Chuck: At the risk of hijacking the thread, I get it that bikes are ok to ride along the East Campus Mall and Library Mall now, but there doesn't seem to be any signs that guide this one way or the other. I realize there are not signs that say biking forbidden, but what about signs that say biking permitted? Or, bikes yield to pedestrians, or whatever the rules are supposed to be. It seems that pedestrians may glare at bikes, not realizing that biking is permitted. Are there further plans in this regard? It seems to be working fine, but I'm surprised the signs are so silent.
--- Robert F. Nagel, Attorney Law Offices of Robert Nagel [email protected] www.nagel-law.com Thirty on the Square, 10th Floor 30 W. Mifflin St., Suite 1001 Madison, WI 53703 608-255-1501 office 608-255-1504 fax 608-438-9501 cell On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 10:39 AM, STRAWSER, Charles <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Bill, > > I think it’s important that there be a safe and formal connection for > bicyclists from Mifflin St on the Square to Mifflin St further west. > > Although I am not at this time officially representing the University on > this topic, my position at UW-Madison has made me keenly aware, as I’m sure > you are also, that Mifflin St is a direct connection - from the > neighborhoods near James Madison park that are full of students to the > neighborhoods near West Mifflin St that are also full of students. Or it > would be a direct connection if there was formal access for bikes through > what is now “Philosopher’s Grove” (and a contraflow lane for east bound > bicyclists on the square trying to get from 100 West Mifflin to 100 East > Mifflin). It’s also an important (missing) connection for lots of other > folks. My second grader and I ride this way, e.g. to get from our near east > home to the central library. > > > > I’m not suggesting that the area that is now “Philosopher’s Grove” should > necessarily be returned to some kind of conventional streetscape, but > rather that accommodation for cyclists should be made somehow that still > preserves the space for accommodating other desirable uses. The newly > reconstructed intersection of East Campus Mall and State St Mall (aka > Library Mall) might serve as an excellent model here. > > > > Please enter my comments into the record. > > Thanks, > > > > Chuck Strawser > > Pedestrian & Bicycle Transportation Planner > > Commuter Solutions > > UW-Madison Transportation Services > > > > Visit our University Bicycle Resource Center at Helen C White: > http://transportation.wisc.edu/transportation/bike_annex.aspx > > > > How are we doing? Take our customer satisfaction survey at > https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CommSol_CSSurvey > > > > > > > > > > *From:* Bikies [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Robbie > Webber > *Sent:* Thursday, March 19, 2015 4:01 PM > *To:* Bikies > *Subject:* [Bikies] What to do with the 100 block of W Mifflin? > > > > I realize this is a long post, but it really does have to do with > bicycling: both bike parking and completing the bike network. > > > > The city is considering > <http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/03/update-on-state-st-areaphilosophers-stone/23025> > what to do with the 100 block of W Mifflin, AKA the Philosophers Grove. The > reasons they are considering changes is that there is a lot of crime, and > they think that some physical changes might help lessen that. > > > > I won't speak to the crime issue, but wanted to bring the issue of bike > infrastructure to the list. > > > > West Mifflin is the only corner street coming on to the Square that > doesn't have a through route for bicyclists. E Mifflin, E Main, and W Main > all have counter-flow bike lanes. State and King are important routes. W > Mifflin ends in a cul-de-sac. Many people ride on the sidewalk, which is > technically illegal. this street is an important connector for people > coming from the west that aren't using State St to access the Square. It is > a missing link in the network. > > > > The bike racks on that block also are heavily used, especially during > Farmers Market, Concerts on the Square, Art Fair on the Square, or any > other event. They are heavily used by daily commuters as well, but are > completely overstuffed when there are events. > > > > From the video linked below, it seems that the merchants on that block > don't think that having a through route for bicyclists is a priority. They > also seem to think that the racks are only used by troublemakers hanging > out on the stones. > > > > If changes are going to be made to this block -- and whether changes > should be made is a separate question -- I think they should make sure to > complete the bike network and not reduce already scarce bike parking. > > > > The staff ideas about how to "activate the space" starts about 14:00. The > specific comments about a need for a bike route through the block start at > 17:40, although it sounds like it is controversial. > > > > There is some discussion of bike parking and a bike corral starting at > 20:10. > > > > Public comments, some rather strong, start at 24:45. At 33:30, one person > says both that the idea of a narrow route through the stones is not > large/wide enough and also expresses concern that a bike corral would be > used by "them" (I think he means the homeless population) as a storage > area. > > > > So, if you have any comment about either bike access or parking in the > area, it would probably b worthwhile to let city staff know. Bill Fruhling > -- [email protected] -- in the Planning Department is heading > this up and various city committees are looking at it. > > > > > http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/03/update-on-state-st-areaphilosophers-stone/23025 > > > > > Robbie Webber > Transportation Policy Analyst > 608-263-9984 (o) > > 608-225-0002 (c) > > [email protected] > > All opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of > my employer or any other group with which I am affiliated. > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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