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Bikers go over the Hoan and directly to jail

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on May 12, 2011

cycling, Hoan Bridge

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"

  1. I've always thought it unfortunate that the public face of bicycling tend to be serious a-holes like these.

    Primemover May 12, 2011 1:14 PM

  2. I ride a Harley and often I find it pretty scarey riding across that bridge in the wind... but that wasn't their point. Calling attention to their plight of course likely meant they called all the media first so they could make a stink about some percieved injustice and get it on TV. 5 mil cut from the budget for people who pedal their butts all over town is something worth cutting in these times. Use the streets like I do.
    Hey, and on that note, why can't Harleys run down those paths? We pay for it too and we also have two wheels!
    I think if David Clark's boys arrested them, they should have them in orange suits for a day or so cleaning up the freeway road sides for good measure.

    cahaldo May 12, 2011 1:14 PM

  3. Can I try again? that might have been my worst post ever, in terms of typos....ughh:

    They can start riding bikes on expressways and high traffic volume bridges when I can start riding my motorcycle down bike paths. Seems fair.

    DieHardLiberal May 12, 2011 1:16 PM

  4. This is the wrong way of going about getting bike lanes, sure the right
    way does take time and a great amount of effort. Instead of blatantly
    breaking the law, these individuals could have called, wrote, or met with
    their representation at all levels, continuously. It does take more effort
    than just riding your bike where you think you should be allowed.

    It gives the anti-bike side more ammo against the groups and individuals
    who go about it the right way. Yes, a tremendous amount of red tape is
    involved.

    I am sick of the Anonymous commenting that just is tough talk,(every
    time a cyclist is hit by a car, etc.), it doesn't get us anywhere. If you
    actually feel that strong about your opinions, Put Your Name On It. And
    try to have a civilized conversation about it.

    Adam S.
    Waukesha Bicycle Alliance

    (I don't consider myself a liberal or conservative, just someone who
    doesn't want to drive when I shouldn't have to.)

    AdamMKE May 12, 2011 1:18 PM

  5. Automobile speeders and tailgaters should be put in jail after the second offense. or is it ok to break rules you don't believe in? how many money grubbing greedy salesmen have radar detectors. isn't that social disobedience just like the "liberal demonstrators" making a point about bicycle rights?

    comesatime May 12, 2011 1:18 PM

  6. jimtherepublican: billions? What's your source on that?

    T. Held May 12, 2011 1:19 PM

  7. JS are you reporting this correct? Did these morons only get tickets for
    resisting? No impeding/obstructing traffic or anything? On a positive note
    that other moron got a ticket for eluding.

    thebaron May 12, 2011 1:21 PM

  8. savebender209
    You are very correct. There are winds on the Hoan and even the high rise bridges that could cause bikes to be blown into traffic or over the edge. The reason you don't hear that is the media doesn't like to state the obvious. That's okay. Like most things liberal, it will take someone getting hurt or killed before they admit this isn't a good idea.

    As to the bike racks being used. In the last year, being in sales, I drive in Milwaukee a lot. I've seen a grand total of 17 bikes using the racks over the last year. I question Tom's claims but even if that number was in the thousands, the costs seem high. It's another reason why the system is broke. There should be a fee to help cover the costs of maintenance for this.

    jimtherepublican May 12, 2011 1:21 PM

  9. You are exactly right - it was not Walker who set that law. It was set before he ever took office. I would never ride my bike over that bridge anyways let alone with my KIDS. Too high up and too dangerous in my opinion. The freeways are meant for faster means of transportation, not slower means of transportation. Ride your bikes on the sidewalks and bike trails!! I think some of you might have missed school the day they taught that lesson. But of course you can always resort to blaming other people. The leftys do it all the time...

    WIPackerFan May 12, 2011 1:23 PM

  10. I guess they didn't know that the Milwaukee cops are not the kinder and gentler sort that "protected" the capitol building. I ride bikes as well and I know enough not to protest a dump truck turning left in front of me or driving on a freeway.

    mrordinary May 12, 2011 1:24 PM

  11. billions?

    dk mke May 12, 2011 1:24 PM

  12. Liberals - slowing America, killing jobs, and spending other people's money

    upsidedown May 12, 2011 1:26 PM

  13. That's interesting Jim. I barely see them empty on the 15 or 11 lines. They are almost always in use. You must not go down see these bus routes.

    Convinced of the Hex May 12, 2011 1:27 PM

  14. I hope that Jimmer the Repugnant doesn't mistake my high school son, who loves to ride his bike, for one of those militants and bump into him.

    Town of Laker May 12, 2011 1:27 PM

  15. Hey Held....instead of debating people on the comment section and promoting future installments of your weak "column", why don't you take a class and learn to correct the awful grammar in your "article".

    "They booked one of them the jail for resisting, and another to confirm his identity."

    "...and blocked traffic in both southbound lanes of I-794 about 6 p.m. on May 5."

    Do you have a problem using the word "at"?

    Do you actually get paid for the level of quality?

    TruthHammer May 12, 2011 1:27 PM

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