Frank et al. For the past 5 years, Ali Dwyer and I, as We Are All Mechanics http://WeAreAllMechanics.com have held between 1-3 winter cycling clinics per year around Madison that are FREE and open to the general public. This year I will try to remember to post the events on bikies. These clinics highlight the best winter gear that is available and give many tips about how to stay comfortable and safe on a bicycle in winter. We discuss riding in low-light or inclement weather conditions and other winter-specific issues. We give folks handouts with winter cycling resources and answer specific questions that they may have.
This year, at MATC's request, Ali is hosting a winter riding clinic at MATC on Oct 22 from 12-1pm to educate MATC bike commuters about winter cycling. We Are All Mechanics is hosting a FREE drop-in clinic at the Williamson Street Co-op on Sunday October 25 from 2-4pm that will address transitioning from fall to winter cycling. We will also be holding at least 1-2 other clinics at Revolution Cycles or other spots around town during December/Jan/Feb- stay tuned. Along with the folks at Revolution Cycles, We Are All Mechanics is slated to host the Monday night Access Hour on WORT 89.9 FM from 7-8pm on December 8, 2008. This will be a call-in show and the topic will be winter cycling. Ali and I volunteer our time to hold these free events because we are both winter bikers who want to promote year-round cycling. I agree that Madison is a great place to be if you want to be a winter cyclist. The fact that the city plows its bike paths exemplifies how Madison does indeed prioritize cycling and value its cycling community much more than the norm. But here is the rub. Winter cycling in Madison can be extreme. Most folks in Madison don't commute by bike even in fair weather conditions and they aren't going to start getting on their bikes (if they have bikes) during the winter months. A lot of people don't want to be cold, wet, sweaty, tired, etc. before and after work.... I am not speaking for myself here. Biking in the winter in Madison is fun for those of us who feel confident on a bike, and who have access to good equipment. A lot of cyclists do NOT feel safe biking on snow and ice, especially with so many cars swerving around. Winter cycling in a northern climate is NOT for everyone, nor should it be. I pride myself on being a winter cyclist, but there were plenty of days last year that I took the bus to work. Many of the bike paths are not plowed immediately and have stretches that get neglected. Winter cycling is a great option for some, and I am happy to help promote it, but let's not fool ourselves that it is ever going to attract more than a minority of committed cyclists. Let's push public transit so that those of us who ARE on bikes in the winter have fewer cars to contend with on the roads. VIVA LA WINTER CYCLING! -India ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008 10:44 am Subject: Bikies Digest, Vol 55, Issue 9 To: [email protected] > Send Bikies mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Bikies digest..." > Today's Topics: > > 1. hot off the presses regarding sustainable development (Troy Thiel) > 2. An Introduction to the Overton Window of Political > Possibilities (Matt Logan) > 3. Re: NYT Editorial: Cut the Sprawl, Cut the Warming (Frank Hassler) > 4. Re: An Introduction to the Overton Window of Political > Possibilities (Michael D. Barrett) > 5. subscribed [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (Bikies -- bicycle transportation advocacy) > 6. WSJ: Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M federal award > (Matt Logan) > 7. Re: WSJ: Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M federal > award ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From Troy Thiel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:46:08 -0700 (PDT) > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject [Bikies] hot off the presses regarding sustainable development > Hello all, > > Great weather for riding! bummer that I've got not one but two pulled > muscles from softball..argh > > Following up from a great presentation on sustainable development at > Monona Terrace a few weeks back (If you were there I'm the guy from > Normal...most don't believe that's possible) by Doug Farr sponsored by > Sustaine Dane and Steve Steinhoff's Neighborhood Design Center...Steve > has sent out an update with link to video from Wisconsin Eye...for > fans of rational, sustainable infill development it is a must see. To > combat sprawl we've got to have a new design and functional movement > here to capatalize on growth corridors that have a much better future > use...clearly East Wash corridor is one...and with the Build Plan > there finished, and Tenney's nearby..not to mention the new City > Economic Development Plan, TIF policy rewrites, Downtown Plan and > Zoning rewrite...well...let's just say we're at a critical juncture to > come up with policy(ies) to fully realize what Madison in its center > can become, and its ability .... here's the link... > > http://neighborhooddesigncenter.org/sustainable-urbanism-for-the-madison-area/ > > Little discussed on the very limited forum (I think Linday Lohan's > status has gotten far more postings) posts regarding the major stories > of development recently in the isthmus..both covers...Marc Eisen's > Epic 2 Parter of earlier this summer and Terrence Wall's piece last > week was the fact that the housing sprawl is following...NOT > leading...where the job development goes...its very natural....look at > suburban office parks and their role in the sprawl of major cities in > our country from the late 60s on....we've got to figure out way(s) to > make as much of that growth stay central...where public transit, > housing density and services are/or could be...well suited for a more > successful AND sustainable Madison....business expansion (and > cultural options expansion), as well as that of University etc, is a > major variable that we have to plan for. Clearly cycling is a > functional transit option for this type of growth. Riding downtown > for dinner and a movie > or lunch and work, etc...now THAT would be cool. > > Limping off my soapbox now, > > Ride Safe, > > Troy Thiel > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From Matt Logan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:59:13 -0500 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject [Bikies] An Introduction to the Overton Window of Political > Possibilities > As a postscript to the city budget discussion earlier today, I thought > I > would share a web link I found that explains the phenomenon that seems > to be preventing our elected leaders from acting wisely when it comes > to > alternative transportation funding: > > http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=7504 > > What I take away from this article is that nobody should be discouraged > by getting an unfavorable outcome when engaging the city on bicycle > issues. With repeated reinforcement, the currently politically > impossible will become politically unavoidable. The trick as I see it > is to identify which message needs to be delivered in order to push the > Overton Window most rapidly in the direction of sanity. > > In my opinion a lot of bikies (including myself) at public hearings tend > to overestimate how much of the logistics of bicycling the general > public understands. In this respect, comments like those made by Thuy > Pham-Remelle Jed Sanborn, the Rotarians I mentioned earlier, or even > Vicki McKenna can be a great tool to use to identify the bridges of > understanding we need to build for the public and our elected leaders > so > they can comprehend our perspective. > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From Frank Hassler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:26:00 -0500 > To bikies danenet <[email protected]> > Subject Re: [Bikies] NYT Editorial: Cut the Sprawl, Cut the Warming > On Oct 8, 2008, at 9:03 AM, Matt Logan wrote: > > > So you see the crux of the problem here. If people believe that you > > cannot bicycle in winter, then they believe they need those wider > > roads, > > they can't ditch their cars, etc, etc. > > > So is the lack of appeal of winter cycling a major hang-up for cycling > > infrastructure or anti-sprawl issues? I find that really ironic since > > Madison is such an easy community to bike in in the winter. Not only > > are the streets fairly well maintained but the bike paths are > maintained... period. I've never lived anyplace where the authorities > > clear the bike paths. Here winter cycling is only a minor > inconvenience at times, as opposed to a major challenge elsewhere. It > > is encouraging that I see others out riding in winter here, but > admittedly there are many many fewer people then in the summer, > certainly a very small minority cyclists which are already a minority. > > Anyhow, if this is the case it would seem cycling advocates would be > > wise to focus some attention on winter cycling education. I know > Chicago and Milwaukee have had "Bike Winter" events and classes and > such. Is there any possibility of that here in Madison? > > Frank Hassler > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > RIDE A BIKE!: "If by tomorrow, every gas guzzler on the road were > replaced by Priuses, we would still have the same gridlock, > accidents, deaths, injuries and the same pressures to put more > asphalt, strip malls and subdivisions." --Thomas Smart, > (www.planetbike.com/supercommuter/) > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From "Michael D. Barrett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:16:42 -0500 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject Re: [Bikies] An Introduction to the Overton Window of > Political Possibilities > The problem with this analysis--and, as a geeky poli-sci major have > long understood this even before Mr. Overton "invented" it--is that, > in the context of Madison, the window of political inevitability for > action on ped/bike/transit/anti-sprawl is at the top of the > yardstick. Right here & right now. The people are ready for action. > But our political leadership--even the ones who supposedly understand > > these issues--simply won't go to bat for their own constituents. The > > Madison citizenry understands. The Madison Common Council members do > not. And that is across the board. > > It isn't as if the residents of the 5th or the 2nd, or the 6th or the > > 19th aldermanic districts are out in the streets chanting, "Hey, hey, > > Ho, Ho, More & More highways, BIG Highways, Right now! Hey hey, ho, > ho, bike paths have got to go!!" In fact, the contrary has been > communicated to them endlessly by their own constituents. > > Unfortunately, these council members are so determined to go along to > > get along that they rubber stamp every big highway that comes their > way. > > And now they want to slash bike funding and raise bus fares. > > I mean, if witnessing all of the car-oriented neighborhoods of the > city tank by 7% isn't enough to get them to change the > transportation/land use paradigm, nothing will. > > It is time for a wholesale makeover of the council before they break > all of us. > > Get ready folks: With the burbs tanking, this council will have to > ratchet up the mill rate, meaning all of you who live in more > reasonably scaled neighborhoods* (where values held, thanks to > location efficiency) will see a hefty hike in your property taxes to > make up for all of the value this council destroyed by building > crappy places out there where a) no one wants to live and b) no one > can afford to even if they did.... > > Why are the burbs tanking? Because they are accessible only by car, > the most energy inefficient mode of transportation ever contrived. > The residents of those places had 2 choices: pay the mortgage or fill > > up the SUV. Guess what they did? For an answer, check out the > foreclosure/bankruptcy pages in the Wisconsin State Journal. > > The worst irony of it is, thanks to the dynamic between tanking > property values and the mill rate, the folks out in car-land won't > notice much of a change in their property tax bills at all. Heck, > they might even get a discount. Meanwhile, the people biking, busing > and walking will be footing their bill. And our council members > still won't go to bat for us. Jed Sanborn isn't the problem. > Republicans can't help being ignorant. The real problem: Our > "friends" on the council who should know better. > > The big question is why this council keeps voting--unanimously--to > build crappy places no one wants to live in. Places that are placing > burdens on the financial future of the entire city. > > -Mike > > *Yup, it'll trickle down to you renters, too! > *********************************** > > > > At 9:59 PM -0500 10/8/08, Matt Logan wrote: > >As a postscript to the city budget discussion earlier today, I > thought I > >would share a web link I found that explains the phenomenon that seems > >to be preventing our elected leaders from acting wisely when it comes > to > >alternative transportation funding: > > > >http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=7504 > > > >What I take away from this article is that nobody should be discouraged > >by getting an unfavorable outcome when engaging the city on bicycle > >issues. With repeated reinforcement, the currently politically > >impossible will become politically unavoidable. The trick as I see it > >is to identify which message needs to be delivered in order to push the > >Overton Window most rapidly in the direction of sanity. > > > >In my opinion a lot of bikies (including myself) at public hearings tend > >to overestimate how much of the logistics of bicycling the general > >public understands. In this respect, comments like those made by Thuy > >Pham-Remelle Jed Sanborn, the Rotarians I mentioned earlier, or even > >Vicki McKenna can be a great tool to use to identify the bridges of > >understanding we need to build for the public and our elected leaders > so > >they can comprehend our perspective. > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Bikies mailing list > >[email protected] > >http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From Bikies -- bicycle transportation advocacy <[email protected]> > Date Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:02:36 -0600 > To Bikies -- bicycle transportation advocacy List Owner <[email protected]> > Subject [Bikies] subscribed [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] has subscribed on list: Bikies -- bicycle > transportation advocacy > > Server Time: Thu Oct 9 08:02:36 2008 > IP Logged: 165.189.79.55 > > > Extra Subscriber information: > ----------------------------- > > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > email_domain: yahoo.com > > > email_name: bicyclingaddict > > ----------------------------- > > There is now a total of: 1 subscribers. > > -Dada Mail > > > > Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail > http://www.madvelocity.com/dadamail/mail.cgi/what_is_dada_mail/ > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From Matt Logan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:07:43 -0500 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject [Bikies] WSJ: Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M federal > award > I was scanning the news today and ran across this gem: > > Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M federal award > http://www.madison.com/tct/news/307162 > > I am really looking forward to using this new multi-use path to cut down > on the bike travel time to east town mall. > > Also... > > It turns out the badger state trail is also approved for $871,600 (FED) > to lay down the last stretch of 10ft wide asphalt from Purcell Road to > Lovell Lane. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:44:01 +0000 (GMT) > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject Re: [Bikies] WSJ: Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M > federal award > Yes, Robbie, Satya and I and others took time out from our busy > schedule of > planning superhighways throughout the region to fund these two projects. > > Al Matano > Chair, Transportation Planning Board (aka Metropolitan Planning Organization) > > > I was scanning the news today and ran across this gem: > > > > Starkweather Creek bike trail gets $1.3M federal award > > http://www.madison.com/tct/news/307162 > > > > I am really looking forward to using this new multi-use path to cut > down > > on the bike travel time to east town mall. > > > > Also... > > > > It turns out the badger state trail is also approved for $871,600 (FED) > > to lay down the last stretch of 10ft wide asphalt from Purcell Road > to > > Lovell Lane. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
