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Biking the Hoan would be better, riders conclude after trip downtown

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on Oct. 17, 2011

cycling, Hoan Bridge

Biking over the Hoan would be better, three dozen bicyclists concluded Monday after dodging traffic on a purposeful ride from Humboldt Park to the Discovery World Museum.

The result was no surprise.

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and his legislative neighbor Rep. Jon Richards set up the lunch-time trip to show the dangers and inconvenience of the Bay View-to-downtown bike route the Wisconsin Department of Transportation chose 10 years ago. Then, the DOT rejected a proposal to add a bike and pedestrian lane to the bridge that connects the south side neighborhood to the lakeshore near Veterans Park.

Richards called it a “bitter conclusion.”

Almost the entire route is on busy streets, and bicyclists have no protection from motor vehicles. Richards called the experience pedaling on S. Kinnickinnic Ave. and S. 2nd St. “unnerving.”

Add in nearly 20 intersections, and the confusing route is clearly inferior to the alternative: a bike and pedestrian pathway on the 2.5-mile Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge, Larson said.

“It would be so much easier to say go over the most beautiful bridge you see, and that’s going to connect you,” Larson said.

The ride was part of the current campaign to change the yet-to-be-completed path chosen in 2002.

Larson, Richards and cycling advocates have a window of opportunity to make their case, while the DOT again studies the feasibility of a bike lane as part of the planning for a reconstruction of the bridge scheduled to start in 2013.

A report on the cost and engineering challenges of adding a bike route, separated by a safety barrier, is set to be released later this year.

“This is a 40-year opportunity; a generational opportunity,” Larson said, as he gathered the group outside the Humboldt Park Pavilion.

The ride reinforced the impressions the bikers brought to the street.

“I prefer not to have all the stop signs and traffic,” said Debra Tuckwood, a member of the Bay View Bicycle Club. “I probably wouldn’t want to do it by myself.”

Tuckwood was one of the thousands who took the opportunity to ride the Hoan during the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts in June. That experience convinced her that the slope and wind would be easily overcome.

“I was surprised it was as easy as it was,” Tuckwood said.

Larson urged the riders, a mix of old and young, some on clunky mountain bikes and others on recumbents, to press business owners and state officials to see the benefits of opening the Hoan to bikers and walkers.

Their task is to convince opponents like Sheriff David Clarke and Gov. Scott Walker, who have called a bike lane on the Hoan too costly and too dangerous.

The group that traveled down S. 2nd St. doesn’t need further persuasion.

279 Comments for "Biking the Hoan would be better, riders conclude after trip downtown"

  1. Most bicyclists own cars that help to pay for the roads. They also pay federal taxes. People we are talking about some paint and concrete barriers. The cost SAVINGS of a bike lane could be argued by the savings in gas from reduced vehicles, reduced vehicle speeds and all the savings in manufacturing a much smaller product (bikes vs. Cars) Plus all the health befits associated w biking would help is with medical costs. Until u open your yap, show me studies that prove me wrong. I have a feeling that you people would be arguing against cars in the time of horse and buggies.

    Ronny Oct 17, 2011 7:19 PM

  2. I know, amazing how the bikes don't obey the rules of the road, but all the cars stop completely at the stop signs, never speed, don't cross the center line while texting or putting on makeup, etc. It is just weird how the cars are so lawful and the bike riders aren't.

    MU82 Oct 17, 2011 7:21 PM

  3. Haven't been there in a while? There is no STOP light heading south now.

    SMCMAC32 Oct 17, 2011 7:22 PM

  4. How about putting your bikes on one of those expensive bike racks on the bus, and ride the bus over the bridge? And add a wheel tax to your bike registrations.

    taxmemore Oct 17, 2011 7:26 PM

  5. If this alternative route is true, I would certainly want to hear more about it. I follow these things fairly closely and I have only heard a brief statement about this. Is it really currently under construction? This should be talked about more if true. I obviously love the idea of a bike path over the Hoan Bridge, but if there is going to be a safe route for people to get from the south side to the east side, that would eliminate the NEED for the Hoan Bridge bike path and just makes it a fun thing to have. In this economy, a fun bike path is not necessary. I do believe something is needed for many reasons that I have previously stated, but this alternate route may satisfy that need.

    MU82 Oct 17, 2011 7:28 PM

  6. So... we're cutting gas taxes even further.... putting us in a deeper budget crisis... freakin' genius!!!

    SMCMAC32 Oct 17, 2011 7:29 PM

  7. Or you could move to Chicago or San Francisco.

    taxmemore Oct 17, 2011 7:37 PM

  8. Two Points:

    1. If this is someone's biggest complaint....life must be good.

    2. Please have all riders pay a toll, use money to defend the city against every lawsuit filed for riders flying off the bridge due to high winds or being crushed by passing automobiles.

    cynical Oct 17, 2011 7:38 PM

  9. stupidist thing I have ever heard. Within 1 week you had 3 serious accidents with one being fatal. For anyone who has driven that even when there is no construction - you know the idiots out there drive like it is the indy 500 - We were going over it on a Sat nite about 5 pm - car went whipping by us - sheriff following him and never stopped him for speeding - was more important for the sherriff to pull into the construction zone to hide behind a truck - must have been meeting his saturday nite fling

    harvey9899 Oct 17, 2011 7:39 PM

  10. Ronny, we don't live in Florida or California. How many months of the year would the bike lane be used...5, maybe 6.
    Don't even try to make the traffic or gas consumption argument. There aren't even enough bicycles in the entire state to make a dent.

    cynical Oct 17, 2011 7:45 PM

  11. Cynical, that's an opinion not a fact. We have several bike manufactures within this great state and zero car manufactures. So putting in a bike lane is great for Wisconsin business. After all, don't u narrow minded tea bags always say "Wisconsin is open for business!"

    Ronny Oct 17, 2011 7:49 PM

  12. Who in their right mind thinks this moronic bike lane will significantly increase Trek's bottom line? Maybe Ironman will move from Madison to Milwaukee to bike the Hoan. Dumb idea, the road was set up to move cars, lots of them.

    donotpanic Oct 17, 2011 8:07 PM

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