If bikers are willing to ride down the path in a "park-like" way -- i.e., at a slow speed and alert for pedestrians and especially kids who are enjoying the park -- I'm fine with that. If they are rushing through the park at 15 mph, they ought to try Rutledge St. instead. I'm not in favor of outlawing bikes on the Orton Park path, but maybe some signage could remind riders that the path goes through a park where children are present (and maybe that pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks -- even when they don't go through parks). I've seen postings on this list complaining about people who treat bike paths as "linear parks" and not transportation routes. That resentment may be justified on bike paths; but this path IS a park, and park users deserve some consideration.
From: "Robert F. Nagel" <[email protected]> To: "Grant Foster" <[email protected]> Cc: "Mitchell Nussbaum" <[email protected]>, "Dryer, David" <[email protected]>, "Knepp, Eric" <[email protected]>, "bikies" <[email protected]>, "marqNA" <[email protected]>, "SASYNA-Discussions" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 1:09:59 PM Subject: Re: [Bikies] [MarqNA] Bicycling on the sidewalk in Orton Park What Grant said. --- 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 Mon, Aug 3 , 2015 at 1:05 PM, Grant Foster < [email protected] > wrote: Why does riding through the park have to be about saving time? Describing this as a 'short-cut' or 'cut-through' and stating that alternate routes are fine misses the whole point for me. I want to ride through the park to enjoy it, just like most people that walk on this path are walking through the park and not using it as access TO the park for some other park-related activity. Why do pedestrians feel that they need to use that 'short-cut' when they could easily walk around the park instead? Why is riding a bike through a park not an intended use that we encourage and support? Maybe next time someone gets hit be an errant frisbee when can ban that too... On Mon, Aug 3 , 2015 at 12:14 PM, Mitchell Nussbaum < [email protected] > wrote: BQ_BEGIN A long time ago, the Orton Park diagonal path was a designated bike route. I used to ride on it until I noticed that the city had taken down the bike route sign. I started going down Rutledge instead. No problem. What are the demographics of the bikers who are zipping through the park? Are they young teenagers? Are they (technically) adults? Are they recreational riders? Commuters? From: "Robbie Webber" < [email protected] > To: "Matt Logan" < [email protected] > Cc: "SASYNA-Discussions" < [email protected] >, "Dryer, David" < [email protected] >, "bikies" < [email protected] >, "marqNA" < [email protected] >, "Knepp, Eric" < [email protected] > Sent: Monday, August 3 , 2015 11:54:46 AM Subject: Re: [Bikies] [MarqNA] Bicycling on the sidewalk in Orton Park It really is unfortunate that we are considering an ordinance change or physical limitations (that will cost time and money) just because some people on bikes are jerks. It gives people riding bikes in general a bad name, and does not promote better community relations. The people riding fast through a city park when pedestrians, and especially children are present really piss me off. I had a friend that lived over there, and I biked past/around Orton Park frequently. It never occurred to me to cut through. It's not a very big block, so you aren't gaining that much by using the diagonal instead of the local streets. Maybe we need speed humps on the sidewalk. Too bad that we can't ban cars from certain streets when a few drivers are jerks. THAT would make the city much better. 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. On Mon, Aug 3 , 2015 at 8:34 AM, Matthew Logan < [email protected] > wrote: BQ_BEGIN Can we remove the diagonal sidewalk in Orton Park so it is not an appealing cut-through for people riding bicycles? From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected] ] Sent: Monday, August 03 , 2015 7:03 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; Ross, Arthur; Dryer, David; Knepp, Eric Subject: Re: [MarqNA] Bicycling on the sidewalk in Orton Park I would think that walking bikes can be allowed. Peter Bradley On Sun, Aug 2 , 2015 at 8:10 PM, 'Rummel, Marsha' [email protected] [MarqNA] < [email protected] > wrote: I have received recent complaints from people concerned that bicyclists are speeding through Orton Park. At least two people have reported to me that they have been clipped by bicyclists coming behind them. This park has playground equipment and is used regularly by young families and kids as well as runners and walkers. It is legal to ride your bikes on the sidewalk in a city park. There is a no bicycle sign in Orton but it is there to prohibit people from riding on the turf in order to protect the root zone of the oaks from compaction. Rutledge is a bike commuter route and some bicyclists use the diagonal park path as a cut through to Spaight St and avoid the sharp turn at Ingersoll (or Few St). I've attached the ordinance below. I could amend it and add Orton to the list that includes Henry Vilas Zoo as a prohibited parks for bicyclists to use if there is neighborhood support. I'd like to get feedback on people's experiences in the park in regard to concerns about excessive speed of bicyclists and imact on safety of other park users. Marsha Here is the ordinance. 8.31 BICYCLES IN PARKS. (1) Purpose and Intent. The Common Council finds that as the use of City parks increases, it is in the public interest to protect and preserve parkland resources while making these resources accessible to the multiplicity of City park users. The Common Council specifically authorizes the Park Commission to identify trails within parkland suitable for bicycle use. The use of bicycles on trails not designated for that specific use denigrates the parkland by accelerating erosion and endangers hikers because of inadequate sight clearance. It is the intent of this ordinance to reconcile the desires of individual park users with the need to preserve the resources for all citizens and to that end to designate certain parks and park areas for use consistent with safety, preservation of natural resources and recreational enjoyment. (2) Definitions. “Bicycle” has the meaning specified in Wis. Stat. § 340.01(5). “City park” means City-owned property designated and operated as a park for general recreational use but does not include greenways or conservation parks. “Conservation park” has the meaning specified in Sec. 8.40(2), MGO. “Natural area” means any area not mowed on a regular basis to turf 6” or less in height. “Roadway” means highway as defined in Wis. Stat. § 340.01(22). “Trail” means any maintained travel route through a natural area, the surface of which may be dirt, mowed turf, gravel, wood chips or boardwalk. (3) Bicycles Allowed. Any person may ride a bicycle: (a) in a City park on paved roadways, parking areas, paved paths and mowed turf areas which are not trails. (b) anywhere in Quarry Park. (c) on two designated trails in Edna Taylor Park, providing access to Femrite Drive and Glendale School, respectively. (d) on one designated trail through Owen Park, running from Inner Drive to Bordner Drive. (e) other specific areas designated and posted according to an order issued by the Park Commission. (4) Prohibitions. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on any trail or natural area in any City park except trails or areas designated and posted as open to bicycles, according to an order issued by the Park Commission. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any bicycle within areas of the Henry Vilas Zoo unless specific permission has been granted by the Henry Vilas Zoo Director. (Am. by ORD- 11-00168, 12-6-11 ) Sec. 8.31(4)(c) PUBLIC PROPERTY Rev. 12/15/11 8 - 18 (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on a mowed turf area in City parks when such area has been designated and posted as closed to bicycles, according to an order issued by the Park Commission. (5) Penalty. Any person violating this ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50). (Cr. by Ord. 8055, 6-17-83 ; __._,_.___ Posted by: Peter Bradley < [email protected] > Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (2) Visit Your Group · New Members 1 • Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___ _______________________________________________ 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 BQ_END _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org BQ_END
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