The relevance of speed is safety of all using the path. Within Madison in many places, the paths are congested, and even if it’s only a pair of slower bikers or some walkers, making it easy to go fast when most others are much slower can create a safety hazard. You never know when a walker, a slower biker, or a dog on the leash will unexpectedly veer into the left-hand lane. I’ve also known bikers to be tripped up by squirrels or rabbits who dart out and get caught in their spokes.
I know these are problems that also face the slower pedal biker, but if motorized faster traffic is allowed and encouraged, the danger increases, I think. Out in the country, this would be less of a problem. Downhill on a city street, I often exceed 20 mph also, but let’s think of the ordinary biker on a level bike path who I estimate may usually be traveling in the 7-14 mph range. I’ve biked longer distances with 4th graders and their parents, and we averaged about 7 mph. If I personally am trying to race to my destination over a 4- or 5-mile route on the Southwest path, I normally average 8-9 1/2 mph with bursts of up to 14 or 15 mph. Even then at the slower speeds I’m passing other bikers. Years ago, on a long-distance bike ride on roads, I was once able to average 15-16 mph. I drop miles per hour as I get older and have been told that’s true by other commuter bicyclists (male). Personally, I like the idea of having a bike path for people who want to exercise, not for those who mainly want to get somewhere faster and with less effort because they have battery or gas motor power. Hope that explains better where I’m coming from. On 5/8/13 7:53 AM, "William Hauda" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Not sure what direct relevance speed has. I sometimes exceed 20 mph on > a bicycle. Pedal power, of course. > On state trails, DNR does permit motorized mobility devices, so that > must be part of the discussion. > > At 07:38 AM 5/8/2013, Mary Mullen wrote: >> 20 mph is an issue with me. Overtaking pedestrians going 3 mph, some of whom >> have strollers or dogs, and overtaking bicyclists who are mostly probably >> going 10-12 mph is an issue. I think motorized traffic should stay on the >> highways and streets. I can‚t imagine wheelchairs going 20 mph, even those >> with batteries. The ones I‚ve seen are generally going at walking speed. >> Therefore comparing them to electric assist bikes doesn‚t make sense. >> >> Even though pedals may initiate the electric motor, my understanding is that >> once the motor is going, pedaling is not required. >> >> The bike paths are already congested with walkers and bicyclists, all under >> their own power. Sometimes during class-changing time in the UW area, a bike >> can barely get through since the walkers, backs to the traffic take up almost >> the entire path and aren‚t prone to moving over. >> >> >> On 5/7/13 4:47 PM, "Darryl Jordan" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Electric bicycles, or pedel-elects, are legitimate bicycles as most require >> the use of pedal effort to initiate the electric motor. Specifically, what is >> really your problem with them? Speed, weight, or the insult of using anything >> in addition to muscular power? Personally, I see nothing wrong with >> motor-assisted bicycles or tricycles as they become more popular among aging >> baby-boomers and more. As most of the paths in Madison are "multi-use" >> trails, by what criterion would one restrict use of a electric wheel-chair >> versus the use of a electric assist bicycle or tricycle? >> >> DJ >> >> > From: Josh Mayer <[email protected]> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tue, May 7, 2013 2:08:21 PM > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Transportation Improvement Planning Meeting Tonight > > FWIW, I routinely see an electric bike on the path alongside Blackhawk Country > Club. > > > > > > > From: rick <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 1:48 PM > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Transportation Improvement Planning Meeting Tonight > > > > > I would agree on the Atwood issues, being a long-time user (25+years) of the > Atwood/Monona drive corridor. I'd also like to raise another issue that I've > become aware of with in the last month. Apparently there is an effort under > way to redifine qualified users of bike paths (and lanes, etc.) so that > electric bikes can be used under power. I have MANY issues with this, not the > least of which is the door it opens for gas-powered scooters (mopeds) to be > used in these venues. Does anyone have any knowledge regarding this ? > > Rick Cathcart > District 11 > > > On 5/7/2013 10:34 AM, Grant Foster wrote: > > > > I second the need for bike facilities on Atwood here. I ride the stretch from > Walter to Lakeland daily and it is not a safe route. I see a lot of cyclists > taking to the sidewalks, creating significant conflicts with walkers, joggers > and strollers (especially on the bridges). In the winter, these walks are not > plowed in the morning and the bridges are almost neglected completely, with > significant rutted ice developing as the winter progresses. > > I'd be interested to know the traffic counts on this stretch, as car traffic > is not congested even during peak commuting times. With the bus stops, cars > often have to travel in the inner lanes anyway. It seems like converting the > right-hand lanes to bus/bike lanes would be an option. Now that Monona Dr has > bike lanes, the value of adding them to Atwood is all the more apparent. > > The other long-standing issue in this stretch is with pedestrian crossings. I > know the parks department understands the need for improved crossings within > the two halves of Olbrich Park, and a remedy should be considered as part of > any redesign. > > Grant Foster > District 15 > > On May 7, 2013 8:12 AM, "India Viola" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Council Presentation on 2014 Transportation Improvement Plan 5p May 7 Council > Chambers Room 201 CCB > > Is anyone from Bikies planning on attending this meeting? > > Unfortunately I have a conflict and won't be able to make it. > > Because it's in my neck of the woods, I would like to underscore the > importance of putting bike lanes onto both sides of Atwood Avenue between S. > Fair Oaks Ave and Cottage Grove Road ASAP. The Cap City Path that goes behind > Olbrich is not an equivalent alternative. No matter that the posted speed > limit is 30mph, auto traffic consistently goes 35-50mph on this stretch, even > as an assertive, confident cyclist who disdains riding on the sidewalk I can't > blame the folks I see riding their bikes on the sidewalk on this stretch of > Atwood. > > > > -India Viola > > > District 6 > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > WeAreAllMechanics.com < <http://weareallmechanics.com/> > http://weareallmechanics.com/ > <http://weareallmechanics.com/> > [email protected] > > Stay connected- Follow WAAM on Facebook < > <http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics> > http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics > > <http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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