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Wisconsin DOT looks to replace retired cycling leader

Posted by Breann Schossow on July 14, 2011

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Cycling supporters hope to have some input on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s plans to replace one of the country’s bicycle leaders.

Kevin Hardman, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, said recent retiree Tom Huber left behind big shoes to fill.

“He’s very diligent and intelligent and with great modesty has pushed forward bicycling in Wisconsin,” Hardman said of the former bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for the DOT. Huber had been the coordinator since the position was created in 1992.

Hardman said the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin has asked that the DOT work with them and the bicycle community to appoint a new leader.

Wisconsin’s support of bicycling shows. In 2011, the League of American Bicyclists acknowledged Wisconsin’s attention to bicyclists, designating it as third in the nation for bike-friendly states.

The ranking is based on legislation, programs and policies, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement categories.

Hardman said Wisconsin has some of the best rural road networks in the country, and a high percentage of roads have paved shoulders, which predate the position of the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. However, the crowning touch for Wisconsin bicyclists and pedestrians was the Complete Streets legislation passed in 2009.

The legislation, which requires the department to consider cyclist and pedestrian needs when planning for new construction or reconstruction, was one of the first passed in the country, Hardman said.

Huber, he added, should get a lot of credit for the law in Wisconsin.

The state DOT will fill the federally required position, although there’s no timetable for a hiring date for the position yet, said Aileen Switzer of the department’s Bureau of Planning and Economic Development.

Until the position is filled, Switzer said, several different departments will be handling Huber’s duties, including her, people in product development and the State Patrol office.

The position’s duties include providing feedback to other entities’ plans for bicyclists and pedestrians, providing technical guidance and coordinating with the project development group, among other tasks.

“It’s an important part of the transportation system,” she said.

In addition, Huber had a presence on national research committees, Switzer said.

Dave Schlabowske, director of communications for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, praised Huber for the way he worked, saying that his positive, constructive attitude, helped others in the DOT see the importance of change.

Schlabowske said he isn’t concerned about how the Department of Transportation will handle the duties of position until it’s filled, saying that the state has competent and thoughtful regional bicycle and pedestrian coordinators.

“I think the current staffing at the regional level is very good,” he said. Schlabowske worked closely with Huber as the Milwaukee’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for the past six years.

Switzer agreed with Schlabowske, adding that a few of the regional coordinators have offered to help out while the state coordinator’s position is empty.

Hardman also said that it’s critical to fill Huber’s position to preserve Wisconsin’s bike friendliness.

In the past year, Wisconsin dropped from second to third place on the league’s rankings. While it’s not a major drop, it’s still a concern to Hardman.

“We can’t maintain what we’ve got if we don’t have a strong leader in office,” Hardman said.

 

14 Comments for "Wisconsin DOT looks to replace retired cycling leader"

  1. This should be a volunteer position. No fed/state money to this person.

    timmyj3 Jul 14, 2011 7:04 AM

  2. I have no doubt the Walker administration will find some donors unqualified kid for the position.

    Jul 14, 2011 7:46 AM

  3. I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but really timmyj3? Bicycling is a billion+ dollar industry in this state, and this is a position that supports that. I guess it's only important if it has a direct impact on you, right?

    caseyfoltz Jul 14, 2011 7:53 AM

  4. You assume a lot Mr. Foltz.

    timmyj3 Jul 14, 2011 8:06 AM

  5. In respect for Mr. Huber's contributions, let's keep the discussion focused on the merits of the position, without personal attacks.

    T. Held Jul 14, 2011 8:11 AM

  6. @Tom Held: THANK YOU! I really do wish more of the authors of their articles chimed in on these comment boards. They veer so heavily into personal attacks and demagoguery that I wish we could actually discuss the merits of a person, their position, or their contributions in a way that's not personally attacking.

    Have you seen the posting "If there were online comments on the Declaration of Independence" from the Tampa Bay St. Petersburg Times? It's an apt comparison.

    http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/if-there-were-online-comments-on-the-declaration-of-independence/1169722

    However, thank you for your contributions to the newspaper and making us all a little wiser. Maybe we all don't always agree with the politics, policies, or people in your articles, (I generally do) but without your input we would likely never know or start some discussions.

    Thank you!

    anmartin10 Jul 14, 2011 8:25 AM

  7. i had no idea we were the third most bike-friendly state. that is awesome. perhaps if we didn't consistently shoot down funding for bicycling related projects, we could rise to first.

    zcmack Jul 14, 2011 8:30 AM

  8. "Perhaps if we didn't consistently shoot down funding for bicycling related projects, we could rise to first."

    This.

    At the risk of using too broad a brush, we're overweight, oil-dependent, and stuck in traffic. Cycling is a serious factor in solving those problems. Its infrastructure is a bargain.

    NorthCent Jul 14, 2011 9:48 AM

  9. Living in a rural part of the state, it is hard to imagine this state being "bike-friendly". The funds are obviously being targeted to the urban areas. I risk my life on every bike ride, and recently when the county added gravel to a road that I ride on, the workers dumped most of it into the foot-wide bike lane outside the fog line. I had to call repeatedly to get it cleaned off, citing safety concerns for bikers... I was pretty much laughed at for being a biker, and half jokingly told to "watch out for my front bumper" the next time Bubba leaves the bar in his F150.

    sconman Jul 14, 2011 12:36 PM

  10. well there are a bunch of Rep Senators who will be looking for jobs soon

    BTW55 Jul 14, 2011 4:00 PM

  11. Please, please, please appoint someone qualified. As a cyclist, that is all I ask.

    umgopher1 Jul 14, 2011 4:37 PM

  12. I'm sure they can fill this with one of the few Fitz's remaining that's not feeding off the public trough.

    Jul 14, 2011 5:43 PM

  13. WI should not be funding a bike coordinator. Do we also want to fund a canoe coordinator, a walking coordinator, how about a running coordinator, etc. Maybe I would like a downhill ski coordinator, a cross country ski coordinator and a go cart coordinator. Oh, no. Not go carts, they use gas. Let the bike federation pay for a bike coordintor. DOT has way too much money if they can afford soft jobs like a bike coordinator.

    Found the Truth Jul 14, 2011 10:50 PM

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