In well less than 50 years, this area of the city will be fully built out. Six foot bike lanes on each side and an extra wide sidewalk on BOTH SIDES should be the expectation. It is unreasonable to expect pedestrians to twice cross what will be a major arterial if they are starting and ending their trip on the same side of Hoepker.
The sidewalks should be wide enough that bicyclists that get freaked out by speeding cars on a bridge can share the sidewalk with pedestrians without being a hazard. In addition, there should be a decent railing on the outside, so that pedestrians and bicyclists don't feel they are about to fall off onto to interstate. Although the DOT will hate the idea, a railing between the sidewalk and the travel lanes - including the bike lanes as part of the travel lanes - would be a good idea. Again, giving pedestrians a feeling of security. The reason the DOT will hate it is that the railing will be in the "clear zones" - that area where motorists are supposed to have no barriers if they lose control of their vehicles. Nothing to hit. However, a large clear zone also makes motorists feel like they can speed. When the visual field is so clear, the road seems wider, and people go faster. Making people feel uncomfortable going over the SPEED LIMIT (not a minimum or a suggestion) should be our goal. Robbie Webber Bike Walk Madison On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 11:38 AM, Amanda White <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > > The DOT is looking to replace the Hoepker Road Bridge over I-39 and asked > the Bike Fed for bike improvement recommendations. > > Hoepker is the logical connection from the NE side of Madison and Sun > Prairie to the airport, Cherokee Marsh, and areas north of the city. The > interstate is a major barrier on that side of town and we believe all new > bridges should include good facilities. The current bridge has been there > for 50 years, and this will be what we have for the next 50 years. > > Our current recommendation is that the reconstructed bridge should include > 6' bike lanes on both sides and a sidewalk on at least one side, but > preferably both. > > Anyone bike in the area and have comments or feedback? It's a quick > turnaround time. Please direct your comments to me before end of the day on > Thursday. > > Thank you! > Amanda > ________________________ > Amanda White > Associate Director > Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin > (608) 251-4456 > [email protected] > www.bfw.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
