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"
bet the % of haters on here correlates well with the obesity numbers in
the metro area. Driving around in the 'burbs with a Big Mac in the lap...
PharaohSpeaks May 12, 2011 2:21 PM
For years Hoan sat unfinished as the bridge to nowhere. People use to bike around the barricades all the time. If memory serves when the Hoan opened people walked across. Maybe a compromise would work to allow bicycles on the weekends when car traffic is less. Also think the Hoan needs a reduced speed limit or a fixed speed trap. People driving way to fast on that bridge.
notpaid2post May 12, 2011 2:22 PM
How about charging drivers what the Hoan Bridge costs?
The $350 million redecking bonded at 4% over 30 years comes to over $20 million/year. There is no way the gas tax will ever generate that much money on the Hoan.
The highest Hoan traffic count I've ever seen is 43,000 daily crossings (about 21,500 each way) or at most 15.7 million crossings/year (assuming no drop off on weekends, holidays, or blizzards).
To cover just the cost of the deck (leaving nothing for any other work or upkeep for 30 years), each vehicle would have to pay $1.29 in fuel tax each time it crosses the Hoan, burning about 2.6 gallons each time it crosses the bridge.
I could work up similar numbers showing how the Zoo Interchange work will never be covered by gasoline taxes.
For all the screaming the Right does about transit subsidies, it has no problem subsidizing highways.
TransitRider May 12, 2011 2:28 PM
going to be those that don't, but the majority do. So since there are cars that
roll through stop signs and fly through lights we should take cars off the road?
That's essentially your argument. The right-wing voice on these threads is so
predictable and childish. Do you guys all get your print-outs from Sykes and
Belling every morning so you can regurgitate the mindless arguments you
continue to follow day in and day out? The fact you would like to see people
KILLED for standing up for something is beyond me. Of course, none of you
would ever talk like this in person in public.......
PharaohSpeaks May 12, 2011 2:33 PM
Convinced of the Hex May 12, 2011 2:41 PM
I was driving down brady st, behind couple of men riding thier bicycles. they were having fun weaving around in the traffic lane... once decided to try to jump the sidewalk that juts out in front of the Up and Under. It looked pretty cool, Especially when he fell head over handlebars, right into the trunk of a parked car, denting it of course, and what did he do....he rode off. Now how about that. Now ask yourself, why do people always "hate" on bicycles...... for the numerous reasons such as this, I hope this guy has insurance on his parked car.
mkemat May 12, 2011 2:47 PM
What a load of crap. You might want to loosen up those bike shorts because it's cutting off circulation to your brain. I guarantee the VAST majority of you bike d-bags completely ignore the rules. My proof is observing the streets and roads in my community EVERY WEEKEND. If I'm in my car and run that red light, I'll probably getting a ticket. I have yet to see cops ticket a bike. If you want the same rights as a car, plunk down the $75 a year a car does for plates, if not, STFU.
LGRepb May 12, 2011 2:49 PM
I have no problem with most cyclists, but there are enough of them out their that are so
damn pretentious. They think they are saving the environment, better then anyone who
burns gas, etc. They feel like it is their god given right to obstruct traffic and break numerous traffic laws because they are simply are higher then those who don't choose a
bike as a transportation mode.
If they acted like any other mode of transportation on the road it wouldn't be a problem.
thebaron May 12, 2011 2:54 PM
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cars get a ticked and liscenses suspended,
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mkemat May 12, 2011 2:55 PM
Grammar first. As a biker, I follow the rules and I rant against those that
don't, simply because of safety and the matter of skewing these
'observations' of yours. So, because I bike (and drive for that matter) I'm
a d-bag. Sounds like you have some things to work out. Such anger.
STFU? Really?
PharaohSpeaks May 12, 2011 2:57 PM
JacksonPark13 May 12, 2011 3:32 PM
Lots of people like to bike. It's a quality of life issue not unlike many quality of life issues that are funded in part by fees, and in part by taxes. Bike racks on the buses I ride are utilized. Bike paths that I see are utilized. The interurban trail in Ozaukee County is a busy place in summer. Bottom line, people like to bike, and similar to other modes of transportation AND recreation, the users DO NOT and SHOULD NOT bear the entire burden of its costs.
Now, the HNTB reports discuss safety of biking the Hoan. It certainly it appears that it's a possibility, so let's stop with "it can't be done" rhetoric.
Yes, these protesters don't do themselves any favors. They just don't. And myopic people need to learn how the rest of the world views them and judges their actions.
To those that don't live and/or bike downtown, just take our word for it. It's more difficult than even a few miles out from downtown. The Oak Leaf is great, but the downtown to Bay View link is in need of improvement. The Hoan, especially with the current rehab, could have been a viable solution to this, that seems to be opposed mostly for political, not practical reasons.
dk mke May 12, 2011 3:36 PM