Wisconsin town considering limits on walking, biking

[wtmusic]

"In most areas of the U.S., the bicycle riders follow a simple mantra: "Same roads, same rules, same responsibilities." A dust-up in the town of Hull, WI shows that not everyone agrees that cars and pedal-powered two wheelers should share the pavement.

The Hull town public safety committee is debating a draft ordinance that would force groups of people who want to bike, run or walk on town roads to register their routes and plans beforehand, otherwise they will be banned from the public streets in the interest of safety. Needless to say, this idea caused a pretty big uproar across the country – some observers, like the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation, are pretty sure that ordinance would be illegal – and city officials are now saying that the plan is "extreme" and would only be implemented as a last resort to make sure everyone using the road is safe. According to local official statistics, though, the safety reasoning is suspicious: there has been no recorded incident of a crash with a bike or pedestrian since 2008 and only five pedestrian/car crashes and one bike/car crash in the last ten years.

There are a lot of angles to discuss here, and we fully expect a vibrant discussion in the Comments section below. To us, the key point is that no one should ever be limiting green transportation options, even if they perhaps require extra eduction of those who who need to learn new ways to interact with the evolving transportation landscape. When you're keeping an eye out for motorcycles, look for bikes, too, mmmkay? Also, who's up for a critical mass in Wisconsin? "

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/wisconsin-town-file-a-plan-before-you-walk-bike-here/

[elleng]

1. WTH! Someone added WHAT to Wisconsin's water?????

:wtf:

[wtmusic]

2. The drafter of the proposal is already ruing the day

he ever happened upon this idea.

Wisconsiners love their bikes, and this proposal is stillborn.

[kestrel91316]

3. DU's resident frothing-at-the-mouth cyclist haters to chime in in 3...2...1...

[napoleon_in_rags]

5. Feel my frothy rage! I hate cyclists!

Whenever I see them I am overcome with this feeling of rageful - JEALOUSY!

Seriously. I used to cycle every day and somehow I got lazy and fell into the car trap. Its bizarre, but I almost feel a resentment now when I see people out on their bikes, I envy their freedom. The cure is of course to get my own (increasingly fat) ass back on to my bike, but I wonder if this emotion doesn't play at least a little role in other people who complain about cyclists.

[DCKit]

11. Not really safe to cycle here in DC. If you don't get knocked down once a year...

your're not doing it right.

Sorry, but I've got a HUGE noggin.... brains everywhere.

[napoleon_in_rags]

12. Really? How big IS your noggin...

Are you like the John Holmes of Noggins? Now you've got me forming weird pictures in my brain...

Regardless, I think you would be surprised. On a cycle you are alert, and very maneuverable. It may be the DC roads are risky, in which case I understand. But in many cases, the freedom and exhilaration of the ride makes it all worthwhile. :)

[baldguy]

4. Why single out one form of transportation over another?

Why shouldn't automobile pilots be required to file a "flight plan" beforehand?

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Exactly. After all, everyone walks at some time or another.

Cars are the latecomers, the exceptional case. Also inherently the most dangerous.

[thecrow]

6. "May I see your maps, please?"

Oh and BTW, your papers also...

This is the most preposterous thing I've heard of in a long time.

[Turbineguy]

7. Sounds like the Red Flag law of yesteryear.

An automobile was to be preceded by a man carrying a red flag.

[rog]

8. Hull is in the middle of prime biking country.

It's just outside of Stevens Point, which is a huge biking hub, and the home of the annual Midwest Recumbent Rally. I've participated in the rally, and the rides are always superb. I'm sure Hull gets a lot of bike traffic during the summer. I'm sure they'll get a lot of well deserved flak if they go through with this.

.rog.

[wtmusic]

10. They will likely compound the problem

given the defiant nature of most cyclists.

[rog]

15. Hull is a wide spot in the road ... basically one main drag. (map)

EDITED to insert population.

If you're on a bike tour, it's a hassle to get around it. Here's the lay of the land.



Population of a little less than 6,000.

Bikers, cross country teams from UW Stevens Point and Stevens Point high schools, etc., all cruise through town. They also have a problem with autos exceeding the speed limit.

I guess they're 'having a conversation' with local organisations. They 'say' they're not going to ban bikes, except as a 'last resort.' We'll see what happens.

.rog.

[wtmusic]

17. Highly doubtful such a law would in itself be legal.

If they were smart they'd apply for federal funds, then widen the road and create bike lanes. Make Hull a destination.

Then again, maybe this is the first step in the plan and they're smarter than I thought.

[midnight]

9. So going somewhere on bike needs to first be cleared with the folks in town? What next those of us

going somewhere by car?

[Blacksheep214]

13. This is how they lower taxes on the rich.

Ticket fines taken from the poor and middle class. I doubt I'd see Trump out riding.

Class warfare?

[Kolesar]

16. Do those clowns freak out when they slow down to pass a parked landscaper's trailer

or a UPS delivery van? Probably not.

These are people who think it is their right to drive as fast as possible between stop lights. I know the type.