>From the DNR: Second round of meetings to focus on review of draft bike route alignments
MADISON -- Earlier this year, the public helped identify elements of potential routes across Wisconsin for designation as U.S. Bike Routes and state bike routes, and now people will have a second opportunity to help provide feedback on proposed route alignments at a series of upcoming meetings. The Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and other state agencies, and the Wisconsin Bike Fed have partnered on the statewide Bikeways Project. A bikeway is a trail, road, street or path that is specifically designated for bicycle travel or may be designed for bicycle travel, and may be shared with other modes of transportation or recreation. A primary goal of the Project is to facilitate long-distance bicycle travel in Wisconsin by identifying routes for state and federal designation. More than 80 people contributed to identifying bikeways across the state in a series of open house meetings in May and June, and another 360 comments were received through an online Wisconsin Bikeways Project map (Wikimap) that was available from May 21 through June 30. Those contributing comments identified routes they currently use for bicycling or would like to use as well as areas that are barriers to bicycling or bicycling destinations. Participants identified routes with low traffic, good scenery and good pavement quality among the highest reasons routes were "good to ride." Some of the barriers to good bike routes identified in the first round were challenging intersections or freeway interchanges and trail conditions. The focus of the next round of public feedback is soliciting public comment on the best candidate routes within the identified corridors. The public can view and comment on the proposed routes online from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 and at upcoming meetings. The meetings are open to the public and will have an informal open house format. There will be no formal presentations, but there will be multiple stations where the public can learn about different aspects of the project, including the proposed routes, different types of bikeways, route selection criteria, mapping of bikeways in the corridors, and an area for participants to fill out and submit written comments. All open houses will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m., except for Milwaukee, which will be from 4-7 p.m. - *September 22 - Madison* - Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin St. - *September 29 - Fox Valley (Grand Chute), *Grand Chute Town Hall, Community & Board Rooms, 1900 Grand Chute Boulevard - *September 30 - Eau Claire* - Mayo Health Systems of Eau Claire (Luther Campus Clinic), 1400 Bellinger Street - *October 1 - Wausau* - Northcentral Tech College, 1000 West Campus Drive - *October 6 - Milwaukee* - 4-7 p.m., Milwaukee Central Public Library, 814 W. Wisconsin St. People can find out more about the project by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keyword "bikeways <http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/trails/bikeways.html>." FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brigit Brown, 608-266-2183 or Paul Holtan, office of communications, 608-267-7517
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