By Kathryn Kingsbury
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[Reprinted from The Capital Times , April 24, 2002 ]
Bicyclists are calling for safer routes between downtown and the far east side.
"We're losing ground on the edge of town," Robbie Webber, program manager for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, told a city commission Tuesday evening. "I'm worried that current development patterns will encourage only driving and discourage walking and biking."
Her testimony was part of a public hearing convened by Madison's Pedestrian-Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Commission to solicit project ideas for improving pedestrian and bicycle safety.
More than a dozen residents spoke. Their suggestions included more and wider bike trails, yield signs next to crosswalks, clearly marked bike lanes, and signs along multi-use paths to educate pedestrians and bicyclists about their proper use.
A third of the speakers focused their comments on the difficulty of getting around on the far east side without a car, especially in the areas near East Towne Mall, North Thompson Road and Stoughton Road. They told of cars refusing to yield to pedestrians at intersections and bike lanes that disappear mid-route.
Karl Kletzien of the Elvehjem Neighborhood Association said a planned renovation of Stoughton Road would be the perfect time to improve bicycle access to the far east side.
He currently bikes on sidewalks for part of his commute to work, but would prefer to leave them free for their intended pedestrian use. "Don't miss this opportunity to make things nice for east-siders," he said.
Bike commuter Matt Logan said the commission should prioritize projects that make bicycling more appealing to individuals who don't already ride frequently, in order to cut down on vehicle emissions and traffic congestion.
"There is an impression out there that this is a car's world and that other forms of transportation are only useful for recreation," he said. He urged the commission to "create a bike environment that feels as safe as driving behind a wheel."
Several spoke in support of a proposed corridor that would run between the isthmus and Regent Street, connecting two paths already in use. It is dubbed "the missing link" by its proponents.
Also among the suggestions were bike lanes along Sherman Avenue and Packers Avenue, a wider pedestrian/bicycle path on Fish Hatchery Road, and a path connecting Madison to Middleton.
Dane County Board Supervisor Brett Hulsey requested increased education and enforcement regarding traffic safety issues. Over the past 20 years in Madison, he said, car-related deaths have outnumbered murders 3 to 1.
"You are the homeland security task force here," he told the commission.
The commission won't be discussing any of the ideas floated at Tuesday's meeting until late May or June, when it will begin the process of narrowing them down to what is considered feasible.