You'll have to use Dayton or, (gulp!) Regent, site of my pasting by a U-Haul truck a year before the Greenbush Link. But I digress. Spring at Randall was impassable as of last Friday.
-----Original Message----- From: Robbie Webber [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:29 PM To: Scott Ellington Cc: bikies; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Southwest Trail at Randall I spoke to Larry Nelson Tuesday night during the Council meeting. He acknowledged that there was a 60 day closing of the intersection of Randall and the SW Path - for obvious reasons if you go by there. There is a very deep, large hole where the path/roadway used to be. Now that Larry sent the information on detours, I will work with him to make sure that there is appropriate signage. For instance, I went westbound on the path last night, and noted no sign until the actual closure at Randall. When you backtrack, the next street is Orchard, and which runs one-way south. The easiest way to bypass the construction would be to go NORTH to Spring St or Dayton, which means westbound bicyclists should be warned at Charter. Until we get this straightened out with signs, let's pretend that it is several years in the past, and the path hasn't been built yet. We are resourceful people, I know we can survive the construction at least as well as motorists! -- Robbie Scott Ellington wrote: > Below is my recent email to Robbie Webber concerning construction at > this crossing, which I believe is in her district. Following that is > a copy of my 2003 message to Larry Nelson concerning another > construction site at that time. (Mr. Nelson was apparently out of > town at the time, but one of his subordinates responded.) 17 days > after I sent that message, a cyclist was run over by a bus there and > severely injured. It would be unfortunate if a similar tragedy > occurred because, for example, bicyclists were unnecessarily forced to > ride on Monroe St. or Regent St. due to the current construction. I > urge other cyclists to express their concern. > > Scott Ellington > > > ******** > > > > June 19, 2007 > > > Dear Ms. Webber, > > I write concerning the construction on North Randall Ave. where the > Southwest Trail crosses. This crossing was recently closed by the > contractor, forcing a large number of commuting cyclists to take > lengthy and often dangerous detours. If this project follows the > pattern of previous ones I've observed, the contractor will make no > effort whatsoever to keep the crossing open for cyclists, even when no > construction is actually taking place at the crossing. Accommodating > cyclists might, after all, entail some slight inconvenience to the > contractor. Hundreds of commuting cyclists use that crossing each > day. The city of Madison wouldn't dream imposing on a like number of > motorists the same sort of hazard and inconvenience. > > I understand that there will be times when the crossing really does > have to be closed, but those times should be kept to a minimum. The > solution is simple: Require the contractor to keep that crossing open > at all times, including evenings and weekends, except when > construction right at the crossing is taking place. When it is > closed, signs should be placed far enough up the trail in each > directions so cyclists can detour without backtracking. But the signs > have to be honest, indicating closure only when it really is required. > In addition, the fencing should be rearranged to allow access to the > sidewalks on both sides of Randall. > > The Southwest Trail has been a tremendous asset to bicycle commuters > and, I'm sure, has caused many who would otherwise have driven their > cars to work to bike instead. It seems entirely reasonable to require > the contractor to make a small effort on behalf of these commuters. > > Thanks, > > Scott Ellington > > > cc: Tim Gruber, District 11 > > > > ********************** > 8/26/03 > > To: Larry Nelson > From: Scott Ellington > Subject: Johnson and Charter > > Dear Mr. Nelson, > > The Johnson St. contractors have recently blocked all possible > pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Johnson and Charter, as > well as at Mills St. These are both very heavily used by pedestrians, > who now must walk in the street with the vehicles, or take a very long > detour. There are no signs warning motorists, no reduced speed > limits, etc. While I can understand the need of the contractors to > restrict access to parts of their work area, there is no excuse for > endangering pedestrians in the process. There are many ways to solve > the problem, though all will require some finite amount of effort. In > the interest of keeping pedestrians from getting injured, I believe > this effort is justified. > > Thanks, > > Scott Ellington -- Robbie Webber Bicycle Friendly Communities Coordinator Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin www.bfw.org 608-251-4456 (office) 608-233-1390 (home) _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
