XC'ers,
Tomorrow (Tuesday) a City of Madison Commission will discuss the
policy of plowing the SW Path in winter. This past winter the
City experimented with ways to accommodate skiing on the paved
bike/ped path. I think important lessons were learned:
1. A five foot plowed width (three foot less than the minimum
safety standard for low use paths & five foot less than the
standard for normal use paths) is obviously hazardous.
2. An six to eight foot plowed width is inadequate.
For a brief history of this issue see:
<http://danenet.wicip.org/bcp/swplow.html>
Personally, I thought that plowing the path to an eight foot
width would be adequate, however, experience indicates
otherwise. Winter usage of the path by pedestrians and cyclists
is much higher than expected making 10 foot the appropriate
minimum width for this path.
There is a strange illusion going on in city hall that XC skiers
everywhere want to see XC skiing given priority over other uses
in this corridor. While it is fun to think of those that live
near or on the corridor using it to ski to work, one would hardly
wish to sacrifice the safety of others to make this possible.
Strangely enough, for much of the corridor, skiing on the paved
path is neither necessary or desirable. Except for a few short
sections, there is plenty of room adjacent to the paved path.
All of this leads me arrive at these conclusions:
1. Skiing can continue in the corridor even when the entire width
of the path is cleared of snow.
2. Ped/Bike usage in winter is higher than expected, which means
the applicable safety standard is 10 feet for this path (ASHHTO).
Here's the really important part:
---------------------------------
If members of MadNorSki show up to this meeting and state that it
is wrong for the city to sacrifice the safety of others to
accommodate their sport -- sanity may return to city hall. Okay,
I hope for too much. If not sanity then perhaps enough awareness
that the plowing policy will be improved for next season.
Meeting: PBMVC (Ped/Bike Motor Vehicle Commission)
Time: 5:00
Place: Room 260, Madison Municipal Building, 215 MLKJ Blvd.
Agenda Item: G4
---------------------------------
When you arrive, you can submit your comments in writing or you
can register to speak. Personally, I intend to simply state the
following:
1. I am an avid skier that lives near to this path (just over a
mile).
2. It is wrong for the city to compromise the safety of
pedestrian and bicycle commuters for skiing.
3. The applicable national safety standard (ASHHTO) indicates
that 10 foot is the minimum acceptable width for this path.
4. Winter usage on this path by bicyclists and pedestrians,
particularly during commuting times, is high which means any
compromise of the safety standard is an unjustifiable compromise
of public safety.
The more voices the committee hears (spoken or written), the more
likely they are to come to their senses.
Cheers,
Joe
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