Action Alert! I90 Bridge Bike/Ped Accommodations
It’s finally time to weigh in on the importance of MnDOT following through on providing access for bicycles and pedestrians on the upcoming I-90 Bridge at Dresbach. As you may have learned, MnDOT has agreed to design the new bridge so that accommodations can be attached in the future, once WisDOT has upgraded some bridges on their side of the river with bike/ped accommodations. So, it’s all about commitments for “future” accommodations, and it would be good to show, by lots of people in attendance, how important those future accommodations ARE to us.
On Wednesday January 25th, 2012 5 pm to 8 pm there will be a Public Open House on the Dresbach Bridge. The Open House will be held at La Crescent High School Cafeteria. This open house will cover all aspects of the Bridge including the recently added future accommodation for Bicyclist and Walkers.
There will be 20 minute presentations at both 6:00 PM and at 7:00 PM by MnDOT. Following the presentations there will be an opportunity to ask questions or offer input for about 20 minutes and then MnDOT will be manning ‘poster stations’ to answer individual questions. There will be 2 court reporters to take oral testimony and forms for written comments.
The Working Group will be submitting testimony on the need for the completion of the bike trail when the I-90 bridge decks over Round Lake and French Slough are replaced. These decks will likely need replacement within the 15 years following the completion of the Mississippi River Bridge and planning for design, approval and funding should begin immediately.
To achieve the capacity to install a trail over the Mississippi River it was necessary for the community to interrupt last June MnDOT’s plan for approval, without a bike trail, and insist on a successful reassessment.It is now appropriate for the Bike Riding Community to show up and endorse the inclusion of structural elements to support the future trail. This is your opportunity to endorse the outcome and reinforce the need to complete the trail as soon as is practical.
We encourage you to show up and complete a form supporting the need. It is our responsibility to show that after 7 months of work; resolutions by the LAPC and 2 Counties; 3000 miles and 3000 hours of community advocacy—that the right decision has been made!!
Please make time for this meeting; 15 minutes can make a difference. Wednesday January 25th, 2012 open house 5 pm till 8 pm.
La Crosse Area Bike Map now available!
Electronic copies are availabe here. Paper copies are available at:
- City Hall - City Planning Dept.
- All bike shops
- 3 Rivers Outdoors
- Downtown Mainstreet, Inc.
- Chamber of Commerce
- UW-L Rec Center
- Convention Bureau at Riverside Park
Please Volunteer for the Annual Bike Count Sept 20th 6am-6pm
Filed under: Action Alerts, Advocacy, Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, Commuting
The La Crosse County Health Department will be conducting an annual bike count Sept 20th 6:00am-6:00pm (2 hours time slots) at various locations.
If you would like to volunteer;
1. follow one of the links below
2. Insert your name and cell phone number in the time slot you would like to count.
http://www.doodle.com/d4v7cibkvbhxwqag – Corner of Nakomis and Clinton St. French Island
http://www.doodle.com/tzc8d9svsgm5eynq – 3rd and Main St. Onalaska
http://www.doodle.com/smakq695adsp4gee – 7th and Farnam St. La Crosse
http://www.doodle.com/bchrth4i3yecavge – 7th and Main St. La Crosse
DRBC Legal Notes: Rules of the Path
By Ross Seymour
Bicycling on trails.
Wisconsin has a short statute on how people are to use bike/ped paths. Those rules are found at Sec. 346.803 of the Wisconsin statutes. The rules apply to “Bicycle Ways.” Bicycle ways are defined as any path or sidewalk designated for the use of bicycles by the relevant governmental body. (Sec. 340.01(5s)) Bicycle ways are distinguished from bicycle lanes. Lanes are for the exclusive use of bicycles while ways are not exclusively for bicycles (presumably to include pedestrians).
First, the bicyclist must exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing another bicyclist or a pedestrian. Due care would mean giving a wide enough berth while passing or taking care to pass on a section where it would be safe. While most bicycle ways around here have good sight lines there are a few places where you can’t see far ahead enough to pass safely. On a regular road these sections would have “no passing” signs or markings.
The audible signal requirement actually comes out of the Rule of the Road for motor vehicles. A little known requirement is that when passing another automobile, the passing car is required to give an audible signal while passing (presumable a toot of the horn). (Sec. 346.07(3)) An “audible signal” is left undefined by the statutes. Read more
VolunteerMatch.org
Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, Committees, Commuting, Education, Events, Issues, Outreach, Rides
DRBC is now listed on VolunteerMatch.org. This will give us more visibility to those searching for volunteer opportunities related to bicycling. Also, some companies have a “Dollars for Doers” program that gives employees the ability to have grant money donated to their favorite non-profit organization.
![[VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins.]](http://www.volunteermatch.org/images/2.0/new_logo.gif){kind=logo}
Welcome to the DRBC
The DRBC work to getting more people on bikes, more often by advocating for bicycling infrastructure and a dynamic bicycling culture.
The DRBC currently seeking organizations and individuals who support the idea of complete streets in our community.
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