Hoan Bridge Public Meeting Heavily Attended

For details regarding the well attended Hoan Bridge Town Hall Meeting, see this article, from Wednesday's Journal Sentinel. 

Thanks much to Senator Chris Larson and Representative John Richards for organizing the meeting, and giving folks an opportunity to learn more about the issue, and a chance to address the issues. 

The crowd at the meeting was very much in favor of a pedestrian and bike trail addition to the Hoan, as part of the reconstruction project that is scheduled to start in 2013.  Many persons from Shorewood attended—including GSB Co-Peloton Leader Dr. Dave Waters, along with Alan & Sheila Freysinger, Tom Kuhlman, and Jerry Pearce.  This despite the meetings inconvenient location and time. 

The meeting was not perfect.  The format was not designed to provide a substantive discussion of trail design options, or fiscal issues.  Much speculation is occurring on the issue, until WisDOT issues the results of its study later this fall.  The room too was way too small for the meeting (there was adequate space for about 50 people, rather than the roughly 250 who showed up). 

Because of this, GSB is considering organizing a follow-up meeting on the northside of town at the issue.  Stay tuned for future updates on this issue.

Fyi, on the Bicycle Friendly Community application, we have not heard anything yet.  We expect that the results of the League’s review will be released sometime in September.  --  Sandie

Support Bikes and Pedestrians on the Hoan Bridge!

Hey kids, do you believe the slogan "Bikes Belong"?  If so, today's a good day to give voice to that sentiment.   The WisDOT on August 23rd is participating in a town hall meeting with several Milwaukee Senators and Assemblymen to discuss the feasibility and desirability of creating a bicycle/pedestrian lane over the Hoan Bridge.  Including a safe and well-designed bike/pedestrian lane as part of the reconstruction of the Hoan will give ordinary folks an exciting and spectacularly-beautiful way to get from Downtown Milwaukee to Southshore Milwaukee.  If you've ever biked or run across one of the major bridges in N.Y. or San Francisco, you know what I'm talking about.  The Hoan is a major symbol of Milwaukee, and it sends the wrong message for bikes and pedestrians to be excluded from it.  For further information about the project/study, see this link:  http://www.dot.state.wi.us/projects/seregion/794hoan/index.htm. For details regarding the meeting and how you can submit a comment via email to express support for a new bike/pedestrian lane on the Hoan, see this link:  http://www.dot.state.wi.us/projects/seregion/794hoan/public.htm.  I hope to see you there, or if not, that you can submit a comment.  --  Sandie