Brrrr! Time to get out the winter gear. The Winter Bike Fashion Show couldn’t have been timed much better. More on that and other news below in this week’s edition of the update.
Winter Bike Fashion Show is Sunday
Only six days to go, then we have to wait another year. Whether you are a seasoned winter cyclist or just curious about how and why people manage to bike through the cold and snow, consider attending. And you could win a door prize!
This free, family-friendly event promotes an exchange of ideas to extend your cycling season. Veteran winter bikers will share secrets of their success.
The agenda includes:
- Models showing off high tech and budget-friendly winter cycling wear. One model will do a reverse strip demonstrating how to gear up for rides from 60˚ F down to -10˚ F. Models will participate in a Q&A about how they are able to continue biking through the coldest months.
- Get your picture taken in your winter biking gear or tell us your best winter biking tips in a short video.
- Mark your commute route on a large map to share with others.
- A table where you can bring winter clothing to help kids enjoy safe winter biking or walks to school. Hats and mittens are the biggest need, but items such as coats and rain pants are also welcome.
- Practice putting your bike on a (non-BRT) bus in a low-pressure environment.
We still need volunteers. Tasks range from setup to break down and everything in between. Many activities offer opportunities to interact more with attendees. Click here to volunteer.
The Fashion Show will be held this Sunday, November 16 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Goodman Community Center- Ironworks building. (Cap City Trail at Waubesa St.)
More information on the event here.
Still time to comment on Southwest Area Plan
The city accepted comments at three input sessions on the Southwest Area Plan, but you can still comment on Southwest Area Draft actions here. The transportation section of the plan starts on page 11. Comments will be accepted until December 4. It’s also informative to view comments by others on this document.
Some specifics on the draft plan include:
- Work with Fitchburg and the Arboretum to upgrade Seminole Highway bicycle facilities to All Ages and Abilities standards from the Beltline to the Cannonball path.
- Addition of separated bike lanes on Whitney Way.
- Increase shared-use path connectivity to and through Elver Park which would include extension of the existing path along Hammersley Rd west to McKenna Blvd.
- Three crossings of the Beltline and an upgrade of the Whitney Way crossing(see DOT Beltline Study below). These are increasingly important because over 2,900 housing units have already been built or planned just north of the Beltline between West Towne and Westgate. The additional development will require more infrastructure to allow those who live and/or work in the area to move around.
DOT Beltline Study
Freeways can be efficient at moving motor vehicles over long distances, but for the 30-40% of the population who don’t drive, they serve as fences; obstacles to active transportation. Connections between employment centers and businesses to neighborhoods are disrupted.
The city has recognized this in the Southwest Plan which includes three Beltline crossings between Whitney Way and High Point Rd. The West Plan, which is complete, also includes two Beltline crossings parallel to Old Sauk Rd. Other crossings have also been proposed. However, the Beltline is a state highway and implementing these crossings requires cooperation with the DOT. So, whenever the DOT considers freeway crossings and other improvements, we should be all ears.
Good news, one of these opportunities is coming up soon. WisDOT will hold a virtual public involvement meeting for the Beltline Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study. For the first time since 2014, the DOT will present preferred strategies and gather feedback on the Preferred Strategy Package and information included in the Draft PEL Summary Report. There is a lot in this report including information on many new crossings as well as parallel routes.
The meeting will be on Thursday, December 4, at 5:30 PM. We’ll share updates and sign-in details as they become available.
Be Bright
One of my favorite advocacy activities is participating in Be Bright, the partnership of UW-Police and the City of Madison. Here’s how it works: UW police stop bicyclists who are riding without lights and instead of just handing out tickets, they take a moment to educate the bicyclists about bike light laws. Cyclists then get to choose – either accept a citation or allow volunteers or city employees to put a front and rear light on their bike. This gives volunteers a chance to do further education and connect with cyclists.
Most bicyclists were students with diverse backgrounds, many of whom rely on their bicycle for transportation. Quite a few were new to Madison and hadn’t considered using bicycle lights before. Almost all were enthusiastic about getting free bicycle lights and many were eager to learn more about use of lights and safe bicycle riding.
During just two hours, police stopped over 130 bicyclists, most of whom left with free lights. In some cases, they just had to be reminded to turn on the lights on their bicycles. It was great to see cyclists ride away with their new lights twinkling on a safer journey.
Transportation Commission Meeting
Willy St Rush-Hour Lane Removal:
The trial: Rush-hour lanes were removed from Willy Street in September to test whether a single motor vehicle lane in each direction would be adequate. Parking was prohibited in these lanes during rush-hour prior to the trial but was allowed during the trial except near corners. Users of the road and sidewalk were surveyed.
Results: Automobile travel times before and during the trial did not differ and backups did not result from the lane removal. The survey drew 1520 responses, 72% of which were from motorists. Results showed that 91% of bicyclists, 88% of peds, 76% of Willy St residents, 35% of motorists, and 31% of merchants favored removal of the lanes.
Decision: After considering data and comments collected during the trial, the commission voted to make removal of rush-hour lanes permanent. The city will install traffic cameras on Willy Street to enable them to monitor and adjust signal timing and parking restrictions. The parking restrictions near intersections during the trial period will mostly be rescinded.
Milwaukee Street Resurfacing/Utilities project
Milwaukee St between the Starkweather Creek Bridge and Woodmans will be completely rebuilt in 2027 together with the development of the Voit Farm lot into a mixed-use neighborhood. Not all details are available yet, but the city wanted feedback from the Transportation Commission on a four-lane road vs. a Two-Way Left-Turn Lane (TWLTL) design.
Both options include a two-way multi-use path on the north side of Milwaukee Street.
No decisions were made at this meeting, but the TWLTL design option received some positive comments from the commission. In addition to the multi-use path on the north side, the addition of a bike lane on the south side was also discussed.
That’s it for this week’s update. Just a pat on the back for all of you who have been commenting orally or in writing regarding bicycling issues at the Transportation Commission and planning meetings. This participation helps city officials understand our real-world experiences and priorities and helps to create infrastructure that is safe and accessible for everyone. Without this input, vocal minorities could distort perceptions and influence decisions in ways that could mislead decision-makers.
As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.
Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!
See you at the Winter Bike Fashion Show on Sunday!