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
Found Online May 2011
Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, Commuting, DRBC, Lifestyle
Found Online is a collection of links to interesting articles and items we come across online. Most of these are also posted to our Facebook page throughout the month (be sure to like our page) as we find them and are put here about once a month.
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myemail.constantcontact.com The best biking cities of the East race toward Gold: Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. all receive Silver-level designations
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lacrossetribune.com Read more |
Local Cyclists Pedal for the Affordable Housing Crisis
By Carolyn Dvorak – DRBC Member
Ramon Martinez, a Sociology student at Viterbo University, is joining a group of 32 bicyclists riding from Charleston, S.C. to Santa Cruz, CA. They are part of a non-profit organization called Bike and Build, an organization located in Philadelphia, PA. The staff of three includes two program directors and an executive director. Their mission is to raise money and awareness for affordable housing and also to create a life time of service in young adults by using cross country cycling trips as the vehicle.
Ramon, who grew up in Firebaugh, CA, came to La Crosse from Sacramento University. He has participated in many community service projects as part of his scholarship program. AmeriCorps has been instrumental in providing him with opportunities to work with non-profit organizations, building the groundwork for service work, and connecting him with energetic people. These experiences have given him the background to take on a new kind of commitment. Read more
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
An Evening with Andreas Rohl
Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, DRBC, Education, Events, Lifestyle
You are Invited!
The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, The Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition and Human Powered Trails cordially invite you to:
What: An Evening with Andreas Rohl, head of the City of Copenhagen Bicycle Programs
When: Wednesday April 20th, 6-9pm
Where: Pearl Street Brewery
1401 Saint Andrew St, La Crosse
Andreas Rohl, head of the City of Copenhagen Bicycle Programs will give a free presentation on how Copenhagen became a world class bicycling city. Learn how Copenhagen has increased the ride share of bicycling to more than 40%. This will be a great opportunity for advocates, community leaders and enthusiasts from our region to learn more about how we can become more bicycle friendly. The presentation will be given at Pearl Street Brewery and followed by a reception. Come learn, be inspired, get active and have a great time.
See a video of Andreas here.
Update 4/21/11
About 50 DRBC and community members attended 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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