I also am not able to attend the Fitchburg Council meeting and would like to register my support as a pedestrian, cyclist, and mother of a young child, for this important project.
I would like to state for the record that I concur with Bill Hauda on this issue (see William Hauda's previous email below) on each of his points, with the caveat that if the east access compromises cyclists' safety in any meaningful way then I would consider proceeding with the east access an even worse option than not doing the project at this time. Is there an engineer on this list that can advise on that? Thank you for considering my input. India Viola 3145 Lindbergh St. Madison, WI 53704 WeAreAllMechanics.com [email protected] Stay connected- Follow WAAM on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics> On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 2:19 PM, William Hauda <[email protected]> wrote: > > People: > I'm unable to attend the meeting tonight due to a previous > commitment. Hence this e-mail. > > It’s time, as they say, to fish or cut bait on the Military Ridge > State Trail-Cannonball Path bridge access to the McKee Road bicycle lanes. > > Initially, I favored the west plan, and still think that’s the > best option. But we have a bad neighbor (General Beverage) there, > interested only in itself. On the east we have a good neighbor (Midwest > Decorative Stone) which worked with everyone and even kicked in $46,750 for > a re-design to protect the firm’s visibility. > > While the east plan has some obvious shortcomings in path > width and proximity to things that will need some sort of a barrier, I > believe it is the path of least resistance. With paving of Cannonball > imminent, it’s important to get this done ASAP. This is a major link in the > network of trails and paths that make Fitchburg stand out in bicycle > transportation. It’s here now and inaction and delay are not good options. > > So, my thinking has evolved to the point at which we need to > just go ahead with what appears to be the latest, which calls for an east > access path. In doing that the city should work closely with the good > neighbor, Midwest Decorative Stone, to make sure the desires and interests > of that company are taken into consideration. > > It’s been suggested to me by an engineer familiar with bike > path design that the high cyclone fence idea be discarded in favor of a > more aesthetic and less hazardous separation barrier, perhaps even low > shrubbery. Better to crash in bushes than contact a steel fence. And with > good landscaping it would enhance the view of the good neighbor from McKee > Road. > > On the west it appears the bad neighbor simply wants to grab > property purchased with Stewardship dollars and use it for beer truck > parking purposes. I’m advised by DNR that’s technically possible if > Fitchburg comes up with replacement property of equal value. How that would > even happen, I don’t know. But the city remains the key decision maker > here. > > Meantime, I strongly oppose ANY effort by Fitchburg to turn > over ANY property acquired by Stewardship money to a private business. > This money was not allocated to promote private enterprise. > > These are my personal views as an interested party and > resident of Fitchburg and not those of any organization in which I serve. > > *"Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia." *-- H.G Wells, A Modern Utopia, > 1905 > > Bill Hauda > 14 Northlight Way > Fitchburg, WI 53711 > 608-574-4471 > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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