During the design of the SW Path, the decision was made not to light the
path (although I recall that we included empty duct beneath the path to
accommodate the wiring.)  I rather doubt that the adjoining properties would
support the installation and investing better lighting - perhaps with
camera? - would be the best course of action.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of India Rose Viola
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:20 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Bikies] Southwest Path- is it too dark at night?

Because of a night class that I am taking out at UW Research Park, I have
recently been riding on the Southwest Path between Monroe and Glenway
between 6-10pm and find it startlingly dark.  Dark enough that my
standard-issue headlight does not give me enough time to anticipate
obstacles or people in the path.  It also makes me feel particularly
isolated and vulnerable on my bike (I am generally a confident night
cyclist).  I know that the path is very close to many neighbors' back yards,
so any added lighting would need to be sensitive to that.  As an urban bike
commuter I really enjoy having the option of riding on a city path at night
when I need (or want) to get from point A to point B.  Is this something
that other people are also concerned about, or should I just invest in
brighter bike lights?

I am comparing the lightedness of the Southwest Path to area streets and
also to the John Nolan Path and the segment of the Capital City Trail that
runs behind Atwood Ave along the railroad tracks which are on my
daily/nightly route.  I feel much safer on these east-side paths because of
the amount of light provided at night.

-India

***********************
India Viola
UW-Madison 
Stretton Lab
115 Zoology Research Bldg.
1117 W. Johnson St.
Madison, WI 53706
608.262.3336
***********************

"How can we learn from our mistakes if we don't first acknowledge them?"
-Anonymous

"We exist in the bacterial world, not bacteria in ours" -Stuart Levy
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