Don't keep your opinions to yourself! That's the fun of this list - a little spirited debate. But also don't take insult if people disagree.
Robbie Webber State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (office) 608-225-0002 (cell) On Wed, Jul 10, 2019, 7:21 PM john wagnitz via Bikies < bikies@lists.danenet.org> wrote: > Harry, > I’d be happy to. The first instance occurred last week. I was traveling > east on the capital city trail, crossing Dunning street (harmony bar). An > eastbound commuter was attempting to pass me when a cyclist with a rear > powered device traveling west at a high speed (25 mph?) came around the > bend to catch the green light (I assume).Both were in the center lane and I > thought a head on collision was inevitable. It wasn’t. Both got into their > respective lanes and all ended well. The second instance occurred > yesterday. Again, I was eastbound on the capital city trail. While crossing > Thornton Avenue, I was passed by a cyclist with a rear powered device > traveling east at a high speed, even though it was obvious (to me anyway) > that the light ahead was red and bikes were queuing up. West bound cyclists > were still coming toward us but he wasn’t slowing down for anything. While > waiting at the light he was re-packing his luggage which had almost fallen > off his bike. When the light turned green, he proceeded out onto Eastwood > drive so he could beat all the bikes ahead of him waiting at the light. By > the time I reached russel street, he was out of sight. > It was the second incident, last night, that prompted my “hyperbolic” > post. > In retrospect, I should have waited to cool down before posting. In both > instances nobody was hurt and maybe it was my own perception that danger > was lurking. My apologies to anybody I offended. > While I expected some spirited debate on the topic, I was a little > surprised by the responses posted. Next time, I’ll keep my opinions to > myself. > John Wagnitz > > On Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 4:22 PM, Harry Read via Bikies < > bikies@lists.danenet.org> wrote: > > It's good to hear that most people posting here are not seeing much in the > way of irresponsible ebike use but perhaps John Wagnitz can describe some > specific instances that prompted his post. Responding to Jeff Schimpf's > post, I agree that BCycle rentals are probably not going to make much of a > difference. What I'm picturing is people purchasing ebikes to use for > commuting that they would charge at home, for whom having electric assist > makes bike commuting a more viable option vs driving--to cover a greater > distance, faster with less exertion. I think that could lead to a big > reduction in emissions. > > Harry Read > > On Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 3:57 PM Brian C. Mink via Bikies < > bikies@lists.danenet.org> wrote: > > Could not agree more, Be Best. > > My wife and I are lifelong road and touring cyclists. We're retired at > this point an tandem cycle daily. We spent some 40 years on a range of high > end tandems but in the last couple years both have developed Sacro Iliac > Dysfunction which in recent years has limited out ride length and hill > climbing. We as a matter of pain control had a custom tandem built with a > Shimano Steps e-assist motor (250 watt mid drive) which is set to provide > climbing assist when our speed drops below 12 mph (max assist speed > restricted to 18mph) > > We ride on many local trails and bikeways on our way to Paoli, Bellville, > Oregon, New Glarus, Monroe and points beyond. We have the luxury of riding > during the day when there are a whole lot of similarly situated folks > riding all of the trails around Madison on e-assist bike of one variety or > another. I've yet to see anyone on an e-assist bicycle doing anything that > even approaches the fears expressed in some earlier emails. Fact is > hundreds of e-assist bikes are being used in active mode on Madison and > Dane county bike trails and this has been true for several years. > > I see the opposite, lots of folks renting B-cycle e-assist bikes who are > acting responsibly. Riding below the upper limit of e-assist speed > restrictions (these are firmware restricted speed controls). Fact is I'm > seeing 3X as many people riding bikes compared to last year. > > So let's temper the hyperbole and celebrate the fact that more people are > cycling and cycling longer in years and miles. > > Brian Mink > Monona, WI > > Matt Coppens via Bikies wrote on 7/10/19 1:05 PM: > > I too, at times, want to yell out into the void of the interwebs to create > drama where none has existed before. But I don't, because I am a rational > adult. > > So let's be real, there has been no notable accidents or incidents > resulting in serious injuries or deaths. There has been nothing brought to > the attention by local news outlets. And those who are riding said bicycles > are probably more aware of their surroundings because of the precious cargo > they carry. > > This post/chat has successfully wasted nearly 10min of my time in what > equates to pointless squabbling. If you want to make great use of time > here, let's focus on advocating for better roads, inclusion of separate > bike lanes on reconstruction and resurfacing of roads, and more signage to > alert drivers of cyclists. > > Be Best. > > On Wed, Jul 10, 2019, 12:45 Steve Arnold via Bikies < > bikies@lists.danenet.org> wrote: > > On 7/9/2019 5:38 PM, john wagnitz via Bikies wrote: > > Anybody taking bets on how long before we see a fatality on the bike > > path in Madison? I predict before the end of the month. > > The offenders are not riding B-Cycles but seem to all be riding “bikes” > > with the Copenhagen wheel. I’m pretty sure they are breaking the speed > > limit. > > Insofar as I know, there is no speed limit on Madison paths and state > trails. What statute, ordinance, or administrative rule do you think > establishes a speed limit? > > > The State Legislature gave local governments the power to regulate these > > “bikes.” > > The "e-bike bill" has been passed by the Senate and recommended by an > Assembly to the full house, but not passed by the Assembly or signed > into law by the government. The powers you describe do not yet exist. > > > I hope any local officials reading this post will do something before > > somebody gets seriously injured, or killed. > > John Wagnitz > > The supporters of the e-bike bill (including the Wisconsin Bike Fed, the > American Heart Association, the Cities and Chambers of Commerce of > Madison and Milwaukee, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, > Trek, Harley-Davidson, Uber, and the WI League of Municipalities) agree > that differences in speed in congested areas, not speed, and especially > not the source of motive power, are the source of many safety risks. > > They urge those who will have power to regulate the newly defined > vehicles to first consider separation of modes, e.g., providing cycle > tracks parallel to roads and separating multi-use paths into cycle > tracks and pedestrian ways. This solution is in place and working well > on the busiest active transportation facilities in Madison: the Capital > City State Trail at Monona Terrace, where bike commuter and fishermen > and -women safely coexist. > > If there is still a safety problem, or if mode separation is infeasible, > then regulators should consider speed limits for all facility users, not > just one vehicle type. We all have seen bicycle athletes on completely > human-powered bikes hammering down multi-use paths without regard to > other users. Why pick out e-bikes, or Copenhegen Wheel users, for > special attention? > -- > Steve Arnold, Former Mayor, and > Chair, Wisconsin Bike Fed Board of Directors Lobbying Committee > 2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491 > Telephone +1 608 278 7700 <+1%20608%20278%207700> · Facsimile +1 608 278 > 7701 <+1%20608%20278%207701> > steve.arn...@fitchburg.wi.us · http://Arnold.US > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > Bikies@lists.danenet.org > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing > listBikies@lists.danenet.orghttp://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > Bikies@lists.danenet.org > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > Bikies@lists.danenet.org > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > Bikies@lists.danenet.org > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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