I agree that bikes parked at public and university (non-dorm) racks
that are unused for more than a few days (or a week) should be
ticketed and picked up. City workers should not have to shovel around
abandoned vehicles. If the racks were empty, as the parking places on
the streets are when they get plowed, they might be more likely to be
cleared. Of course, some might not be due to a "do the minimum"
attitude when it comes to shoveling in the cold -- where minimum =
cars only, and maybe pedestrians but not bike racks because "nobody's
crazy enough to bike in winter!").
That said, I'd also just like to thank those largely unsung heroes who
maintain the bike paths along Quann Park, Wingra Creek, and John Nolen
Drive -- they've been quickly cleaned off and fabulous to bike on soon
after (and in some cases, amazingly, *during*) the past snowstorms.
Additionally, when I need to take Park Street, even though the bike
lanes there rarely get plowed, and the construction at St. Mary's
routes motor traffic into the bike lane, drivers have been very
considerate and safe around me.
Apart from keeping my eye out for an armed former mayor, I'm really
pleased with Madison's winter cycling ;-)
John Martin
While I agree piling snow in bike racks and smashing people's
personal property is bad, I had another thought when I saw all the
snow covered bikes on State Street. I was down there last Thursday
and there was several inches of snow on most bikes on the rack I
tried to park on, and only one spot open for me to park. It would
have taken several storms, over a week of snow to put that much snow
on those bikes. In a non-residential area like State Street I would
think any bike that has been sitting there for over a week was
abandoned. Shouldn't the city be getting out there to remove these
abandoned bikes so those of us still riding have someplace to park?
Frank Hassler
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