Bikers go over the Hoan and directly to jail
For two bikers, a critical mass ride over the Hoan Bridge last week ended in the booking room of the Milwaukee County Jail.
Based on the sheriff's reports, anywhere from 50 to 150 bikers participated in the ride over the two-mile bridge, which is off limits to pedestrians and nonmotorized traffic. The outing was billed as a ride to protest "Gov. Scott Walker's Anti-Bicycling Agenda," and blocked traffic in both southbound lanes of I-794 about 6 p.m. on May 5.
Responding to a host of 9-1-1 calls, deputies caught and ticketed four of the participants. They booked one of them in the jail for resisting, and another to confirm his identity.
That was Juan Serrano, 23, from Covina Calif., who reportedly told the deputy: "I was supporting my friends who were protesting Luke Skywalker or something."
The others who were ticketed include: Samarah Hagagi, 19, of Kansas City, Mo., Caitlin Hamer, 21, of Milwaukee, and Donald Sanborn, 22, of Wauwatosa.
Their tickets carry fines of $178.
Hagagi also picked up the citation for resisting because she wouldn't stop for the deputy, according to the sheriff's report.
The ride was organized through the Milwaukee Bicycle Community, an informal advocacy group that shares information about group rides on the website www.mkebke.com.
Steve Roche helps run the site, and joined the group on the Hoan.
Their purpose was to generate attention and a spark a discussion about the merits of installing a lane for bicycles and pedestrians on the Hoan, he said.
In the decades since it opened, a number of cycling advocates and public officials have argued that the Hoan should be opened to non-motorists as a connection between Downtown Milwaukee and the south side neighborhoods and suburbs. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation rejected the idea, and proposed an alternate route using surface streets.
132 Comments for "Bikers go over the Hoan and directly to jail"
And as far as your comment AzYooper: yes it is, unless it's set up like many of the large bridges across the country where there is a divided path for pedestrians/bikers. And the bike rack thing, I use them and have had to get passed by a bus a few times because they were full. Why do people have such a vengeance against bikers?
Convinced of the Hex May 12, 2011 12:54 PM
Chucksa May 12, 2011 12:56 PM
northshore2 May 12, 2011 1:03 PM
busy, high speed freeway. Bikes aren't meant to be ridden on freeway,
that is what bike PATHS and bike TRAILS are made for.
Imagine if one of these crazies were hit by a passing car? There would
have been a lawsuit and the driver would have lost his/her license.
KWOakCreek May 12, 2011 1:04 PM
I AM YOUR FATHAAAA!!!!
No one has been allowed to ride a bike over that "Bridge to Nowhere" since the 70's... I suggest they go back in time, in the Way Back Machine, to achieve their goal...
cahaldo May 12, 2011 1:05 PM
UnfrozenCaveman May 12, 2011 1:07 PM
T. Held May 12, 2011 1:07 PM
susanna May 12, 2011 1:08 PM
Convinced of the Hex May 12, 2011 1:09 PM
Tell you what. You want to ride on the Hoan, what is an appropriate annual fee? $5K? Perhaps more? Also, you'll need to provide proof on insurance. Oh and here's a shovel, you'll want to start clearing the snow yourselves.... That fee didn't include the union snow plows either.
Oh and a bit of advise? The bumper stickers mentioning that this cars should watch out for bicycles, perhaps since the cars weigh 4,000lbs and your bikes weigh in at about 12lbs, you might consider watching out for us. I'm just saying....
jimtherepublican May 12, 2011 1:11 PM
JakeTheCat May 12, 2011 1:12 PM
JakeTheCat May 12, 2011 1:13 PM
DieHardLiberal May 12, 2011 1:13 PM