Nearly 300 people showed up at a public information meeting on Monday night about the proposed Hoan Bridge bike lanes.
Reaction was mixed, and some new details emerged.
Check out the Journal Sentinel story here, and, of course, I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below!
Here is what I think: I support the addition of a bike lane to the Hoan, and spending what it takes to add it while keeping three lanes of traffic in both directions. The flow of vehicle traffic should not be compromised to accommodate cyclists.
I feel strongly that we must think big with this project and other major public works projects like it. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to go beyond the bare minimum — functionality, merely a way to connect point A to point B — and make the Hoan truly something special. The bike lanes help deliver on that promise. So would lights, which I proposed adding in a previous post.
Now, will most people reading this post ever walk or bike the Hoan? No. Will I? I’m not sure. But many will, and simply having that option available makes the Hoan a unique attraction of which the entire can region can boast.
We must, as a city and larger community, do a better job of seeking, and ultimately embracing, big ideas when we have a chance to do so. This is that opportunity. Seize it.
South Milwaukee Blog 
I fully support the bike lanes. What a great thing to do for the city!
The bridge is a giant hill up and down. Normal people aren’t going to ride there. Only a few cycleheads a couple months a year. Doesn’t seem cost effective, and I’m scratching my head to think of another interstate with a bike lane.
The part I haven’t heard anyone comment about on this subject is the water treatment facility. It’s hard to hold my breath long enough when I ride my motorcycle across the bridge–how is someone going to hold their breath pedaling a bike up that steep hill?!!
I’m w/you on this one, Erik, unless what John says is true. Only a few cyclists a month — and how many during really cold weather?
John, you answered your own question in the first paragraph…normal people aren’t going to ride there.
@John the Hoan is not a difficult hill. In fact this past summer over 7,000 bicyclists rode over the Hoan, including children and elderly people. It was easy. I know many hills in the area that are much more difficult.
Lots of Interestates have bike facilities. For example, I-90 in Seattle has a bike trail, and is an Interstate Bridge.
At what cost for the small number of bikers that will actually use this more than once or twice a year? Even in good financial times this seems absurd and now it’s just ridiculous.
Okay, can we stop comparing Seattle and Milwaukee?
The average overnight lows in Seattle in winter are mid 30s. Yes, average overnight lows. Mid 30s. In winter. During the day it’s much warmer.
In Seattle there would be a handful of days I could not ride my motorcycle as it does not run properly below 32. Here I can not ride for a handful of months. My motorcycle offers full body wind protection and power for heated gear. A bicycle does not. Just those snappy styrofoam caps.
I have been to Seattle. I have friends there. My dad lived there for years.
Milwaukee and Seattle are not the same.
Not only that, the overall political leanings of Seattle are “slightly” different than most of Milwaukee.
Sorry Eric, but you are insane to support this project. “spending what it takes…”!!!
How easy it is for you to spend OUR tax dollars. Just like there was nowhere to cut in the city budget. Spend, spend, spend. Typical tax and spend liberal. “…and the lights will look so purty!!” Get real. Have you taken a look at the economy lately?
Melanie: Somehow I knew we’d be at odds on this issue 🙂
Seriously, I’d like to think I’m not your “typical tax and spend liberal,” in part because I consider myself more moderate than liberal.
Two examples: First, I am proud to have been a part of two city budgets that that essentially held the line on taxes, budgets that maintained city services while addressing hard choices. We will again keep spending in check with our 2012 budget, with minimal tax increases that more than anything reflect the reality of slashes in state aid and increases in costs, not our desire to increase expenditures. Secondly, I supported the Walmart project in large part because of its impact on local taxpayers — because of what that $12 million development will deliver in terms of a more diversified tax base. This, theoretically, will lessen the tax burden for local residents in years to come.
So those are just two big examples of me putting my words into action. There are others.
That said, I think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the Hoan Bridge, and we should take it. When you spend the bare minimum on a major public works project, you get the bare minimum. There are countless examples of that across our region. I just don’t want to see the Hoan be another.
Do I endorse a blank check with this project? Of course not. But I am OK with the estimates out there for the bike/pedestrian lanes.
Indeed, my vision for a lighted bridge appears to be fantasy, but I raise that suggestion if only to illustrate a larger point: Think big, and act big, when you can. With this project, we can. And should.
Please refer to Randall ‘s comment above for my reply to your reply.
Wait a minute!!! Holding the line means no tax increase!!! My tax bill has risen annually!! There are many ways of cutting spending and having a zero tax increase. AND not by creating the numerous “charges” shown as line items on the tax bill. There are numerous municipalities that are having a “zero” tax increase. As I have stated before, now that BE was bought by Caterpillar….wait until they decide to close the SM facility!!! Eric, what type of increase of property tax would that require to pick up their share????
To me, “holding the line” does not necessarily mean a zero increase. It can, and in this case does, mean a minimal increase that sensibly reflects the realities we’re faced with — sharp cuts in state aid, declining revenues in other areas and increasing costs. With that in mind, I feel good about a small levy increase. I think others should as well. I also think our fees are fair, especially compared with other communities. And they pay for first-class services that we should be proud of in South Milwaukee.
Sure Erik…Small levy increase. Tell us over the last 5 years what the “small levy” increase has done to our tax bill. What is the total increase in percentage did our bills go up????
It’s interesting that a vast number of people who are supporting the bike path today are the same people who were saying that we should look at replacing the Hoan with surface streets just a few months ago. Maybe we should have a “surface street bike path”.
Also, I just see what’s going to happen when there is an accident and parts fly over the barrier and hit somebody on the bike path. Suddenly they will want to make the speed limit 40mph there too.
Does anyone here use the Hoan………? I use it every day during high traffic volumes. It is always crowded,and traffic limps along.People are distracted enough, now you support putting one more distraction on the freeway? Having said that, it is still faster than taking 894 or the high rise during those times.
The last thing I want( next to the stupid trolley downtown ) to pay for is a bike lane on the Hoan. I don’t see how this would benefit anyone other than a few eco nuts, who hate “evil” cars anyway. I’m a little disappointed in you Erik, you say your a “moderate” but this is inherently liberal. Millions of dollars, for a path, that will be used by a few people, for a few months out of the year.
I guess it was either this or shoving high speed rail on the Hoan, huh?
I use the Hoan every day, and at three lanes each way, traffic flows quite smoothly. I don’t recall the last time I’ve seen a backup when the bridge is fully open (not under construction), especially with the new configuration at Oklahoma Avenue heading southbound during the afternoon rush. Maintaining this smooth ride is why I support keeping the bridge three lanes each way, with the addition of a bike/pedestrian lane. To your point about being a moderate, this where I am troubled — I hate the fact that, in today’s polarized political times, I can’t be liberal on some issues, conservative on others. Yes, I am liberal on this one. Does that mean I have to be liberal on all issues? I hope not. But to many it’s one or the other. That’s unfortunate.
Erik, your comment of “I feel strongly that we must think big with this project and other major public works projects like it. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to go beyond the bare minimum — functionality, merely a way to connect point A to point B — and make the Hoan truly something special.”
LET THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS PICK UP THE TAB…. NOT AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!!!!!
I like your idea, Rick. Since (in theory at least) our car registration fees go toward the roads, maybe this kind of development can paid for by having a state wide registration for bikes that want to go on any of the main roads and then a bike toll for special systems like this one.
Make the bike path a toll way of its ever going to be built. Haha. I like that idea. Then we will know the true number of people using the path and be able to hang that out there for any future money wasting ideas.
Isn’t the latest news just something else. Erik, here, is in favor of looking into the bike path. Fine. As an elected official he discusses it with his constituents and with the area. Great. If he needed to vote on it, he would do so one way or the other based on his beliefs and those of the people – as he should.
On the other hand, we have a state senator of the same are. He likewise is in favor of the bike path. Fine. But he doesn’t just engage in dialog to learn what the people think, exactly as Mr. Brooks is doing. He is actively collecting signatures to support his preconceived opinions. THAT is not his job. His job is to propose and/or vote on legislation in Madison. His job is to listen to the various opinions of his constituents and make up his mind based on those, not actively searching out only those who agree with him.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Erik has taken the time to develop this blog and give us a forum to voice our opinions. Wether or not Erik agrees on any one subject, he should get a feel of what a sampling of South Milwaukeeans have to say. Now take Mr. Larson, when things became difficult he ran away. He is like the little spoiled child who, if he doesn’t get his way he is going to take his ball and go home, no check that, go to Illinois. He is submitting the signatures w/o asking because then he would be held accountable. And we all know he can’t handle that.
I guess to play devil’s advocate, Larson is also a citizen of his district and has the same right as you and I to advocate for a cause that he supports. I won’t argue with you that his position as State Senator provides him with a platform to stand on that you or I would have to build if it was our cause…. but, history is full of political leaders who advocate for specific causes or projects.
Personally, I prefer a politician that holds listening sessions, public hearings and information sessions for the causes that they champion as opposed to what we frequently see at the federal and state levels which is pork-barreling at its worst… attaching millions and millions of dollars worth of spending on pet projects onto page 2,786 of some unrelated bill, all under the cover of darkness.
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