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
Good Bicycle Related Reads
As some of you may know, by day I am a librarian, really I am. This means, in a very stereotypical way, I love reading as much as I love riding my bikes. When I can sit down in the evening after a nice long ride and read a book about bicycling pretty much all is right with my world. With that in mind I thought I would share a few of the titles I have read recently or my favorites, just in case you need something to read yourself.
The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance
By David Herihy, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. It is full of the romance of the bicycle that was at its height during the Victorian period. Frank Lenz sets out on a journey to bike around the world, this book recounts what is known of his journey and the search, although belated, to find him after he disappears in the Middle East.
Winding Rivers Library System Catalog
My Bike Summit Experience
By Carolyn Dvorak
DRNC Memeber Carolyn Dvorak attend the 2011 Wisconsin Bike Summit
I am a new member to DRBC as well as the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. As a life-long bicyclist, I grew up in Glendale, Wisconsin in a family where it wasn’t unusual to travel to Kenosha on Tuesday nights for the bicycle races or to spend a Saturday riding the Ozaukee 64 with a group of cycling enthusiasts. My favorite bicycle tale is the summer when I was eleven; My parents took our family of seven on Amtrak with our bicycles to La Crosse, and we spent a week riding back home to Milwaukee. Bicycling has always been a favorite recreational activity for me.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Bike Summit in Madison. When I read that the Governor’s budget zeroed out $5 million dollars from the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Fund, I knew the most important thing I could do to help the cause was to attend the Summit. As a summit participant, I agreed to speak to a legislator. Read more
More Membership Discounts
Two more businesses join our membership benefits program! Be sure to visit them and use your DRBC membership card to get your discounts! They are:
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Smith’s Cycling & Fitness125 7th Street N. La Crosse. WI 54601 Ph: 608-784-1175 |
Learn more about your DRBC Membership Discounts here. Not a member yet? Join today and start experiencing the benefits of membership in the Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition while supporting bicycle advocacy and education at the same time!
If you are interested in having your business participate in this exciting program learn more here and then download an application. If your business does not have a service or product that works for this kind of program we invite you to take a moment and check out our Corporate Sponsorship Program here.
Root River Trail Open House
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites anyone with an interest in the extension of the Root River State Trail from Houston to La Crescent to attend an open house in Houston on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. This meeting is the second of two that have been scheduled to discuss the master planning process for this trail segment, part of the Blufflands State Trail System. DNR staff and volunteers working on the trail-planning effort will discuss the draft master plan, display maps and other trail information, and answer questions about the issues involved in moving toward trail development.
The meeting will be held at the Valley High Golf Club, 9203 Mound Prairie Road, Houston, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Short presentations will be given at 5:00 and 6:15, with opportunities for informal discussion throughout the evening. Landowners, potential trail users and area residents are urged to attend. Read more
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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