two board members each issue . . . get to know the board!
Carolyn Ingram: Carolyn is serving her first term on the BFW board. Ecotourism and mountain bike adventure tourism inspired Carolyn's first foray with cycling advocacy during a five year reforestation and restoration of a family farm on the remote Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Following a return to Wisconsin in 2001, she and her husband Tim have become the proud owners of a small bicycle shop by the name of Momentum Bikes & Boards in Platteville, where they are involved in every manner of cycling-related work and activity, including the University of WisconsinPlatteville bicycle club, morning women's rides, bike rodeos for kids, the local Friends of the Roundtree Branch Trail, and a local Smart Growth planning initiative.
Jerry Specht: Jerry is serving his first term on the BFW board. Jerry worked at Goodyear Tire as a plant engineering manager before entering private business and operating his own construction business. Early retirement allowed Jerry and his wife, Judy, to bike extensively, including self-contained tours in the US and foreign countries. They reside in Green Lake County where Jerry is an elected commissioner on the Green Lake Sanitary District board that has oversight for the protection of Green Lake. He helps organize Green Lake County's Big Brothers Big Sisters Friendship Bike Ride each August.

Two Bike Bridges in Wausau

by Mike MacDonald

The Rothschild Bike Bridge over the Wisconsin River is back on track and is planned to be completed by 2004. The grants for the ten foot wide pedestrian/bike path along the western bypass of Highway 51/39 have been approved. The other new bridge, over the Rib River, will have full pedestrian/bike facilities, which will replace the inadequate ones on the current bridge. Completion date for this bridge is 2004.

Bike Fed to contract with Milwaukee

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin was selected to provide consulting services for the evaluation, selection, designation and spot improvements of the City of Milwaukee's bike routes. Dave Schlabowske, Milwaukee program manager, will work with the mayor's Bicycle Task Force and Department of Public Works staff on the project.
While the exact scope of services has yet to be defined in a contract, the major goal will be to look at the existing bikeway system and make recommendations for improvements to make the city more bike friendly. Things like traffic counts, population centers and bicycle destination points will be considered.
"We are hoping to get lots of input from our Milwaukee membership," Schlabowske said. "If you have ideas about bike facility improvements youâd like to see, this is your chance to get those ideas heard." If you are interested in working on this project, contact our Milwaukee office, 414-271-9685, or david@bfw.org.

Green Bay Area Update

by Mike Gerke

Many commuters and recreational riders are enjoying the Fox River Trail. So many, in fact, that Brown County Parks has put in gates at busy and blind intersections to "calm" the bike and skate traffic that refuse to stop for stop signs. These gates narrow the trail from 10 feet to 4 feet. All gates have reflectorized material on them, yet some trail users have hit these gates. The gates have been controversial enough that stopping for stop signs on a recreational trail will be a topic that will likely see some form of debate in Brown County. On another note, The Brown County Reforestation Camp has a new mountain bike park. Local advocates have designed new double-track and lots of single-track trails to be family friendly and appealing to advanced riders. User fees are $3/day or $15/year.