tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35082971735525675562024-03-18T23:48:09.114-05:00Front Porch Coffee TalkA place to watch the world go by, mull the issues, and catch up with friends.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-53921167632529975002020-06-08T13:04:00.003-05:002020-06-08T13:04:38.645-05:00National crises and birthday fundraisers<br />
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<i>This was originally posted on Facebook on my birthday, but thought I'd throw it up here to preserve it so I can remember how I felt at the time.</i></div>
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The post below may seem a bit disjointed, but I hope you
will forgive my attempt to express a bunch of things that have been rolling
around in my mind. And sorry for the length. Once I get going, it’s hard for me
to be brief.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The TL;DR: The country sucks right now. I’m upset. Please
give to a group in your community that is doing good work. I have some
suggestions.</b>
<br />
I feel alternating anger, outrage, sadness, confusion, and helplessness at the
events of the past ten days. I haven’t posted, because I don’t know what to
say. That doesn’t mean I don’t care or am indifferent. The outrage and anger
that the protesters across the country are expressing are completely justified.
It has been far too long that black and brown people have felt the knee on their
necks in our country, both literally and figuratively. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a birthday coming up this week, and my friends will
probably want to wish me a happy birthday. I can’t tell you how much this means
to me during a time when many of us are apart. Social distancing has been hard,
and seeing everyone’s well wishes moves me a great deal. Thank you for reaching
out. It helps to know one has friends during these dark times.<br />
<br />
Facebook encourages us to have a fundraiser for a charity on occasions such as
this. But there are too many that are doing good work, so I don’t want to chose
one. I but I do want to urge everyone who would send me greetings to contribute
to one that does work you care about. Below I have some suggestions, if you
want to give to one that I am personally supporting.<br />
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In this moment, this country is facing a quadruple crisis, and each piece is
intertwined with the others.<br />
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We still have a health threat. It has not gone away, despite the more immediate
events surrounding and precipitated by the killing of George Floyd, just the
most recent in a long line of peaceful black men killed by the police or those
claiming self-defense. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The health crisis brought on an economic crisis for many.
Even before COVID-19 came to this country, not everyone enjoyed the prosperity
that many of our national leaders touted (and I use the term “leaders” loosely,
as you will see below.) Now there are millions struggling to pay their rent,
find food, and meet their other basic needs. Economic insecurity can also bring
on a host of other problems for individuals and families: mental health,
frustration, domestic violence, physical health problems, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We have suffered from racial injustices for the entire
history of our country, but the killing of George Floyd has been the last straw
for many, and protests – both peaceful and otherwise – have roiled our
communities. We cannot turn away and pretend this will pass. If we do, we are part
of the problem. All of us have a responsibility to make this country a place
that is safe and just for people of all races, national backgrounds, incomes,
genders, and ages. <br />
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Finally, we have a massive political crisis. We are divided in so many ways,
and our “leaders” are just stoking it to serve their own needs. Not
surprisingly, if you know me, I put this one squarely on Trump and his toady
GOP sycophants. They don’t want you to vote, and they don’t want you to think
about why we have the injustices in our country. They want you to blame your
neighbors and anyone that is different from you. They will come up with any
excuse to hold onto power. I’m not even going to start on how bad Trump is: his
lack of leadership, empathy, moral compass, or a soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But there are bad elected officials all over the country,
and they stay in power because good people don’t vote and/or don’t speak up.
And because bad leaders try to make it hard for you to vote. This is especially
true of disenfranchising the poor, the black and brown, those who don’t speak
English or are recent immigrants, and those who are just struggling to keep
their head above water. Many of our elected officials and even neighbors don’t
want to make it easy for you to vote, because that’s how they hang onto power. Your
power is your voice and your vote.<br />
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So given all these challenges, here are some groups that I’m supporting. I hope
you will pick one and give what you can – and it’s not always money. If you
don’t live in Madison, there are lots of similar groups where you live. <br />
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<a href="https://freedom-inc.org/">Freedom, Inc.</a> This is one of the main
groups that has been organizing the protests here in Madison. <br />
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<a href="https://www.aclu-wi.org/">ACLU and ACLU Foundation</a>. (The latter is
a 501(c)3, if you want your gift to be tax-deductible.) Protecting all of our
civil rights and helping people who have had their violated. I almost can’t
believe that we have to constantly be on the lookout for our civil rights being
threatened, but it seems that’s true more and more these days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.lwvdanecounty.org/">League of Women
Voters of Dane County</a> Besides helping register people to vote, and giving
people the information they need to make their voice heard in elections, they
have taken good positions on social justice and environmental issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.secondharvestmadison.org/">Second
Harvest Food Bank</a> – Providing the most basic needs to people in Dane County.
They are overwhelmed with requests for help since people are out of work an
struggling.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.ywcamadison.org/">YWCA</a> – Helping
women get back on their feet or be safe when they have nowhere to go.<br />
<br />
And there are so many more. Groups that help people threatened with
homelessness and eviction. Those that give a safe refuge for women fleeing
domestic violence. Resources for immigrants, who may be afraid to speak out
when people abuse them. And on and on. <br />
<br />
When I started working in the non-profit world, the president of the board of
directors for Bike Fed said, “We expect all board members to contribute. But
they all have different things to give. Everyone can give something: Work,
wealth, or wisdom.” What that means is that some have money to give, others
have time, and others have skills they can share to support an organization. I
hope everyone can find a way to help their neighborhoods, the causes they care
about, and those that are most in need. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-24803313870049598692014-03-31T17:43:00.000-05:002014-03-31T17:45:22.088-05:00When did we start blaming pedestrians for being hit by cars?A colleague in Montana circulated <a href="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/murder-machines/" target="_blank">this article</a> that explains the history of how we view pedestrian fatalities.<br />
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It used to be that motorists that hit or killed pedestrians were viewed in the same way as someone who drive a motorcycle down a crowded hallway: That's just not acceptable. You shouldn't operate a large, fast, heavy machine in a place where there are a lot of people.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Circa-1903-Shoppers-on-Sixth-Avenue-New-York-City-1024x784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Circa-1903-Shoppers-on-Sixth-Avenue-New-York-City-1024x784.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 23px;">A typical busy street scene on Sixth Avenue in New York City shows how pedestrians ruled the roadways before automobiles arrived, circa 1903. Via Shorpy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now we just expect that pedestrians will stay out of the way of cars.<br />
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There are so many good quotes in the article, I won't even start to pick them out. But the old news stories, cartoons, and ads are also well worth the click. It follows the change in our society from drivers needing to watch for pedestrians, through changes in attitudes brought about in part by the auto industry; how traffic controls developed; and the history of traffic safety, including ad campaigns that target unsafe behavior.<br />
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In the Netherlands - which arguably has the highest bicycle mode split in the world - there is <a href="http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/strict-liability-in-the-netherlands/" target="_blank">strict liability</a> on the driver's part if s/he hits a bicyclist or pedestrian. That is, a collision is<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/11/cycling-v-cars" target="_blank"> assumed to be the fault</a> of the driver, and the circumstances when the driver is not considered 100 percent at fault are very narrow.<br />
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Strict liability is the law in <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-22155209" target="_blank">all but five European Union countries</a>, and there is a campaign to change the law in the UK. In the U.S., we struggle to pass <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/jessica_vanegeren/bill-aims-to-protect-wisconsin-bicyclists-other-vulnerable-users/article_cc77c9ac-3b61-11e3-a074-0019bb2963f4.html" target="_blank">Vulnerable User Laws</a>.<br />
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Just after reading that article, I saw two items on our local TV news website about kids being hit by cars. One was a child that <a href="http://www.channel3000.com/news/child-on-bike-struck-by-hitandrun-driver/25246218" target="_blank">rode his bike</a> out into the street from a driveway. And the driver didn't even stop! The other was a <a href="http://www.channel3000.com/news/8-year-old-boy-hit-by-car-killed-in-Milwaukee/25253858" target="_blank">child killed</a> when he ran out from between two parked cars. Both happened on residential streets.<br />
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Sure, these days, we think, "Well, those parents should watch their kids. The kids should learn that they have to be careful and stay out of the street."<br />
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But as the article about the history of pedestrians and motor vehicles in public roadways points out, streets are public spaces, and it used to be that drivers were expected to watch out for other road users, including people walking on the public right of way. We used to realize that kids are to be expected in residential areas.<br />
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We even allow drivers to break the law with impunity, as long as it's just a little bit breaking the law. Everyone assumes that "5 over" is OK for speeding, and the police generally won't write a ticket if you are not more than "10 over." If a driver is going<b> below</b> the speed limit, s/he is considered a menace and a freak.<br />
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<a href="http://humantransport.org/sidewalks/SpeedKills.htm" target="_blank">What difference does 5 mph make?</a> Well, a pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 95 percent chance of surviving. A pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 15 percent chance of surviving.<br />
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<a href="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11_10/Fatality_rates.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11_10/Fatality_rates.gif" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
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<br />
30,000 people are killed by motor vehicles <b>every year</b> in the U.S.: drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, passengers, etc. Any other product with that kind of safety record would be pulled from the store shelves within a day. Yet we let the carnage continue year after year. When is will we say, "Enough!"?E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-45244109731170711512014-01-22T22:02:00.000-06:002014-01-24T14:43:40.535-06:00From the "less waste" filesA short blog to get back in the habit of writing. [edit: It started as a short blog, but obviously, I am not capable of "short." No jokes about my stature, please.] I've been busy with <a href="http://www.ssti.us/category/news/" target="_blank">my work</a>, which also involves quite a bit of writing and social media content, so I've neglected my own writing. But I'm going to try to post shorter pieces just for the sake of getting the thoughts out of my head and on to the page. After all, that's why I write this: To clean out the thoughts rattling around screaming, "Write me down!"<br />
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On to a few short items about putting sending less stuff to the landfill. It's sort of a personal challenge to me to see how little stuff I can put in the garbage. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ7_2ZyXDm1A4R0x5lRJyf_99nVScoL79rBZA4V9-C2GYL87Pc_WMb3Uc7dEl9mt0GMCd_govwPcFuEWoQLRtuXdbYk4i4FRT0tJum7sTsi10mFZ8PrJqnOy8roj-4uyM1SlWQ0kLaMAu/s1600/20140113_183153%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ7_2ZyXDm1A4R0x5lRJyf_99nVScoL79rBZA4V9-C2GYL87Pc_WMb3Uc7dEl9mt0GMCd_govwPcFuEWoQLRtuXdbYk4i4FRT0tJum7sTsi10mFZ8PrJqnOy8roj-4uyM1SlWQ0kLaMAu/s1600/20140113_183153%5B1%5D.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><b>1. Why is it so difficult for even smart, well-educated, Madisonians - i.e. people who should know how to recycle and why it's important - to figure out how to out a bottle or can in the recycling bin?</b> I work at the UW, and pretty much every hallway has blue bins prominently labeled as "bottles and cans" or ""paper and newspapers" at each end of the hall. There are also recycling bins in many offices and break rooms. Yet I consistently find cans and bottles in the trash.<br />
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I'm not going through the trash looking for these things. I'm walking down the hall to the bus, and there outside an office is a small bin to be emptied by the cleaning crew: Plastic shrink wrap from a shipment, take-out container, coffee cup, a few napkins or paper towels, an apple core, and a soda can or bottle. Why? Why is it so tough to put that can or bottle in the container just steps away?<br />
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<b>2. On a more positive note, I recently was reminded of <a href="http://www.terracycle.com/" target="_blank">Terracycle</a>, a service that will take a lot of items that might either be cluttering up your house or going in the trash.</b> They will turn your trash and clutter into either new items or rehabilitate what you send: Pens that don't work, old shoes, wrappers from energy bars, cereal and cracker bags, Britta filters, toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes, and lots more. It has eased my conscience to be able to bring those things in to work and have a place to recycle them instead of tossing them in the trash, or worse, hanging on to them out of guilt. ("Yeah, that pen doesn't really work very well, but it works sometimes, I shouldn't just throw it out. And that old toothbrush could be used to clean my bike or for other cleaning jobs. I should hang on to that.)<br />
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Someone in our office collects all the stuff and sends it in once a month. Terracycle will even send you the shipping label. If you have enough of certain items, you can designate a charity to receive a small donation. I'm sorting through all the old pens that don't work, the worn our shoes, and saving my wrappers to send in.<br />
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3. As I was brushing my teeth yesterday, (Why do great ideas always come to us when we can't write them down?) I started thinking about the beer bottle caps I'd been saving for a friend. He had told me that someone he knew was collecting as many types of bottle caps as he could. My friend knows that I like to try out different beers, so I might have a wide variety of breweries I could contribute. So I have a small bar of caps to give to him.<br />
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<b>But then I started thinking about all the other bottle caps I'm throwing away. They are metal, so why can't they be recycled?</b> So, being a good researcher, I Googled it. The <a href="http://trashbasher.blogspot.com/2011/06/beer-bottle-caps-are-recyclable.html" target="_blank">first page I found</a> was very useful - with photos! It said that metal bottle caps are steel, and can be recycled, but not just thrown into the bin as is. The problem is that they are very small, so they fall through the <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/28794-how-do-they-do-it-recycling-machine-video.htm" target="_blank">screens at the sorting center</a> [video of how they sort materials with machines - actually pretty cool] and the caps never make it to the magnet that picks up steel. <a href="http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/recycling-info/bottle-tops.cfm" target="_blank">Recycling Week</a> confirmed the problem and the solution.<br />
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But these two pages suggested a solution, which <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiQEzt9lqt0" target="_blank">City of Madison Recycling Guru George Dreckmann</a> confirmed is the way to go. (I was sort of proud of the fact that I actually provided him with this solution, which he had not thought of.) Put the caps into a steel can - like the ones that hold soup, tomato sauce, canned veggies, etc. <a href="http://trashbasher.blogspot.com/2011/06/beer-bottle-caps-are-recyclable.html" target="_blank">Crimp the top</a><span id="goog_1303403499"></span><span id="goog_1303403500"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> so that the caps don't fall out, and then put that whole thing into the recycling. It's all steel, and that whole can will be picked up by the magnets. Do NOT use an aluminum (soda) can, because that would be mixing different kinds of metal, which is a no-no.<br />
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<b>4. Finally, I am constantly amazed by people that stop composting in the winter.</b> I understand not wanting to hike to the back yard in deep snow and bitter cold - both of which I did this morning to reach the compost bin with my just-about-full kitchen container. But on the coldest days, you could just dump it into a bucket outside the back door until the snow melts or the temps get more reasonable. That's what I did every year until I forgot to empty said bucket of ready-to-use compost before winter descended.<br />
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And besides, I like being outside, and emptying the compost is a chance to follow the bunny tracks to the back of the yard to where I know they are hiding in the brush pile.<br />
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But most people seem to think that they can't compost because everything will freeze. And yes, most of the pile will freeze, but not all of it. You'd be surprised how much of the pile is actually not frozen, sitting there creating heat for whatever critter has crawled in. Besides, it will all thaw out eventually, and then all those coffee grounds, bits of veggies, and stale bread will be ready to start over.<br />
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Oh, and one more thing I've started throwing in the compost: Kleenex. I usually get one bad cold a year, usually in winter, and go through almost a whole box of tissues in a short period of time. And then there is the normal nose blowing from dry air and cold outdoor temperatures. Instead of throwing it in the trash, I pile it into the kitchen bins and then the backyard pile.<br />
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It all just disappears into the compost. I have yet to find any paper left when I'm ready to throw it into the garden. Corncobs will still be there, along with bits of tough stems and other plant material that takes longer to degrade. But that can just go back into the bin for another round.<br />
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<br />E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-8927068680939216332013-04-25T17:29:00.000-05:002013-04-25T17:29:36.113-05:00The best reply ever to a webinar confirmation<span style="font-family: inherit;">This absolutely has to be the best reply to a webinar
confirmation I have ever gotten, even if it wasn't really meant
for me.<br />
<br />
Last night I was checking my work email, and saw that two messages had
popped up. As many people do, I read them in reverse order (latest
first). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first one had the subject line, "<i>Ignore that last
email from me</i><i>!</i>"<br />
<br />
The text was, <br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello,</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<big><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My blushing apologies! I meant to
hit Forward </span></i></big></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<big><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">on the email I just mistakenly sent
you, not </span></i></big></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<big><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reply. Sorry about that.</span></i></big></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<br />
<br />
Hmmm. Curious to see what had been sent by mistake, I saw that the
same guy had sent an email a minute before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The subject line was,
"<i>Oh, yeah, or...</i>"<br />
<br />
On opening it, I saw that it was a confirmation from GoToWebinar
- the one that goes out automatically with log-on info when you
sign up for a webinar. Since it's <a href="http://www.ssti.us/Events/reimagining-a-legacy-transit-system-recommendations-for-changes-to-wilmington-delaware-transit-system/" target="_blank">a webinar I set up</a>, my name
appears in the "From" field.<br />
<br />
Just above the standard webinar information was a personal
message:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can sit on my lap in your living room while </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>we check this out on your laptop. </i><i>Vamos a ver. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kissology, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">M </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wow. I never knew people were so excited about our webinars!E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-57149405459306048222013-03-21T17:49:00.001-05:002013-03-21T17:49:41.190-05:00Business owner freaks out over bike lanes<div class="tr_bq">
Yes, it's been awhile since I posted. But I have a whole folder of thoughts marked "Save for Blog," so maybe I'll get some of them out.</div>
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Today's topic is the <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/bike-lane-proposal-for-north-sherman-avenue-has-businesses-up/article_08bc5530-8056-11e2-afed-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">freak out that the Northside Business Association had</a> about the redesign and re-striping of North Sherman Ave. Commonly called "putting <a href="http://www.madisonbikeblog.com/2013/03/madison-common-council-sherman-ave-bike.html" target="_blank">bike lanes on Sherman Ave</a>," even though the safety improvements are going to improve the safety for all users, including drivers.<br />
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The vote and the whole debate is now old news, but today one business owner - not even located on Sherman Ave - managed to revive it and piss off the biking community as well.<br />
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The owner of New Orleans Take-out, on Fordem Ave <a href="http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=39435" target="_blank">banned Alder Marsha Rummel</a> for supporting the project. Reaction was swift on the Bikies list.<br />
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I called the west side NOTO, which is pretty close to my house, and asked if I was banned as well, since I sit on <a href="http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=39273" target="_blank">two city committees that voted in favor</a> of the project, and I testified in favor. The owner - turns out it's a different owner, despite what the article said - told me no one was banned from his restaurant. He hadn't even read the article, but I think people had already started calling him.<br />
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Others called and expressed their displeasure. One wrote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After his initial diatribe we actually talked.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Among other things, he said his business has been down ever since bike lanes were put on Fordem. I questioned that since Fordem was always two-lane. I said perhaps the fact that the mural on the side of the building has deteriorated badly in the last two years and his sign needs work, it looks like he is not open or barely open at best. He actually said I had a point.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">John said he will have something in the Isthmus next week - let's wait and see.</span></blockquote>
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Another person wrote an email to the owner and got this reply:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">You are wrong, Bill. But, the city council running rough-shod over</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the city has to stop. There was no investigation into how this would</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">affect the city.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Public safety wasn't an issue. No other solutions were investigated</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">or discussed. Their rational was fabricated and there was no</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">economic impact statement done. It will affect property values. It</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">would nice to know how and how much. I used this incident to wake up</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the city to what's going on. It's time for civic involvement to curb</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">city council excesses. I knew that I would take a lot of heat but</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">someone has to, "Stop, enough." The council can't close off one of</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">only two ways to get to the north side and not think that it isn't</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">going to affect life on the north side.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
I simply couldn't let this response go without an answer. Although I didn't email the owner directly, I posted back on the list - which is widely read by even non-bicyclists because of the number of people and level of public involvement on the list:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not going to argue with this guy, since he obviously has some issues beyond not thinking bike lanes are a good idea. But, he is very wrong on so many points.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The city - specifically Traffic Engineering (not the most radical bunch) <b>did</b> investigate other solutions to documented safety issues on Sherman Ave. They tried other solutions for 20 years. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There <b>are</b> documented safety problems - for motorists, pedestrians, transit users, and bicyclists. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The City Council was following the <a href="http://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=2307038&GUID=8CF94D09-4349-4B9E-AA4F-158FBD5E7577" target="_blank">recommendations of Traffic Engineering</a>.[pdf] Again, and I say this with affection, "Not the most radical bunch, or known car-haters, IMHO."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every study of this type of roadway redesign has been shown to either have no effect or a positive affect on economic activity along the corridor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This project is not closing off any routes. Traffic Engineering estimates that the same volume of traffic will be able to use Sherman Ave after the re-striping. When you have a four-lane road with no left-turn pockets, the center two lanes become de-facto left-turn lanes, so only the outer lanes can be used for through traffic. Local users - drivers - have said that they worried about being hit from behind when stopped in the left lane to make a turn. This means some people might not even make that left turn into a business. The center turn lane removes this problem and reduces conflict points for left-turning vehicles from seven to two. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, this redesign was put forward twenty years ago by Traffic Engineering to make the road safer for DRIVERS.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Civic involvement is how this project got approved. Just because you disagree with the vote doesn't mean that no one listened to you. It just happens that there are others - perhaps even a large majority that disagree with you. </span></li>
</ol>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whenever I hear doomsday predictions from people that haven't even researched the subject, I always want to ask for a retraction after the horrible results fail to materialize:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smoking ban will kill all the bars in Madison! (And before that, "All the restaurants will close if smoking is banned!")</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Big building will lead to massive traffic jams every morning and night!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone will sell their house or property values will drop if this building gets built!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roundabouts will lead to terrible crashes because people don't understand them!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">No one will move into those apartments, and they will all become run down when the project fails economically!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">etc.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">[And someone reminded me of one of my favorite, which somehow slipped my mind: "If that bike path is built, crime will soar and housing prices will plummet!" Of course, exactly the opposite is true. Studies have shown that housing prices near paths are almost always higher than comparable houses farther away from paths.]</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every one of the above I have heard in the last ten years, and not one of the dreaded outcomes has happened.</span></blockquote>
<div class="yj6qo ajU" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 10px 0px; width: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-21506367189538855532012-12-21T21:32:00.000-06:002012-12-21T21:32:07.646-06:00Thanks for clearing your sidewalk!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaCAHBcvJFtAPko7EFMI-RokY6p3AJsykD9VUVEdhoRxeuwWHCCXbVYIGOMvzGaRB-4fLyFiHIfLcY0kuz-w-oJ792c6QoXC1OKU61Hv_Qc3bP21GwGhmeqe3F9hFY_Gup0Q9wpBbi0as/s1600/20121221_143616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaCAHBcvJFtAPko7EFMI-RokY6p3AJsykD9VUVEdhoRxeuwWHCCXbVYIGOMvzGaRB-4fLyFiHIfLcY0kuz-w-oJ792c6QoXC1OKU61Hv_Qc3bP21GwGhmeqe3F9hFY_Gup0Q9wpBbi0as/s200/20121221_143616.jpg" width="200" /></a>
First, thanks to all who promptly cleared their sidewalks. I know how hard it can be, as my back will attest after going through 3 rounds of manual snow/ice removal in the last 24 hours, including removing the<a href="http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/got-a-glacier-in-your-driveway-you-re-not-alone/article_47d26f0e-4ba2-11e2-8070-0019bb2963f4.html" target="_blank"> ice wall in front of my driveway</a> this morning. (Not only do I not own a snow-blower, but without a garage, I'm not sure where I'd put one.)</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6Q1Uj1NB0Xm68mZdLU8K-J7UloRetxHtr0d_-ZpIzvFBWvgW47R9LCT40XFrJiJLlVxJM7vo6BBxa9e_TasyRQNkv_yLdjCxZnLIcIFYhYlDLEDxaGuf5n5ejqYGb7xKLw3xt0f_OD8_/s1600/20121221_160817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6Q1Uj1NB0Xm68mZdLU8K-J7UloRetxHtr0d_-ZpIzvFBWvgW47R9LCT40XFrJiJLlVxJM7vo6BBxa9e_TasyRQNkv_yLdjCxZnLIcIFYhYlDLEDxaGuf5n5ejqYGb7xKLw3xt0f_OD8_/s200/20121221_160817.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the local business<br />
that didn't clear their walk, <br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5uqnqDcwocuzH3wAjsVSIwLD5AcXGTEE4Kxb06HojvdR9eLlbOjl3olL5KGFmRecAPqJkBDzycjIe9eN-26SBcixKajbxir2MgOSO-10arffdYC-2Kcsv2K6GwxAHtJmeVVjQKaqugZh/s1600/20121221_160808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5uqnqDcwocuzH3wAjsVSIwLD5AcXGTEE4Kxb06HojvdR9eLlbOjl3olL5KGFmRecAPqJkBDzycjIe9eN-26SBcixKajbxir2MgOSO-10arffdYC-2Kcsv2K6GwxAHtJmeVVjQKaqugZh/s200/20121221_160808.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even though they managed <br />to fully clear their parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am frankly stunned that some of the commercial properties - in front of apartment buildings and stores - are so poorly cleared. Since the stores are open for business and people are coming and going from the apartments, I know it's not a case of no one being able to physically get to the location.<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/SnowIce/snowRules.cfm" target="_blank">City ordinance requires</a> that sidewalks be cleared within 24 hours of the end of the storm. If you can't get all the ice off, the city expects that salt/sand be applied. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am very happy that we have this ordinance, because not everyone is physically capable of navigating snow banks, icy sidewalks, or narrow paths stamped down only by others' feet. A few years ago there was a news story about a student at the UW who was trying to get to classes but couldn't because he was in w wheelchair, and the sidewalk between his apartment and the corner had not been cleared. Not only that, he couldn't even get to a bus stop because the curb cuts at the corners had not been cleared. Even people with poor balance or less sure footing in general often can't navigate an uncleared sidewalk or blocked curb cut.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8_hWKU3Y56if66ONKuzpfziPhv_hhqqd8jWvz_r6Yun-zmEaKZio06JqKnKYI-X2xvD5aV3w2HwrPBEPcp3-Klde_wzdsIpTE41AqNIhsAg7eXhSWzq1t8B-FEKCLeQcGZGEITwBIkT1/s1600/20121221_144009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8_hWKU3Y56if66ONKuzpfziPhv_hhqqd8jWvz_r6Yun-zmEaKZio06JqKnKYI-X2xvD5aV3w2HwrPBEPcp3-Klde_wzdsIpTE41AqNIhsAg7eXhSWzq1t8B-FEKCLeQcGZGEITwBIkT1/s200/20121221_144009.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My neighbors shoveled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Walking is not just an enjoyable activity, it is an integral part of our transportation system. Every trip begins and ends with walking, and walking is certainly safer than driving when the roads are still not completely cleared. And when the buses are up and running again, we will all need to walk to get to and from the bus. (And again, riding the bus is both safer for the individual, but also keeps lots of cars off the roads, thereby making icy roads safer for others as well.)</div>
<div>
<br />
One of the other nice features of living in Madison is that there are <a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/SnowIce/sand.cfm" target="_blank">locations</a> around the city with sand piles (mixed with salt, which both keeps the salt from freezing into a solid mass and helps melt snow/ice.) This is free of the taking for use on your sidewalk, stairs, or driveway. I have used perhaps one bag of salt in 20 years of home ownership. I use the sand from the city instead. The darker color of the sand also helps the sun take care of the final melting.</div>
E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-37981810824294006572012-08-20T17:43:00.000-05:002012-08-20T17:43:34.260-05:00Convention cities worried about traffic. Umm.. transit?<a href="http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120819/NEWS/120818014/Convention-host-cities-gear-up-traffic-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE" target="_blank">Here's an article</a> about worried people are about the traffic snarls and delays getting to work that will be caused by the Democratic and Republican conventions in Charlotte, NC and Tampa, FL. They do mention working from home, but really, not one mention in three pages of transit?<br />
<br />
I know there's a transit system in Tampa. At least there is a regional system<a href="http://www.gohart.org/" target="_blank">http://www.gohart.org/</a>. And look, they even have information about the GOP convention. However, when I clicked on the link for the <a href="http://www.gohart.org/routes/hart/pdf/system_map_local_april_2012.pdf" target="_blank">System Map (local)</a> link I get a Page Not Found message. Not really helpful.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Charlotte has transit</a> too. They even put out a <a href="http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/news/pressreleases/Pages/081612.aspx" target="_blank">press release</a> about service during the DNC. I'm not overwhelmed by their website, but at least you know it exists.<br />
<br />
Maybe they should tell the folks at the paper that this would be a great time for locals to try it out instead of focusing on how bad the traffic is.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-66324781252246553392012-08-17T17:06:00.001-05:002012-08-20T17:43:49.248-05:00Transportation articles roundup - not just bikesMore articles with a few comments, OK, sometimes quite a bit of commentary.<br />
<br />
<b>The Atlantic Cities</b> ran an article titled, <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/08/why-do-cyclists-run-red-lights/2840/" target="_blank">Why Cyclists Run Red Lights</a>. I'm not entirely sure the research conclusions for Australia are valid here in the U.S., but at least someone is doing the research.<br />
<br />
<b>And the above article also refers</b> to the <i>NY Times</i> article, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/if-kant-were-a-new-york-cyclist.html" target="_blank">If Kant Were a New York Cyclist</a>. This article ponders the ethics - not the legality - of running red lights. A nice quote sums up the feelings of many bicyclists with regard to traffic laws:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laws work best when they are voluntarily heeded by people who regard them as reasonable. There aren’t enough cops to coerce everyone into obeying every law all the time. If cycling laws were a wise response to actual cycling rather than a clumsy misapplication of motor vehicle laws, I suspect that compliance, even by me, would rise.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b><i>The Guardian</i> (UK) suggests</b> that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/aug/06/cycling-lessons-driving-licence?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038" target="_blank">demonstrating cycling proficiency</a> be a requirement to get a driver's licence. In general, I think that getting a driver's licence in the U.S. us far too easy. In many countries it is hard and expensive to get a driver's licence and easy to lose it. People take it seriously. It's more like getting a professional certification. Unfortunately, many people in the U.S. consider driving a right instead of a privilege. We require a licence because operating a motor vehicle is dangerous to yourself and others. Maybe if we made it harder to drive we could cut down on the 33,000 people every year that die in motor vehicle crashes.<br />
<br />
<b>A New York Times transportation reporter</b> writes about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/nyregion/a-reporter-learns-to-ride-a-bicycle-as-an-adult.html?_r=2&ref=todayspaper" target="_blank">learning to ride a bike for the first time</a> - as an adult. He talks about how he felt he needed to learn for professional reasons. Bicycling has become a controversial and popular topic over the last few years, and he thought he needed to know first-hand how it felt to ride through the streets.<br />
<br />
From the other side, a couple years ago I taught an adult (OK an 18-year-old) how to ride a bike for the first time. I didn't write about it at the time because I didn't want to embarrass her, but it was thrilling for both of us when she started pedaling around the streets for the first time.<br />
<br />
And make sure to read the comments on the NY Times article. Over 200 so far. Although some complain about rude bicyclists on city streets, a great many talk about the joys of learning to ride as an adult. To many of us who ride, a bicycle gives a certain type of freedom of movement and a feeling close to flying. Seeing someone experience this, or hearing them describe that joy and freedom almost brings tears to my eyes.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/business/hassles-of-air-travel-push-passengers-to-amtrak.html?src=me&ref=general" target="_blank">Frustrations of air travel push passengers to Amtrak</a>.</b> The <i>NY Times</i> article title says it all. And it makes me want to weep, or maybe throw something, that we also had the chance to have rail service to Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago, and is was all thrown away due to short-sighted thinking and allegiance to the road builders.<br />
<br />
The article is about the NE Corridor, the most popular and only profitable service for Amtrak, but I've been seeing enough other articles about pending rail service - run as for-profit companies no less - to make me think rail travel is on the verge of a resurgence. After all, <a href="http://www.ssti.us/2012/08/productivity-of-trains-as-mobile-offices-a-factor-in-mode-selection/" target="_blank">you can work on the train</a> without being told to turn off your phone, computer, or music.<br />
<br />
<b>More articles about rail service</b> coming back, and it's sometimes a bit surprising where people have redeveloped an interest in trains:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-transportation/transportation/private-firm-planning-bullet-trains-texas-2020/" target="_blank">Dallas-Houston in 90 minutes</a>. No public money requested.</li>
<li>Gulf Coast mayors want to bring back Amtrak's <a href="http://www.pnj.com/article/20120816/NEWS01/120816012/Push-bring-Sunset-Limited-back-town" target="_blank">Sunset Limited between Jacksonville and New Orleans</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/xpresswest-high-speed-rail_n_1720543.html?ir=San+Francisco" target="_blank">LA to Las Vegas</a> in 1 hour 45 min. for $45 say investors in private rail service.</li>
<li>And even Florida is talking about the <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/public-transportation/100-mph-passenger-train-link-miami-and-orlando-no-government-funds.html" target="_blank">Miami-Orlando</a> service again, this time as a private company.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-45018297543849763572012-08-04T14:05:00.002-05:002012-08-04T14:38:20.217-05:00To the guy in the white Lexus hybrid SUV<i>Scene: Today, Saturday, August 4, 2012, approx 11:15 am. Westside
Farmers Market (DOT parking lot).</i><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had parked next to the above
mentioned white Lexus hybrid SUV. When I parked, I noticed that the
engine was running, and a woman was sitting in the passenger seat
looking bored, maybe slightly irritated, and definitely not smiling.
I sort of wondered why she had to run the engine, contributing to the
air quality problems on a hot summer day. (Last night there was an
air quality alert.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But I didn't say anything and went off
to to my shopping.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I returned, I was just opening the
door to get into the car when a man, apparently the driver of the
SUV, called out, “Whoa! Careful there.” I looked down, and my
door was nowhere near his car. I had opened the door slowly and
carefully. I nodded to him, indicating that I saw his car and was being careful.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;">SUV guy: “Well, it's a $63,000 car.
Don't want it to get scratched.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Me, silently, in my head: [Well, aren't
you special. If you really wanted to be sure no one would get near
your car, you could have parked it on the other side of the lot where
no one would park near you, but you couldn't be bothered to walk a
few dozen extra feet.]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Me, out loud, but still calmly and
politely: “Don't worry, I'm not going to ding your car. But since
we are having a conversation, you should know that there is a 15
minute idling ordinance in the City of Madison.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;">SUV guy, sarcastically: "Oh, well,
thanks for letting me know."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;">SUV guy, under his breath, as he gets
into the car: “Yeah, and you can stick that....”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Me, through the rolled up window: “Oh,
thanks for that comment too.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We both smile insincerely at each other
and give each other a thumbs up as he drives off, obviously both thinking we'd both
rather be using another finger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
[end scene]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Seriously, I didn't do anything except
try to get in my car, and this self-important jerk starts blustering
about his expensive car.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So if anyone knows someone that fits
that description, tell him he's a real piece of work. And tell him
his behavior and concern for his status symbol car is indicative of someone trying to compensate for, umm,
shall we say “shortcomings.”</div>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-26604070189498066522012-07-31T17:35:00.004-05:002012-07-31T17:35:52.826-05:00Bicycle news stories round-up - Late July 2012<i>I haven't been blogging much, but I've been <a href="http://www.ssti.us/category/news/" target="_blank">writing a lot at work</a>. Instead of something profound (as if my stuff is ever "profound"...), maybe I can just share a few things I run across. I'll also try to write more, but in the meantime...</i><br />
<br />
I'm going to try to post a few interesting stories about bicycling each week or two. Few comments, but mostly links to the articles.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/crime-and-courts-police-looking-to-beef-up-bike-cop/article_fc2d5150-cd1f-11e1-885a-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">Madison PD expands bike-cop program</a>. New bikes, more cops on bikes. The program as been very popular with both the officers and the public.<br />
<br />
The Atlantic Cities examines how <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/07/when-bad-guys-ride-bikes/2536/" target="_blank">bicyclists can sometimes be the bad guys</a>. Although some pedestrians are quick to complain about bicyclists being rude, generally pedestrians and bicyclists are allies.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/167498.aspx" target="_blank">Walking and Biking Pay Off</a>. The final reports are in, and an article for Federal Highways looks at the four Non-Motorized Pilot Transportation projects - one in Sheboygan.<br />
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Have you ever been accused of hating cars? Or heard people say the city is waging a <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/07/18/155917197/motorists-to-urban-planners-stay-in-your-lane" target="_blank">war on cars?</a> NPR examines this claim. And unless you think that this is a new argument, they look at the history of the American relationship with the car, one that has not always been loving.<br />
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<a href="http://www.masstransitmag.com/article/10724679/closing-the-gap-bike-shares-help-complete-the-last-mile" target="_blank">Bike sharing helps transit systems bridge the "last mile."</a> A good article in <i>Mass Transit</i> magazine explains that bike sharing can enhance a transit system by allowing customers to get from the bus or rail stop to their final destination quickly and easily. Chicago received money to get a bike sharing program off the ground from TIGER III funding by pointing out that the program will complement and improve <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-16/news/ct-met-transit-grant-1216-20111216_1_bike-sharing-cta-president-forrest-claypool-mass-transit" target="_blank">access to the transit system</a>. But as the <i>Mass Transit</i> article points out, the Federal Transit Administration won't fund the infrastructure for bike sharing, although the Federal Highway Administration will. And both the physical and political environment in a city must be friendly for bike sharing to work.<br />
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New York's huge <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/nyregion/new-york-city-tells-little-about-bike-share-delay.html" target="_blank">bike share program is still on hold</a>, and people are wondering what is holding it up. Even elected officials say the silence about the delay is disconcerting.<br />
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From Boston comes this blog post about <a href="http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/07/25/pay-people-bike-work/" target="_blank">why we should pay people to bike to work</a>. What the post really argues is that "<a href="http://urbanthoreau.com/parking_cashout.html" target="_blank">parking cash-out</a>" should be more common.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hsrc.unc.edu/directions/2012/summer/shared.htm" target="_blank">A study from Florida</a> shows that using "<a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/bsafe/28372.html" target="_blank">sharrows</a>" on roads without bike lanes, but which have on-street parking, decreases the percentage of bicyclists riding in the "door zone," that is the area where they could be hit by a car door if someone opens it into traffic. Unfortunately, the percentage decrease only went from 71 percent to 55 percent, meaning that more than half the bicyclists still are at risk. Maybe they need more bicycle education. <a href="http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2012-03-22/Top_News/The_dangers_of_bicycling_make_Florida__Most_danger.html" target="_blank">Florida isn't known as the safest place to ride</a> or <a href="http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign2011/" target="_blank">walk</a>, and bicyclists are probably not all that confident that they won't get hit anyway.<br />
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Madison installed a HAWK signal - otherwise known as a pedestrian beacon at Blair St on the E. Mifflin bike boulevard. This signal is supposed to help bicyclists and pedestrians cross Blair while not encouraging additional motor vehicle traffic on Mifflin. Some <a href="http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/trnews280rpo.pdf" target="_blank">recent research</a> shows that these types of signals are effective in reducing pedestrian crashes.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-91077696502456747732012-02-28T10:25:00.001-06:002012-02-28T14:13:27.677-06:00Keeping older people mobile shouldn't just involve wider roads and bigger signsThis is a theme in transportation policy: If people are driving off the road or otherwise having crashes, the obvious solution is to make the road more "forgiving," that is make it easier to drive faster and without paying attention. The solution isn't to make people drive slower or be more alert; it's an engineering problem, not a human problem.<br />
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Talk about enabling bad behavior. How would the tough-love people feel about fixing the problem of irresponsibility in other areas of our lives by making sure there aren't harsh consequences? I'd love to hear this in a debate among conservatives.<br />
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Here's another example, a report on "<i><u><a href="http://www.tripnet.org/docs/Older_Drivers_TRIP_Report_Feb_2012.pdf" target="_blank">Keeping Baby Boomers Mobile: Preserving Mobility and Safety for Older Americans</a></u></i>."<br />
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As a baby boomer myself, I hate to think that national researchers think I won't be mobile soon. But I admit that not only am I on the young end of baby boom, but we all get older, and it's probably a good idea to think about all those people that will need to stay connected to the world. We have built a country where driving is almost required to participate, so this report emphasizes bigger, brighter signs, wider roads with fewer curves, and less things to run into on the side of the road - like bus shelters, benches, trees, or buildings.<br />
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No mention at all that maybe people shouldn't drive, if they can't use the roads in a safe and responsible manner. How about building communities where driving is but one option to move around? How about making sure that people that can't drive can walk, take transit, or get a ride another way for their daily activities, entertainment, and social interactions?<br />
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But I'm going to let the words that came via email this morning, from David Burwell at the Carnegie Endowment, speak to that issue:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">Report of the Week: The Transportation Research Information Program (TRIP) the research affiliate of the Highway Users Alliance, has blessed America with a new report documenting innovative strategies for keeping our senior drivers safe on the roads. Noting that while seniors represent only 8% of the driving public but 18% of driver fatalities, the TRIP report, <i>Keeping Baby Boomers Mobile: Preserving Mobility and Safety for Older Americans</i>, suggests such innovations as requiring "clearer, brighter and simpler signs with large letters." Great idea--and how about the pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users--maybe we (actually, they, since your reporter is a baby boomer) all should be required to carry bright signs in large letters saying "please don't hit me!" Wider left turn lanes are another helpful idea, along with longer turning and exit lanes--providing more pavement for those pesky walkers and bicyclists to cross. One can page through the entire report for programs to provide baby boomers with options to driving--ride-sharing, mixed use developments that reduce the need to travel, more transit options--nope, not there. But this is a Highway Users Alliance publication after all. If seniors don't want to use the highways they are on their own. <a href="http://www.tripnet.org/docs/Older_Drivers_TRIP_Report_Feb_2012.pdf">http://www.tripnet.org/docs/Older_Drivers_TRIP_Report_Feb_2012.pdf</a>.</blockquote>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-89312371162827932672012-02-21T13:51:00.000-06:002012-02-21T13:51:29.066-06:00What do you mean you don't have guest bike parking?Today I am at the Wisconsin Bike Summit, being held at Inn on the Park in Madison. Since the weather and outlook was a typically late-winter mix of precipitation - a bit of wet snow, and maybe rain and/or snow later - I thought it would be best to try to find sheltered bike parking, if possible. My bike has weathered many years of abuse, but I'd rather not have a wet ride when I get ready to leave.<br />
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The Inn on the Park has valet car parking, so as I rolled up, I thought I'd ask if they had indoor or covered bike parking as well. After all, the Concourse, just a couple blocks away, has bike racks in their garage, and they have provided a separate bike room for storage for some conferences.<br />
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Alas, they looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked about sheltered bike parking. So I parked at the side of the building and covered my seat with the plastic bag I keep stashed under my seat.<br />
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Now, being a local, I was pretty sure that there was no covered bike parking at Inn on the Park. I also know where to find covered bike parking within a couple of blocks, but I was late for my meeting, so was hoping that some accommodations were made for the Bike Summit and the anticipated large number of people arriving by bike today.<br />
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I also wanted to make a point as a customer, and this is really the lesson from this blog post. People who drive are quick to tell businesses if they find it difficult or inconvenient to park. Ask almost any business, and they will be glad to tell you how important [car] parking is to their customers. No conference hotel would dismiss the [car] parking concerns of their customers. Yet I was being sent out into wet weather to fend for myself with my vehicle.<br />
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Bicyclists need to be more vocal about their needs as well. Accommodating bicycle parking needs is relatively simple and inexpensive. Yet we as bicyclists meekly accept locking up to a sign post, overcrowded rack, or in the rain. We as customers need to ask for safe and convenient bicycle parking.<br />
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I'm not suggesting being mean or indignant, just asking, "Excuse me, could you tell me where I can park my bike?" And if you get a blank stare, or if the bicycle parking is not serving your needs, drop a note to the management suggesting how they can better provide for bicyclists. After all, you are a customer too.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-89865119452951654082012-01-24T09:26:00.001-06:002012-04-16T16:57:04.547-05:00Are parking requirements holding up infill development?No, not city zoning requirements. In Madison, there are no (car) parking requirements in the downtown area. If someone wants to build an apartment building or offices with no parking, they are free to do so.<br />
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But I heard a strange story last week, and <a href="http://systemicfailure.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/who-determines-parking-requirements/">this article</a> echoes the same problem. A woman wanted to open a store on the Capital Square, but couldn't get a business loan. Why not? Because she had no parking. She wasn't worried about it. There are parking ramps quite close, and thousands of people would pass by her store by bus, foot, or bike every day. But the bank wouldn't give her a loan. No parking, no loan.<br />
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But as soon as the city turned the outer lane of the Square into a parking lane, viola! she got her loan. Doesn't matter how the majority of her customers got the the store. Doesn't matter that people get on and off the bus yards away. Doesn't matter if 10,000 people walk by during the Farmers' Market, or bike by as they come and go during the week. No parking in front, no loan.<br />
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What this means is that walkable, bikeable, transit friendly areas of the city are being penalized for being accessible and not car-oriented. If one small store couldn't get a loan, think what the restrictions would be for a larger building! [For more on how urban, mixed-use development is being screwed by federal loan rules, see <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/markbergen/2012/01/20/are-mayors-asking-washington-for-the-wrong-thing/">this recent Forbes article</a>.]<br />
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Now, most developers of larger buildings will build parking anyway, regardless of how expensive it is, because they think they can't rent out their space - residential, retail, or commercial - without parking on site. But if a brave soul decided that downtown Madison already had enough parking, and more office (or retail, or residential) space was a better thing to build than parking, they would be shut out of loans.<br />
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How crazy is that?E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-3594152959884854902012-01-23T14:05:00.001-06:002012-04-16T16:54:55.586-05:00Yes, you can ride the bus, even if you live way outside the city.Just because there isn't bus service to your home doesn't mean you can't arrive at work by bus.<br />
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This morning brought another conversation about driving, parking, costs, buses, and the possibility that transit and driving could be combined to save some money. It doesn't really matter what the details of the situation were today, because the conversation followed a familiar path. I've has variations on the same conversation dozens of times. This particular one occurred as a woman was trying to renew her parking permit on the UW campus.<br />
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Woman complaining about parking costs: It's so expensive. Parking should be free. Nobody else charges employees to park!<br />
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<i>Me</i>: [After pointing out that the UW Transportation Services gets no state funding, and has to somehow raise revenue to provide the parking she wishes were free. And that actually, many places charge for parking. Some employers in Madison don't provide any options other than parking in the public ramps, so that costs way more than the spots at UW.] Why don't you take the bus? Then you wouldn't have to pay for parking at all?<br />
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Woman: I live in [outlying community about 20 miles away], so I can't take the bus.<br />
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<i>Me</i>: Well, you could drive into an area in Madison with good bus service, and then take the bus from there. Just park on the street. Lot's of people do it. No cost for the parking, and then the UW provides the bus pass for you as well.<br />
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Woman: It takes too long.<br />
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<i>Me: </i>Actually, it's only about fifteen minutes from Hilldale. There are a bunch of buses that go from there right to the campus.<br />
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Woman: Well, what if my kids get sick? I have to have my car.<br />
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<i>Me</i>: The UW provides an emergency ride home. If your kids get sick, you can take get a ride to where you parked the car, and then drive from there.<br />
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Woman: I wish they told us that.<br />
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<i>Me</i>: They do. They send out an email every semester to all employees outlining the options other than driving alone and parking.<br />
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Woman: Well, I didn't see it.<br />
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<i>Me</i>: OK, well, now you know. It's just one option to save some money.<br />
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It doesn't matter what community this woman lives in, or whether she works at the UW or somewhere else, except that the UW has done an excellent job of providing information to all employees on how to get to and from work without driving. This woman gets all sorts of emails on this subject, and probably has seen posters at her office, received mailings, and even heard people talk about the bus pass program, but she rejected it for two reasons:<br />
1. She knows there's no bus in her community, so she assumes that a bus is not an option for arriving at work, never considering the possibility that she could take the bus part way and avoid that pesky parking fee.<br />
2. She's never taken a bus in her life, and it scares her to think about taking a bus.<br />
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OK, I'm speculating on that second point. But Madison is just small enough that there are a lot of people that still view buses as for poor people, brown people [oh, the horrors!], students, and crazy environmentalists. Buses are urban things, and she lives in a rural community. She wouldn't have the first idea how to find the correct bus, and she has no intention of finding out how to use the system.<br />
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So she'll continue to complain about the cost of parking. But maybe, just maybe, one day she will try riding the bus, just to prove that it won't work for her, and she'll find out it's actually pretty easy. Then she'll think about all the money she could save by giving up her parking spot, or getting flex parking, and maybe another multimodal commuter will be born.<br />
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And by the way, the City of Madison can also <a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/rideshare/">help you find ways to avoid driving (and parking)</a> every day. So you don't have to be a UW employee to get that <a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/rideshare/service.cfm">emergency ride home</a>. But if you happen to be a UW employee, and don't already know about the services they provide, check out the <a href="http://transportation.wisc.edu/resources/commutersolutions.aspx">Commuter Solutions</a> page. It's great information for anyone in Madison.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-80270313565416480032012-01-18T16:50:00.000-06:002012-01-18T16:50:40.393-06:00Lack of action on federal transportation bill actually benefits bike-ped projectsNot everywhere, of course, but Sheboygan County and Minneapolis, as well as Marin County, CA, and Columbia, MO, have gotten far more money than they could have every imagined. And the money just keeps coming.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Because those four communities: one rural county (Sheboygan), one suburban county (Marin), one small city (Columbia), and one large city (Minneapolis) each got $25 million in the last five-year transportation bill under the <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/ntpp.htm">Non-Motorized Pilot Program</a>. That's $5 million per year for the life of the SAFETEA-LU bill. The goal was to see if a massive influx of funding could change the mode share and significantly improve walking and biking.<br />
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But every time Congress fails to pass a <b>new</b> transportation bill, they pass a "continuing resolution", that keeps money flowing to the same programs, in the same amounts, for another chunk of time. We are now <a href="http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3934">835 days past due for a new transportation bill</a>. Yes, over two years. That means that each of the communities listed above have had another $10 million handed to them to keep trying to change their local transportation system towards being more pedestrian and bicycle friendly!<br />
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To see how they have done, you can click around on the NMPP site, but much of the information is not up to date, and many of the changes in behavior and mode split may not be apparent for a few more years. After all, some of the trails, bridges, and other infrastructure aren't even finished yet. And educational and encouragement programs are just starting to have an effect.<br />
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For us here in Wisconsin, Sheboygan County was definitely starting the farthest back, as far as being pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. They had to start almost from zero on their planning efforts and educational programs. The other had already done some of the work, and just needed the money to make their bike-ped dreams a reality.<br />
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We often read about how <a href="http://citiwire.net/post/2976/">great Minneapolis is for bicycling</a>. It was rated <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/1-bike-city-minneapolis"># 1 by Bicycling Magazine</a>, and is #2 among the top 50 largest cities in the percent of work trips by bike. [Note that Madison beats Minneapolis, and <a href="http://www.bfw.org/2011/09/23/bicycle-commuting-up-in-wisconsin-cities/">ties with Portland, OR,</a> but is not among the top 50 largest cities.] They have worked really hard, and I don't want to take anything away from the advocates, planners, engineers, elected officials, and everyone else that is working on making <a href="http://www.mndaily.com/blogs/newsstand/2012/01/17/bicycling-minneapolis-rise">Minneapolis bike-friendly</a>. But having $35 million (and still coming) drop on you helps a lot as well!E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-87871995244678603672012-01-11T13:44:00.000-06:002012-01-11T13:44:52.854-06:00The most dangerous consumer product in the USThis <a href="http://www.azdot.gov/CCPartnerships/News/NRel3123.asp">AZ press release</a> makes some very good points about driving and road safety. As I am fond of saying, "If any other consumer product had this sort of safety record, it would be pulled from the market within a week."<br />
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When I say things like that, people point out that the majority of Americans either drive or ride in a car every day, so it's not surprising that we have a few deaths. OK, let's look at this another way. What if 30,000+ people were killed every year using a computer, or a credit card? Those are some pretty mundane task that tens of millions - maybe more than a hundred million - of people use every day. Would we accept someone using a computer dying every 15 minutes? Would we accept 30,000+ people dying from turning on the lights in their homes or making coffee?<br />
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Why is it acceptable to lose this many people every year by motor vehicle? Especially when the majority of those deaths could be easily prevented by making sure that people take driving seriously. No, you can't talk on the phone. No, you can't drink alcohol. No, you can't go over the speed limit. Not OK. A motor vehicle is a large, complex, dangerous machine, which is why we require people to have a license to operate one.<br />
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In many countries of the world, getting a driver's license is hard and expensive. And losing one is easy. In some European countries, you can lose your license for a year if you get your first DUI, and if you get three, ever, you will never be issued a license again, for the rest of your life.<br />
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Yes, we make it easy to get a driver's license, and hard to lose it, in this country because most people have no other way to get around, if they can't drive. Children can't get to school, unless their parents drive them. People wouldn't be able to work, shop, visit friends and relatives, see the doctor, or otherwise do normal activities. Of course, 30% of the US population doesn't drive, but they are considered some sort of freaks, those too young, too old, too cheap, too frail, or too environmentally conscious to drive or own a car.<br />
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But we need to rethink this whole transportation thing. People shouldn't be trapped in their cars to live, work, and move about. It's too expensive - for both individuals and taxpayers, too unsustainable - in so many ways, and yes, too dangerous to have everyone doing it.<br />
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My mantra: "Driving should be a choice, not a requirement."E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-42865144652646611942012-01-04T17:27:00.001-06:002012-04-16T16:53:43.498-05:00Transit funding crisis: Maybe we should treat city services the same wayTransit services across the country are facing painful questions regarding service cuts vs. fare hikes, as shown by this <a href="http://t4america.org/resources/transitfundingcrisis/">interactive feature at Transportation for America</a>. Which is worse?<br />
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Fare hikes often hit the poor and transit-dependent<span style="color: red;">*</span> very hard. A fare hike from $1.50 to $2.00 might as well be a change in gas prices from $3.00 to $4.00, plus a hike in registration, insurance, and parking. Each represents a 33% hike in transportation costs.<br />
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But service cuts also hit these groups as well. They may need to ride the bus at odd hours or access locations that are not on core routes<span style="color: red;">+</span>. Transit dependent people may not be able to get to work, the doctor, shopping, or to visit family and friends unless there is service when and where they need to go. If the bus isn't running, they often have no alternative.<br />
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So when faced with limited funds, do you put them into service that benefits the greatest number of riders? That would likely be the core routes during commuter hours: Buses that run into downtown in the morning and out of downtown in the evening. Or do you continue to provide what is known in the industry as "lifeline service?" That would be buses that run to areas of the city with no other transit service, but also may have low-income populations, jobs, and services that people need. If you cut that off, those areas are then off limits to anyone without a car, or a sturdy set of legs to bike or walk.<br />
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An article today outlined <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/01/03/mass_to_outline_possible_transit_fare_hikes/">that debate going on in Boston</a>, but the article could have been written about almost any city in the country.<br />
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So I started thinking about how we decide who gets transit service. In Madison, there are plenty of areas of the city that do not have transit service, usually on the edge of town where there aren't many people (yet.) Metro doesn't have the money to extend transit service to these areas, so everyone that lives, works, or shops there generally has to travel in and out of the neighborhood by car.<br />
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I believe that transit is a core city service, and maybe we shouldn't be building in areas where we can't provide transit service. We pick up trash and leaves, even though there are very few people there. I can assure you that people would scream bloody murder if their streets weren't plowed. It's expensive to provide services in areas where there isn't much density. you have to drive all those city vehicles up and down the street for only a handful of people, instead of serving hundreds of people that live along the same length of street in my neighborhood.<br />
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And then I head people complaining that they see buses with almost no one on them. Yeah? Well, I see lots of streets with almost no one on them as well. Those streets get plowed, fixed, serviced by the city.<br />
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Maybe we can save some money by just not providing services to those areas of the city with a population density of less than X units per acre. Pick a number. Or a traffic volume. "We don't really need to plow that street, there aren't that many people living there anyway, and money is tight." Or maybe, "I'm sorry folks, you will have to carry your trash, recycling, brush and leaves to a main street, because it's just not efficient to have the truck come down your street for so few people." After all, they all have cars anyway, they can put all that stuff in the back of the car for a few blocks to save all the taxpayers of the city some money.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">* </span>Transit dependent is a term for those without any other way to get around - the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and those who simply can't afford a car. The opposite group would be "choice riders," who can chose to use transit or some other option, such as driving.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">+ </span>Core routes are those that serve the downtown, major destinations, major corridors, etc. They often run evenings, weekends, holidays, and have frequent service.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-15637315428790924242011-12-29T16:44:00.000-06:002011-12-29T16:44:19.841-06:00An entrepreneurial idea: We need a coffee shop without the coffeeNo, not really. And I love all our local coffee shops, each with their own, slightly different feel, clientele, music, snacks, and vibe. But often I go to the coffee shop just to use the internet and the chairs, and buy the beverages or snacks to justify using the facilities. What I really want is a place to work besides my house.<br />
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So I'm going to again do something that people hate, and say, "Someone should...." It's true, I'm not going to do it myself, for a multitude of reasons, but I think it's a great business idea waiting to happen. And I'm not the only one.<br />
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Madison has tons of people that work from home, or more precisely work from the coffee shop, library, or anywhere else they can get an internet connection. Until recently, I was one of them. (I now have a real office, but that's another story.) Like many people, I have trouble getting work done at my house. I'm distracted by housework, cooking, bills, or something else in easy reach. Besides, I get a little squirrelly working at my house with no other humans around.<br />
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Other people can't work at home because there are too many people around: roommates, kids, spouses or neighbors.<br />
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Having a little separation between home and work - literal and figurative - is necessary for many people.<br />
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The problem with working in a coffee shop is that you have to carry your stuff around in a bag or backpack. You have to pack it all up if you need to use the bathroom, make a phone call, or run an errand. And maybe you aren't in the mood for anything to eat or drink. Maybe the music just doesn't suit you, a bunch of people just came in an started talking loudly just when you needed to concentrate, or all the good chairs are taken.<br />
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What many of us really need is a place to work that isn't home, and doesn't require a separate purchase each time you come in (or every hour or two, depending on the location.) And it would be nice to be able to leave a few things there, so you don't have to drag it around all day, every day. I could do just fine with one drawer, or even a little cube locker. But we don't really need, and can't afford, a full-on office. We just want a place to work.<br />
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My ideal would be a shared office with tables/desks, some comfortable chairs (I prefer to type sitting in a chair, with my laptop on my knees), and some locking file cabinets or small lockers. Maybe a small conference room and/or a separate room where you can take a phone call without bothering other people. Internet service would be provided, but no mail or phone service. The conference room would be available on a sign-up basis, and any other meetings would have to take place off-site. A fridge and microwave would be useful, if only to save a few bucks - now that we are paying rent, don't need to buy that sandwich at the coffee shop to justify sitting there, and in case we are hungry but want to keep working.<br />
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As to cost, maybe $100 or less per month. I have no idea what office space goes for, but there has to be some underutilized offices around. Hell, even a big loft/warehouse area could be fixed up to make it usable. Many people are probably spending $100/month at coffee shops as the price they pay for sitting there.<br />
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Somewhere in the downtown/campus area would seem the best location, because that seems to be where people are already working. Besides, a successful shared office would need to be close to other businesses, food, coffee shops, bars, etc.<br />
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There would need to be some sort of agreement among those using the office as to noise, acceptable uses of the internet - so no one hogs the bandwidth, food/beverage rules, and cleaning. Ideally, each renter would be given a key fob that would open a door to the office, so there would be no set hours. You could rent access monthly or yearly, and when your rental period or membership was over, the owner/manager would simply deactivate your access.<br />
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I just mentioned this idea to an acquaintance, who also works from home. This person is very well connected and successful, but said he would definitely utilize something like that. And he told me that another person had just expressed an interest in the same type of facility.<br />
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Apparently, these arrangements are pretty common in larger cities. Someone should open one in Madison. Not me, but "someone."E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-35336433004005975692011-11-27T21:21:00.000-06:002011-11-27T21:21:04.460-06:00Don't make people pay for parking they don't needBelow is an email I wrote a year ago regarding a development in our neighborhood. I happened to find a printed copy while cleaning out some files, and decided to post it. While this was written about one particular project, it summarizes a problem that is common to many residential developments: Parking is included in the cost of more expensive apartments, and if a resident doesn't need the parking, they have no way of recovering the cost of the parking they are paying for.<br />
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Despite what some people think, not everyone owns a car. Especially in urban areas, parking can be quite costly, and no one should be forced to pay for it if they don't want it.<br />
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So below is the letter I wrote to city commissions when our neighborhood association wanted to force the developer guarantee a parking spot as part of the rent for all residents. They wanted to avoid more people parking on the streets in the neighborhood, but I thought their concerns were misplaced.<br />
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<blockquote>I know I may be in the minority among the people you hear from, but I will reiterate what I said at the meeting Monday night. Requiring all tenants to pay for a parking spot, whether they own a car or not, is both unfair, and bad for the neighborhood. If [the project] includes a parking spot with every apartment, you are forcing people to pay for something they don't need, don't want, and won't use. And it's not a community asset, like a green roof, patio, or work out room, that tenants may or may not use. A parking spot adds significantly to the cost of an apartment, so makes the apartment less affordable.<br />
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It also makes the apartment only attractive to those who own cars. Is that what [the neighborhood] wants? Is that good for the neighborhood? Do we want to only have drivers and car owners moving into an already crowded area? I don't think so.<br />
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To make sure I had my facts straight, I checked with [a representative of the developer.] They do not want to allow tenants to reassign the spot - the one they are required to pay for - to a friend, work colleague, or other party. Tenants would not be able to resell or rent the spot to someone else. [The building owners] considers that too much of a security risk.<br />
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So the expensive parking spot included with the apartment will not only be unused by the tenant, but will not be able to be used to get one more car off the neighborhood streets during the day. Again, is this in the interest of the neighborhood?<br />
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So, my request to you is: Do not ask that a parking spot be included with each apartment. It is bad public policy and bad for the neighborhood. If you are determined to require a parking spot be paid for by each tenant, then ask that [the building owners] allow the spots to be reassigned to outside parties. This will be more fair to tenants that do not own cars, and it will also get cars off our neighborhood streets.<br />
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As to commercial and visitor parking - i.e. short term parking - as a neighbor that lives one block from the site, I can tell you that there IS parking available on our neighborhood streets, although one might have to walk a block or two. Despite what some think, we live in an urban area, and one cannot expect to park directly in front of one's destination. The streets are a public area, and anyone can use them, including for parking. We have two hour limits during the day, and that's appropriate. I have no problem with commercial customers parking on my block, nor do I think that a lack of commercial or visitor parking will doom the project.<br />
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When we visit the Monroe, Atwood, or Williamson St areas, whether to visit friends, shop, or enjoy dinner or a drink, we often have to park on the street, and possibly several blocks away. (OK, Monroe has a parking garage at Trader Joes, but the east side areas do not.) That does not keep us from visiting these areas, nor does it seem to impede the success of businesses. Just as with our neighborhood, these areas were built for and continue to be accessible by foot, bike, and transit. People who live and visit these area expect that parking may be less convenient, but they also enjoy a wonderful neighborhood experience, highlighted by easy, pleasant walking. </blockquote><blockquote>Please don't let a few loud voices push you to make suggestions to the city committees that are in opposition to the interests of the neighborhood and the best practices of urban design. Several people have contacted me since the meeting to tell me they agree with me, so I am not alone. We all know that those opposed are often the loudest and most strident, but maybe not the majority.</blockquote>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-75271410561347076112011-11-25T21:54:00.000-06:002011-11-25T21:54:12.771-06:00Black Friday recall efforts: Midnight at Hilldale TargetEarlier this week, I tried to find any group organizing for the Hilldale Black Friday midnight sale. Although I couldn't find any official efforts, after a little emailing in the neighborhood, I found some other folks that were already planning on going down Thanksgiving night around 11 PM. I was glad to know I wouldn't be alone. It's more fun with others, and it's safer too. You never know what you are going to run into out there.<br />
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At first we were on the curb across from Target, just south of the University Ave entrance to Hilldale. When the line to go in the door grew to where it reached the University Ave sidewalk, decided to go over there to walk up and down the line. I knew that the sidewalk on University Ave was public, so it was OK to stand there.<br />
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Unfortunately, one of the Target employees was not so knowledgeable about the public right of way, and she came over to tell me that the sidewalk was private property, and I couldn't be there with the petitions.<br />
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Hmmm... I hate to act like a know-it-all, or pull out my past service on the City Council, but I was definitely not moving. I tried to be polite and point out that the sidewalk was legally part of the "street," and so was public. The employee kept saying, "This isn't the street, it's the sidewalk. We paid for this sidewalk." Yes, Target was required to pay to have the sidewalk installed as part of the development, but they do not own it. It's City property.<br />
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Ms Target Employee finally told me that if I didn't leave, she would call the police. I responded that she was free to do so, but I could guarantee that the police would agree with me about my right to be there. In order to not waste the time of the police, I did point out to her that I had been on the Council when the Target development was approved, and I was quite aware of the public right of way. She still thought I was on private property.<br />
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Of course, when the police arrived, they said I was completely within my rights to be on the sidewalk, and as long as I was not harassing the customers, I and the rest of the volunteers could stay. We had been very polite, and as a matter of fact, had mostly not even talked to people unless they approached us first.<br />
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I think the employee was completely shocked that, not only was I not intimidated by her, but I was willing to risk dealing with the police. Of course, since I knew I was within my rights, I wasn't bothered at all.<br />
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So not only did I collect a bunch of signatures, but I struck a blow for our civil liberties.<br />
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So to all you recall volunteers: Know where the public/private line is, and don't let anyone tell you you can't be on the public sidewalk. (We actually moved to the terrace so we wouldn't block people walking or standing in line, but that was being polite, not a matter of our rights.)<br />
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And if you go to Hilldale, Frey St, which runs on the other side of the Target parking lot from University Ave, and the bus stop across from Sundance Theater are also public right of way.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-25686766291018800892011-11-20T11:52:00.000-06:002011-11-20T11:52:17.154-06:00Recall rally and petition circulation - notes and pics - Nov 19, 201Just some random thoughts and photos from the rally yesterday.<br />
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Even though I am recovering from a cold, and being out in the cold and shouting in the street probably isn't the best thing for my health, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend the kick-off rally at the Capitol today. Besides, you can only stand so much "recovery" inside before you come down with another ailment: cabin fever.<br />
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So off I went, first to a pre-rally caffeination session at Barriques with some other lefties, and then up to the main rally. After walking around for a bit, I found a booth where you could grab supplies to circulate recall petitions. I had brought my own clipboard and pens, so all I needed was the paperwork: one recall petition for Walker, and a second one for Kleefish.<br />
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We can't forget the recall for Kleefish, because if we get rid of Walker without getting rid of her, she'd become Governor. Hard to believe there would be anyone worse than Walker, but I think she would fit that role.<br />
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The organizers told me to stand at the top of State Street, on the Capitol side, but there were already so many volunteers there that I went down State Street a bit. We also had stickers to give people once they signed so that other people wouldn't bug them. I think I gave out ten times as many stickers as the number of signatures I got, but that's OK. People were glad to get a sticker, partly in support of the cause, and partly so they wouldn't keep being asked to sign. I gave stickers to little kids, teens too young to vote, out of state supporters, and citizens of other countries. It was wonderful to see so many people wanting to do anything they could to support the recall.<br />
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I finally filled all the sheets I had for both candidates and gave out all the stickers I had. I was feeling like it was time to get out of the cold, but I walked around a bit to see some of the signs.
It all had a bit of a deja vu feeling, since we were all out in the cold, rain, and snow just 8-9 months ago. </style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:><br />
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<style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:="">There were the creative signs; the Madison Fire Dept bagpipes and kilts; parades and signs from AFSCME, MTI, ATF, and other unions; even the Teamsters truck was back. Everyone was back in the street, shouting, chanting, marching, organizing, and being supportive of each other. There were smiles all around, but also that same frustration and anger, the feeling that our progressive state had been taken from us. </style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYK9iaCMkFHenZfE4dgvpVMKUxWmGqVAtVnKssAd8uIjG7PFQSNztj4freF4kQ9MmLLJ2ku9Cyh6qMxrZ6xQwGZgMhchcKdeEVrRfWW9h7_-bKhIwTcRGOYtOD1pvEvbnLyI_YrigtJJ8/s1600/PB190022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYK9iaCMkFHenZfE4dgvpVMKUxWmGqVAtVnKssAd8uIjG7PFQSNztj4freF4kQ9MmLLJ2ku9Cyh6qMxrZ6xQwGZgMhchcKdeEVrRfWW9h7_-bKhIwTcRGOYtOD1pvEvbnLyI_YrigtJJ8/s200/PB190022.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> One thing I thought, as I walked around, was, "Well, it seems that Walker is good for a certain category of small business: Those in Madison selling food near the Square, and those printing and selling t-shirts, bumper stickers, and pins." The business was brisk at the food carts, bars, and coffee shops. You could hardly get in anywhere within two blocks of the Square. And there was a healthy selection of ways to express your feelings by wearing, pinning something on yourself, or sticking something on your car (or bike.)<br />
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<style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:="">I had a few errands to do, and as I entered one business, well away from downtown, one of the employees smiled and said, "I bet know where you were today." She offered to sign my petition (I had picked up some extra sheets) without me saying anything, and another employee quickly came over as well. They both implied that they could only sign because the boss wasn't around, but they were very eager. (I don't want to get them in trouble, so I won't say where I was.) </style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:><br />
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<style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:=""><style="clear: both;="" center;"="" text-align:="">Everyone I know seems to be passing around petitions, volunteering to stand in the street, or knock on doors. I was worried that the energy would be gone by now, that people would be resigned to the regime, but it seems they were just waiting for the signal to rush back into action. I hope the action and momentum is as good in other parts of the state as it is here in Madison, because we are going to need it to get all the signatures in time.</style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:></style="clear:>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-17239653355165607272011-11-18T14:45:00.001-06:002012-08-07T17:10:31.443-05:00Stop the bike vs car wars - we're all at fault<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC69gA0aTQcei013H47l2ApHF-cfOCSfIeaegyVFMAqbn_yFqJ4J-p9yLnjqsSgTFB-2X_WiRmeDJ2E0e_C-AQAJxpckD7SexY7GZkYWBYGZuw0Jr8LMQE9VUyKQgBHdpaTDdvUPj4-wjd/s1600/bike+commuters+on+W+Main+-+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC69gA0aTQcei013H47l2ApHF-cfOCSfIeaegyVFMAqbn_yFqJ4J-p9yLnjqsSgTFB-2X_WiRmeDJ2E0e_C-AQAJxpckD7SexY7GZkYWBYGZuw0Jr8LMQE9VUyKQgBHdpaTDdvUPj4-wjd/s200/bike+commuters+on+W+Main+-+cropped.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
No matter what mode of transportation you name: cars, bikes, feet, bus, trains, airplanes, or rollerblade, someone is going to gripe about people that use that form of transportation. With a background in bicycle advocacy, I have heard more than my share of gripes about the way bicyclists and motorists operate.<br />
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Instead of arguing who's right or wrong, or what road users break the law more often, I try to diffuse the tension and give people a little perspective with a couple of thoughts.<br />
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First, my personal opinion is that <b>all</b> road users should obey <b>all</b> traffic laws all the time. That includes signalling turns, not speeding, yielding to pedestrians, not going through an "orange" light, full stop at stop signs, etc. But we all know that everyone breaks at least some laws every time they take to the road. Yes, even you. Let's try to concentrate on stopping people from doing things that are going to endanger other people.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And before all my biking friends jump down my throat, and if anyone else is interested in a perspective on why bicyclists blow stop signs, <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/why-cyclists-blow-through-stop-signs-its-physics.html">here's a little article from Toronto</a> to give the other side.</span><br />
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My second approach, to try to get people off the "who's worse" train, is that it's not the vehicle that causes bad behavior. It's the person using the vehicle. And most bicyclists are also drivers. They are probably scofflaws when they drive as well. You may see them, or only pay attention when they are on their bikes, but they probably get behind the wheel and break the law there too. If someone is in a hurry or is reckless when riding their bike, then they are likely in a hurry and reckless in a car as well.<br />
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And finally, people ask me what they can do to improve the driving (or biking) of others. As an elected official, people constantly asked me how to get people to stop speeding, or how to get people to yield to pedestrians. Well, it's not easy, and we all have a part. We have to speak up, and it may be speaking up to those we love.<br />
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How often do each of us ride in a car with someone else, and notice that person speeding, blowing a red, not coming to a full stop before making a turn, or not yielding to a pedestrians? And how many of us say something to our spouse, friend, co-worker, neighbor, parent or sibling? If we see our neighbor blow the stop sign at the end of the block every day, and don't say anything about it, how can we expect anyone else to get through to that person?<br />
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So yes, the police can run around ticketing people for every little thing, but that is going to cost you, the taxpayer a ton of money. Contrary to what some people think, it costs the city money to enforce those laws. The time required to stop someone, do a license check, write the ticket, file the paperwork, and then possibly go to court when the person contests the ticket, is far more in staff time and resources than the money coming in from that ticket. That's not to say that we shouldn't enforce traffic laws, but we are never going to get perfect compliance by using law enforcement only.<br />
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Why do people yield to pedestrians in California and many other parts of the US? Because that's just the way things are done, and you learn that from the time you start to walk. It's cultural, like being stoic about cold weather in Wisconsin. (Or a more negative cultural tradition, drunk driving.)<br />
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We all have to start being responsible for our own behavior and also speaking up when we get the chance. Don't sit silent if you see someone speeding, and you are sitting in the car next to him. Say something. And let's all watch our own behavior as well. none of us is perfect, regardless of whether we walk, bike, drive, roll, or run.<br />
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We can make the streets safer for everyone, but we all have to be part of that change.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-59093622461993034662011-09-19T12:57:00.000-05:002011-09-19T12:57:05.917-05:00Survey on interest in downtown bike center<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>I'm using this blog as a way to have a link I can post elsewhere, so excuse the fact that this looks like an email. It was an email. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There has been much discussion over the last few years about building a "bike station" in either the downtown or on campus. Because Bike Station is a company, the generic term "bike center" is used below and in the survey. Now there is a real possibility of having a bike center built downtown, just blocks from the Capitol, the GEF buildings, Farmers' Market, Capital Square activities, city/county government, and thousands of other downtown workers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Consultants are interested in seeing what the interest is in a bike center and what amenities people would like to see. Please pass on this link, distribute it in emails, or post it in whatever method you can to get responses to the survey.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>This is NOT just for current bicycle commuters!</b> We want to hear from others at your workplace, friends, clubs, Facebook, listservs, etc. The city is trying to get as much input from the public as possible, from many different groups and areas of the city.</span><br />
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</div><div>The city would like your input on interest in a bike center (aka "bike station") for a the redevelopment of the area that is currently occupied by the parking ramp next to the Great Dane downtown. </div><div><br />
</div><div>More information is in the email copied below from the consultant. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you don't want to read the whole thing, the survey link is:</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8LXYMM8" style="color: #3333cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.surveymonkey.com/s/8LXYMM8</span></a></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*</div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 10pt;">[start forwarded message from consultant]</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 10pt;">The City of Madison has recently initiated a planning process for the future redevelopment of the Government East Parking Ramp, which is located on Pinckney Street. The site is part of the recently named Judge Doyle Square, which is bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, East Doty Street, East Wilson Street, and the parcel containing the parking ramp (i.e., Block 88 and Block 105). The planning for Judge Doyle Square is part of a larger effort to form a bold vision for the South-East area of the Central Business District, which will place an emphasis on transit-oriented development. The master planning process for Block 105, which is being coordinated by a consultant team that includes Kimley-Horn, Potter Lawson, and Urban Assets, will be completed over the course of the next four months. <u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 10pt;">The redevelopment of Block 105 will include the construction of an underground parking ramp as well as public improvements to Pinckney Street. One of the proposed uses for the redevelopment is a bicycle Center. Mobis Transportation Alternatives (<a href="http://www.mobisinc.com/" style="color: #3333cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.mobisinc.com</span></a>) has been engaged to analyze the feasibility of including a bicycle center in the redevelopment and to develop a concept plan for its size, amenities, and operations.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 10pt;">We need your input in order to determine the potential demand for a bicycle center in Downtown Madison, what amenities it should include, and how it might be used by the greater Madison community. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. It can be accessed by clicking the link below. If you are not taken directly to the survey, please copy the address and paste it into your browser.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8LXYMM8" style="color: #3333cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.surveymonkey.com/s/8LXYMM8</span></a><u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For more information on the Judge Doyle Square Master Plan process, please go to:<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/judgeDoyleSquare" style="color: #3333cc;" target="_blank">www.cityofmadison.com/<wbr></wbr>planning/judgeDoyleSquare</a><u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 10pt;">Thank you for your participation! Your input is very important.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u></u>[end forwarded message]</div></span></div>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-36450130769257493572011-08-05T16:03:00.000-05:002011-08-05T16:03:38.388-05:00Is the gas tax the next Tea Party target?That's the question asked by<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/04/news/economy/gas-tax/index.htm?iid=HP_LN"> this article</a> from yesterday. There's something for everyone to hate hate in some of the comments from Grover Norquist and other anti-tax people.<br />
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Gas taxes shouldn't be used for transit or bicycle/pedestrian projects. (Despite the fact that these projects actually take pressure off many roads, and are a far cheaper way of moving people than single occupancy vehicles.)<br />
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Federal regulations require union labor, which of course is a waste of money. We can have unskilled labor with no negotiating power build our roads, bridges, and tunnels.<br />
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The states can do things much more efficiently, and can decide if they want to raise their own taxes to pay for transportation. Where to start on that one? I'm sure the Wisconsin governor and legislators will be glad to raise taxes and fees.... And of course, the interstate system is a federal highway system. There is a reason it is fairly predictable; you pretty much know what it's going to look and feel like regardless of what state you are in. That's because it has federal standards.<br />
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Note also that there is actually a teaser headline/link in the middle of the article that says the GM CEO wants to RAISE the gas tax $1.00 per gallon. I didn't click on that link, but it's sort of an interesting juxtaposition. That position is reiterated at the end of the article, where it notes that the US Chamber of Commerce also supports a hike in the gas tax.<br />
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This is all coming to a head, because the multi-year federal transportation bill - which is somewhere between $200 - $500 billion (yes, that's a B), is on what is known as a continuing resolution. It was supposed to be written, debated, argued over, and somehow passed in a year and a half ago. (You can go <a href="http://t4america.org/">here</a> to see the clock on how long overdue it is.) Since we can't just stop building, maintaining, and operating our roads, bridges, tunnels, transit systems, non-motorized trails, and every other surface transportation system, Congress keeps extending the current bill, with all it's current policies and programs by six months at a time to keep the money flowing and the system working. The most recent continuing resolution will run out at the end of September.<br />
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Cue the scary music.E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508297173552567556.post-64382841568902597112011-08-05T12:15:00.000-05:002011-08-05T12:15:04.829-05:00Downtown Bicycle Parking: Issues and SolutionsBelow is a document that I wrote in 2005, and recently edited as part of a discussion at several city committees on downtown bicycle parking. It was presented at the Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission in July, and has been sent to the State Street Design Oversight Committee as well. (It's long, but I wanted to get all my thoughts on the subject out in one place.)<br />
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At the July PBMVC, we also saw a <a href="http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/40bd5880-7799-4930-904e-b477fa9b45ca.pdf">draft proposal from Rebecca Cnare</a> of the City Planning Department, which outlines some ways to increase bicycle parking in the downtown. <br />
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This topic is an ongoing discussion at city committees as well as among downtown business groups. I will point out that several of the suggestions in my report have already been or are about to be implemented, such as bike corrals - adding racks in the street where a car parking spot is currently located - and valet bike parking at Concerts on the Square, organized by Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.<br />
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In a few days - or whenever I finish it - I will post another document I wrote about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike_station">bike stations</a>. As part of the rebuilding/redevelopment of the <a href="http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/garagesLots/facilities/govtEast.cfm">Government East Parking Ramp</a>, a bike station has been proposed, and the UW has also discussed adding one to Union South. <br />
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<div style="background-color: transparent;"><h1 dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.6350088191684335" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BICYCLE PARKING ON STATE STREET </span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(and parts of the Capital Square.)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h1><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Issues and Solutions</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written by Robbie Webber</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">originally in approx. 2005, later revised and expanded summer 2011</span></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem – inadequate bicycle parking</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is clear there is a lack of adequate bicycle parking on State Street. One only needs to walk up and down the street to see that there are many more bicycles than there are spots to park them. Even existing racks contain many more bikes than they were designed to accommodate.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why it matters</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If anyone thinks that this is just an inconvenience to bicyclists, I must point out that it is not. With nowhere appropriate to park bicycles, they are locked to benches, sign poles, parking meters, trees, fences, or other objects. They lean against buildings or other vertical surfaces. They then become pedestrian hazards or damage street furniture.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Appropriately accommodating bicycle parking makes business sense – and cents. A few years back we were proposing to build a band new car parking ramp for $11 million (the Mid-State St Ramp.) The yet-to-be-designed ramp to replace the Government East Ramp has an unknown, but likely very high price tag. We added 27 auto spots on the Square. We hear constantly about the need for auto parking in downtown. Many, many bikes can be parked in the space needed for just one car, and the cost is pennies compared to even one underground auto spot. Yet we have no plan to accommodate the thousands of visitors to State Street that arrive by bicycle. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just as with car parking, businesses with convenient bike parking gain customers. Those without spots lose the impulse buyers or convenience diners. One reason people bike to downtown is because they can ride up to their destination. But if there is nowhere to park in front of the building, they may bypass that location for another.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The barriers to more bicycle parking</span></h1><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever I have asked about increased bicycle parking, city staff points out all the locations on the sidewalk where a standard 3-4 space racks </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cannot</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be placed. There is only a limited amount of sidewalk, and many uses compete for the space. Besides a place to walk, the sidewalk on State Street is a place to serve food and beverages, sell merchandise, or sit on a bench. There are also street trees, delivery zones, bus stops, trash containers, street lights, and other street amenities. These are all fine uses, but each use competes with the others.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to lack of space on the sidewalk, some merchants and property owners do not wish to have a bike rack placed in front of their building. I have heard comments that bike racks are “unsightly.” This is sad, because each bike means a potential customer for that business or an employee that does not need a car parking spot. I am also struggling with the resistance to placing bike racks on the south side of the 200 block (the Overture side.) According to our 1988 zoning code amendment, all new developments need to include bicycle parking in their plans. Yet the Planning Department has indicated none were included in the plans for Overture. This is direct violation of our zoning code. Further, the Overture Board has indicated they do not wish any racks placed on their side of the 200 block of State St. Since this side of the street is considerably wider than the north side, with fewer vendors and cafes, and Overture is far and away the largest draw on that block, I find it strange that they hold this position.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(The above paragraph was written a couple off years after the Overture Center was opened. Since then, as part of the redesign and rebuilding of the 200 block, I managed to get some racks installed on Fairchild St, at least within view of the main entrance to Overture. However, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art still resists allowing any racks on the corner of State St and Henry, either on the State St side or the Henry side. There is quite a bit of space in both these locations, and a desperate need in that part of State St, especially for large events downtown.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, I believe a barrier to adequately accommodating bicycle parking needs is the assumption that the only way bicycles can be stored is on the sidewalk in standard 3-4 space racks. True, there are racks in the parking garages, but as we will see, there is no signage to direct people to these locations. I believe there is also an implicit “this is the best we can do” attitude among city staff. There does not appear to be the will among the various departments to solve the problem. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At some point in our civic past, Madison city staff, elected officials, and citizens made the decision that the city had the responsibility to appropriately store cars. We made accommodations so that there were places for people to leave their cars safely and efficiently while they worked, shopped, dined, attended events, or even went home to sleep. Madison has one of the highest bicycle transportation mode splits in the entire US, and the downtown is the highest use in Madison. It is time for the city to make this same commitment to bicycle parking.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below are some ideas to relieve the bicycle parking crisis in downtown. No one idea will be sufficient, and all are just that, ideas. This is simply a starting point for further brainstorming and discussion. I hope you find it helpful.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Concepts to consider</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h1><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Begin to think of bicycle parking in the same way we think of car parking.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> On June 9, (2005?) DMI hosted a presentation on Best Practices in Parking Management. Although I found most of the information too obvious for a city such as Madison, we can use some of the same concepts the consultant covered to plan appropriate bicycle parking. Look over your notes, and simply substitute “bicycle” everywhere that you would normal think “cars.” Proximity to destinations, inviting parking facilities, signage, customer service, new technologies, Private-public partnerships, etc. are but a few concepts that we need to consider.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="2"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of bicycles in the same way we think of cars.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They are vehicles that need to be stored for short or long periods of time. We have short, medium, and long term car parking. We remove cars that appear to be abandoned. We have a limit on how long a car can be parked in a certain location. We devote staff to making sure cars are efficiently parked, and we enforce rules. We have people who use their cars every day, and people who use them occasionally. We have people that do not know their way around downtown, and we help them find a place to park their cars. People use their cars for commuting, for work, for shopping trips, or simply to visit the downtown. All of the above could also be said for bicycles. In some cases, using the same rules and requirements may not make sense, but we can start to think of bikes as vehicles that need a framework for parking.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<h1 dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Possible solutions</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></h1><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure that bikes that are abandoned are removed.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bikes abandoned in racks are occupying spaces that others could be using. The city has let this task lapse, but it was never adequately staffed. Bicycles could be tagged on Monday each week and removed on Friday if the tag still exists. This means no bike is removed before 3 days has elapsed, and would clear spots a minimum of once a week. It seems that bikes only get removed before Maxwell Street Days and before Halloween. Even when people call to request removal of an abandoned bike, it is not done. We already have an ordinance that bicycles cannot be parked on the public right of way for more than 48 hours. It is the same ordinance that requires cars be moved every 48 hours (a requirement that many of my neighbors hate because they do not use their cars frequently.) </span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="2"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider lockers for daily commuters or local residents without bike storage on site.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Many spots that could be occupied by shoppers or diners are taken by long term parkers. Lockers could be rented monthly. This allows a bicyclist with extensive commuting gear (lights, panniers, odometer, helmet, etc.) to leave much of the gear on the bike and know that it will be secure. People riding more expensive bikes will also feel their bike is safe from theft of vandalism. </span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="3"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider coin-operated lockers for people who wish to leave expensive bikes or purchases in the locker for medium or long term parking</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. An example would be similar to lockers one sees in train terminals or airports. Occasional shoppers may not want to rent a monthly locker, but they will be glad to have a place to store purchases while they eat diner or attend events. It would allow use similar to taking ones purchases back to the car until one is ready to go home.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="4"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Signage is very important.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Many racks exist in locations that are not obvious or even visible from the main destinations on State St. This is one of the problems with the racks in the parking ramps or farther away from State St on Henry Street. If one is going to a show at the Orpheum or Overture Center, how is one supposed to know that racks exist on Henry St or the State Street Capital ramp? Even staring directly at the entrance to the city ramp gives no indication that racks are available inside.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="5"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put smaller racks on the street.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Parking meters or sign poles are used as de facto bike racks, yet take up little space. “Hitching post” type racks can accommodate two bikes, and occupy very little space. There are many locations that cannot accommodate a 3-4 space rack, but could easily take a hitching post.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="6"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Convert parking meters, poles, or other street accessories into real racks.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This has been started with the conversion of the parking meters to “pay by space” parking systems. The poles remain and have been retrofitted with rings to allow proper bicycle parking. Tree protection fences, benches, or other street furniture can include bike parking spaces. This is done in many cities where people have used trees as bicycle parking. (This is illegal in Madison and damages young trees, which is why it is illegal in most cities.) decorative fences around trees can also have elements to allow proper bicycle parking.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="7"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The city may need to acquire property to adequately accommodate bicycle parking. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We use real estate that could be privately held to park cars. Is it time to build a city bike parking lot or ramp? One caveat with this concept is that bicycle parking needs to be even more convenient than car parking in order to be used. One reason that bicycles are an attractive transportation alternative is because there is an expectation that parking will be extremely close to the destination. The previously proposed “Bike Station” at or near the site of the Government East Ramp/Public Market/High Speed Rail Station/current municipal lot would serve employees in the GEF complexes and the south side of the Square, but would not serve most of State St. However, a similar facility might help relieve the need for secure long-term parking in the State St area.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="8"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More space in city ramps can be devoted to bicycle parking.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> However, there must be adequate signage so that bicyclists know the spots exist. Bicycle parking inside ramps should also be attractive and feel safe. Better lighting, better visibility from the street or locations near parking personnel will mean nighttime use is less intimidating. The bicyclist should also feel safe from car traffic within the ramp.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="9"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bicycle racks could be placed on the street instead of the sidewalk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. A wall or other barrier would be required to protect bicycles and users from motorized traffic in the street. On-street parking is the solution for many short-term car parking spots, and it may be one solution for short term bicycle parking as well. One advantage of this approach is that the spots are highly visible and possibly closer to destinations than other locations. Many bicycles can be parked in the space required for one car, so many spots could be added with minimal loss of car spaces. Cities around the US are starting to convert car spots to bike spots. If plowing in the winter is a problem (as I have heard), these spots could be seasonal, as bicycle parking demand obviously goes down (but not away!) in the winter.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="10"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A private-public partnership or a for-profit enterprise may be viable avenues for development of facilities.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Especially with regard to long-term bicycle parking, it is possible to make bike parking profitable. A business with underutilized space may wish to offer guarded bicycle parking for daily commuters. This would not even require racks, but simply a secure place to leave one’s bike. State Street is not the ideal location for this because of a lack of large employers. This concept would work very well near the GEF buildings. (See comments above about proposed Bike Station.)</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="11"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Large event sponsors or destinations may want to consider “valet” bicycle parking. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the past, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin provided this service for the Great Taste of the Midwest and the Madison Blues Festival, both in Olin Park. A non-profit group or even a for-profit enterprise could park bikes for events such as Maxwell Street Days, Taste of Madison, Farmers’ Market, Overture Center events, Orpheum concerts, etc. The sponsor or group would need to find a location to store the bikes while patrons attend the event, but the location would not need to be as close as optimal racks.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ol start="12"><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider vertical storage.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lockers exist which allow bicycles to be parked on two levels. I have tested some of the devices at conferences, and even a short woman with little upper body strength (me) can place a bicycle in the upper berth. Some racks are made that hang bikes by the front wheel. This allows bicycle parking in less horizontal space than a standard rack.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next steps</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The above ideas are just off the top of my head. I am not an urban designer, planner, parking expert, or engineer. I have also not studied the problem except as a user of the facilities (or lack thereof.) As with any change in city policy, investment, or public need, I would suggest we do a study of the issues and problems and come up with a set of formal recommendations. Below are some steps that should be included to reach a solutions to the problem of inadequate bicycle parking downtown. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several different city departments will need to be consulted, but I would suggest that the lead department should be Planning. They work with the downtown business community, neighborhood groups, economic development interests, City Engineering, Mall Concourse (housed in the Parks Dept), and Traffic Engineering (Parking Utility and the Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator) on a regular basis. Planning has the staff and expertise to work with all these interests. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survey existing bicycle parking facilities.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Traffic Engineering and Mall Concourse should have a list and count of all the bike racks in the State St/Capital Square area, but I wonder if they also include the racks in the parking ramps. If these counts and location maps need to be updated, that should be done. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survey where bikes are parked, both legally and illegally.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have done occasional counts on State St, and often found 140% more bikes parked than there are legal and appropriate parking spots. We need to know what the demand is in order to meet said demand. Surveys should be done during the day midweek, during Farmers Market, when there is an evening event (for instance Overture), and on weekends, both daytime and evening. Art Fair on the Square, Concerts on the Square, Maxwell St Days, or other special events should be included in these surveys.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talk to business owners. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some may have ideas, others concerns. I have heard from some business interests that they are very concerned about the lack of adequate parking for their customers. Others may not realize that their customers come by bike. Still others are actively opposed to additional bike parking in front of their business. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talk to the Madison Police Department and Mall Concourse about how to solve the abandoned bike problem.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tagging and removing abandoned bikes does not seem to be a priority, or even a regular event, however I believe it is crucial to solving this problem. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survey bicyclists parking downtown.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> These are the customers for the facilities. There are likely many categories and corresponding needs with the bicycling community: business customers, daytime commuters, event attendees, downtown residents (who probably have nowhere else to park, so use racks that should be available for short term parkers), downtown employees, etc. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider the needs of different users. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of these bicyclists may be willing to park slightly farther away, in less convenient spots, if given better, more secure facilities. For instance, if someone will be parking for several hours every day (commuters), they may give up a spot in front of their place of business if their options are expanded to locked, covered, or otherwise upgraded facilities. Downtown residents may need a place to store their bikes overnight or for winter. Again, we may be able to make more street spots available if we move long term parking elsewhere. Also, some consideration of paid bicycle parking may be appropriate for optimum spots and facilities. (See suggestions of lockers, “bike stations,” and public-private partnerships.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survey space that could be converted to bicycle parking. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bicycle parking can be clumped together - like a parking ramp, or dispersed - like street spots for cars, but using post and ring or 2-bike spots. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come up with a plan to meet the demand!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Again, this might involve a list of recommendations, such as long term solutions, such as structured bicycle parking, as well as short term or policy changes using existing facilities. </span></div>E Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12304285973189454230noreply@blogger.com3