I share Tim's concern about a bike boulevard being used to argue against bike
lanes on Sherman. The bike boulevard section doesn't start until Aberg, and
there are no Sherman-parallel streets that run continuously from Fordem or
Tenney to where Ruskin begins at Aberg. (For nitpickers, there is one block of
Ruskin south of Aberg, but the shopping center comes between it and the rest of
Ruskin, so it's not a feasible bike route.)
Bikes will still need access to Sherman, even those who aren't traveling to
destinations on Sherman, because there is no good alternative route from Fordem
to Northport. (In case anyone thinks hugging the lakeshore in Maple Bluff is a
good alternative route, try biking it in winter while out of shape.)
Ruskin is a great route now for the reasons I previously stated, but there are
other roads on the northside where bike improvements would have a bigger impact
- like the bike-laneless section of Aberg. If the goal is to let people know
it's there, it should be called a bike route, not a bike boulevard.
Kathryn Kingsbury
www.kathrynkingsbury.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynkingsbury
Skype: kathryn.kingsbury
________________________________
From: tim wong <[email protected]>
To: India Viola <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]; bikies <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, August 15, 2011 3:41:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Bikies] TONIGHT! Ruskin Street Bicycle Boulevard Public Meeting
The problems I have with using Ruskin St. as a "bike boulevard" are these:
1) Ruskin is hilly, especially compared with where bikes should be--on Sherman
Ave.
2) If the city invests in making Ruskin a "bike boulevard," it will add
ammunition to the argument that Sherman Ave. should continue to be a narrow,
four-lane speedway. As we have been arguing for almost 20 years, Sherman Ave.
should be made a TWTLT (acronym probably wrong, pronounced "twittle")--one
through lane in each direction, with left turn lanes at intersections. Certain
elements of the neighborhood have been arguing that Sherman Ave. should be only
for cars and, also, dangerous for pedestrians trying to cross at non-stop light
intersections. This is obsolete thinking.
3) The city does not know what a bicycle boulevard is. It involves more than
putting up signs calling it one, while not doing anything that makes bike
boulevards in other cities the real thing.
tim
On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM, India Viola <[email protected]> wrote:
I didn't know where Ruskin St. was. Here's a Google Map of Ruskin St.
>What is it like to bike on now (i.e. what do we gain by designating it bike
>boulevard)?
>
>I'm sincerely asking because I don't know.
>
>-India
>
>
>
>
>On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 11:21 AM, AmandaWhite <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>
>>City of Madison Public Information Meeting
>> Designation of Ruskin Street as a Bicycle Boulevard
>>TONIGHT - Monday, August 15
>>
>>Lakeview Branch Library
>>2845 N. Sherman Ave.
>>6:00pm
>>
>>
>>
>>The City of Madison is hosting a Public Information Meeting to gather
>>community
>>feedback on designating Ruskin Street a Bicycle Boulevard. Attend this
>>meeting
>>to learn more about bicycle boulevards and what designating Ruskin as a
>>bicycle
>>boulevard will mean for local bicyclists and the neighborhood. City staff
>>will
>>be available to answer questions.
>>
>>
>>
>>What is a Bicycle Boulevard? Bicycle boulevard is a relatively new bicycle
>>facility that has begun being used in many cities across the U.S. Currently
>>in
>>Madison, we have 3 bicycle boulevards: sections of East Mifflin Street,
>>Kendall
>>Avenue, and East Wilson Street. A Bicycle Boulevard is typically a quiet,
>>residential street that prioritizes bicyclists, is well-marked as a Bicycle
>>Boulevard, and allows bicyclists to ride in the middle of the lane.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Thi s message is brought to you by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin's
>>20by2020 Campaign. We're uniting 10,000 people to achieve 20% of trips made
>>by
>>bike by 2020. Join with us onfacebook and sign the 20by2020 pledge.
>>
>>
>>
________________________________
This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected]
>>
>>Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin | 1845 N Farwell, Suite 100 | Milwaukee,
>>Wisconsin 53202 | United States
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>--
>-India Viola, We Are All Mechanics
>WeAreAllMechanics.com
>[email protected]
>
>
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>
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