Dana White Quam
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Southern Region
3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Dana, Regarding the Draft Badger State Trail Master Plan:
The Badger State Trail should not allow motorized uses. As an extension of
the trail network in and around Madison (SW Path, Capital City State Trail)
that already prohibits motorized use, users will expect similar conditions
on this part of the network. The email I've copied below illustrates the
safety problems, and also the harm to the economic impact of tourism in
Wisconsin, when these expectations are not met. Even if the motorized uses
proposed are to be limited seasonally and geographically, the lack of
resources and staff time to enforce this will mean no real limitations of
motorized uses, and, therefore, very real limitations to all non-motorized
user groups.
The email that follows was received by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
in August of 2002. It speaks for itself on the issue of the incompatibility
of "shared" motorized and non-motorized uses of the same trail. As you
know, the Cheese Country Trail is a county trail, not a state one, and,
because it allows ATV use, does NOT appear on the Wisconsin State Bicycle
maps, even though it ostensibly allows bicycling. In informed the author of
the email, Mr. Milano, of this, and encouraged him to buy the WI State
bicycle maps so that he could avoid trails that allow motorized uses (and
the situation in which he found himself) in the future.
At 08:46 PM 08/05/2002 -0500, Russ Milano wrote:
I am a recent cycling enthusiast from Illinois who has been planning to
ride the famous Wisconsin Trails. I did 360 miles (Northwoods to the
Capitol) during June and was very pleased with the condition of the roads
and courtesy of the vehicle drivers.
Saturday, August 3rd, reversed all of that. My wife dropped me off at
Darlington and moved on to meet me at the trail head in Monroe. The exact
location I was dropped at was paved with a sign that said no ATVs. The
paved surface can be measured in 100s of yards. Just out of sight, the
surface changed.
The trail surface is rough gravel and rocks. I was on it for about 5
minutes before I was overtaken by 4 ATVs kicking up dust and stones. The
ATVs never slowed down. I was lucky. I got my feet on the ground quickly. I
did not fall, or I could have been seriously hurt. The conditions of the
surface and the use of the trail by ATVs should mean that bikes are
prohibited not encouraged to use this trail.
Your newsletter says you rate the highways of Wisconsin. What do you do
about the trails? They are advertised to attract cyclist, walkers and
runners. This trail is dominated by motorized vehicles. This is like
calling the right lane of the Dan Ryan expressway a bike trail to the south
side of Chicago. Why not allow the high school archery club to practice in
the elementary school yard during recess?
My wife waited at the trail head for over an hour and nothing came off that
trail without a motor. Most of the drivers of those vehicles were not old
enough to take a road test. But your state allows them to go all out on a
narrow path and encourages pedestrians and cyclists to occupy the same space.
For the record, I turned around immediately after the ATVs passed me and
rode 30 miles to Monroe without stopping on East 81. It was a great workout
and a lot less dangerous than that trail. I will be sending similar letters
of indignation to state officials, newspapers and anyone else who might
listen.
A lot of good work by good people can be undone by a few, just look at some
of our major corporations in the news this year.
END OF RUSS MILANO'S EMAIL TO BFW***************************
Furthermore, it is my personal opinion that no state Trail Pass should be
required for the sections of the trail likely to be used for transportation
(Lovell Rd to Sun Valley Parkway, at least) and that this section be wider
than 10'. The Capital City State Trail's current requirement of a State
Trail pass (imposed by Dane county for those portions maintained by them)
is a travesty of the original funding (and intention) to build a
non-motorized transportation corridor with transportation funds. And the
"compromise" finally agreed to by Dane County (to subsidize state trail
passes for those signing an affidavit that they use it for commuting) is
fatally flawed - most commuters have no idea their required passes can be
subsidized, and enforcement costs likely outstrip any potential revenue.
City of Madison Alder Robbie Webber has suggested several times that
collection boxes for *voluntary* donations might result in greater revenue
and lower collection costs than the current system.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Chuck Strawser
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Project Coordinator
106 E. Doty St., Suite 400
Madison, WI 53703
voice: 608-251-4456
fax: 608-251-4594
www.bfw.org
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