Negative press

Read the article - I'm sure you will be amused (and ****ed). This is all
about a nice paved trail that reverts to public roads for a short distance.
The public roads in question have very infrequent car traffic - maybe a
couple an hour. I'm going to the board meeting - any suggestions?

----------------------------------------------------------
September 4, 2003 article in the News Graphic "Ozaukee County's Newspaper
since 1883"



Trail cyclists continue to ignore signs.



Grant might ease problem by taking part of trail off-road.



By Chris Mier, News Graphic Staff



Grafton - They say they do it for the exercise, but some bicyclists still
fail to heed local stop signs - even after a 14-year-old Cedarburg boy was
hit by a car three weeks ago after peddling across Western Avenue without
stopping.



Surprisingly, though, the problem pertains more to Lycra-clad race-style
bikers than defiant teenagers.



Town Chairman Lester Bartel said he's heard of three cars swerving into the
ditch to avoid careless cyclists exiting the Interurban Trail onto the
intersection of Terminal and East River roads.



Bartel lives on East River Road and said he has sat out at the intersection
outlet counting the number of bikers plowing into the road with stopping.
Four of 15 cyclists rode into the road without stopping, or even looking to
see if any cars are coming Bartel said.



"They're always the same people doing it," Bartel said. "They're the guys
in the spandex pants and the funny shoes that want to look like Lance
Armstrong. It's not the casual bikers. By and large the majority of the
people are really good. It's the people trying to see how many thousand
miles they can get in the next 20 minutes. They must think they're up north
on some endless rail line, but they're not."



The town recently decided to lower the speed limit along East River Road
from unmarked to 35 mph, partially in response to the dangerous cyclists.



Bartel said the problem cyclists are not just ignoring the signs on the
trail, but even the stop signs on the roads.



"There are trucks that go down that road," Bartel said, "and a dump truck
isn't going to stop, it can't, and that nobody's been hit is beyond me. It'
s asinine."



The problems with renegade racers doesn't stop there either.



Lt. Cory McCormick of the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office said every spring
he issues standard warnings to a couple of bicycling clubs who take Highway
C to Lake Shore Road and up to Port Washington, regularly garnering
complaints from motorists for ignoring stop signs and other rude biker
behaviors.



The groups typically drive their bikes here from Milwaukee and start their
ride in Mequon, McCormick said.



"We've had numerous complaints that they take the whole road up and they don
't obey signals and so forth," McCormich said. "This has been an ongoing
issue for several years with us, so as soon as we get the first complaint of
the year, we'll make contact with the clubs immediately when they come up
and let them know any complaints will result in citations."



There haven't been any citations issued so far, McCormick said, mainly
because the warnings have worked, but also because it's nearly impossible to
ticket a cyclist unless a violation is observed by a deputy.



McCormick also said the Sheriff's Department would increase its patrols
along Terminal and East River Roads if it begins receiving complaints from
residents or the county.



County Planner Andrew Struck said he hasn't received any formal complaints
about bicyclists neglecting the stop signs at the Terminal and East River
roads intersection, but said he has observed infractions himself and is
aware of the general dangers posed by that stretch of the trail.



The county has applied for two state grants to bring the trail off the road
at that stretch in the town of Grafton and in another in Port Washington,
and Struck said preliminary indications are favorable for the first grant.



The grant, combined with a 20 percent county match, would pay for the trail
to be taken off-road at the midpoint along terminal between East River Road
and Highway W. It would continue over I-43 to where it picks up as an
off-road trail now.



Even if the plan is carried out, however, the intersection where the trail
lets out onto Terminal Road would remain largely unchanged.



Struck will field questions from the Grafton Town Board next Wednesday
regarding possible enforcement actions against problematic cyclists.



------------------------------------

I am a staunch advocate of cyclists observing traffic laws and I would
suggest trying to present compelling evidence that would encourage law
enforcement to monitor the area that you are referring to and
encourage them to ticket the offending cyclists.

Lewis.

***************************

"Dave Harney" wrote in message ...
Read the article - I'm sure you will be amused (and ****ed). This is all
about a nice paved trail that reverts to public roads for a short distance.
The public roads in question have very infrequent car traffic - maybe a
couple an hour. I'm going to the board meeting - any suggestions?

----------------------------------------------------------
September 4, 2003 article in the News Graphic "Ozaukee County's Newspaper
since 1883"



Trail cyclists continue to ignore signs.



Grant might ease problem by taking part of trail off-road.



By Chris Mier, News Graphic Staff



Grafton - They say they do it for the exercise, but some bicyclists still
fail to heed local stop signs - even after a 14-year-old Cedarburg boy was
hit by a car three weeks ago after peddling across Western Avenue without
stopping.



Surprisingly, though, the problem pertains more to Lycra-clad race-style
bikers than defiant teenagers.



Town Chairman Lester Bartel said he's heard of three cars swerving into the
ditch to avoid careless cyclists exiting the Interurban Trail onto the
intersection of Terminal and East River roads.



Bartel lives on East River Road and said he has sat out at the intersection
outlet counting the number of bikers plowing into the road with stopping.
Four of 15 cyclists rode into the road without stopping, or even looking to
see if any cars are coming Bartel said.



"They're always the same people doing it," Bartel said. "They're the guys
in the spandex pants and the funny shoes that want to look like Lance
Armstrong. It's not the casual bikers. By and large the majority of the
people are really good. It's the people trying to see how many thousand
miles they can get in the next 20 minutes. They must think they're up north
on some endless rail line, but they're not."



The town recently decided to lower the speed limit along East River Road
from unmarked to 35 mph, partially in response to the dangerous cyclists.



Bartel said the problem cyclists are not just ignoring the signs on the
trail, but even the stop signs on the roads.



"There are trucks that go down that road," Bartel said, "and a dump truck
isn't going to stop, it can't, and that nobody's been hit is beyond me. It'
s asinine."



The problems with renegade racers doesn't stop there either.



Lt. Cory McCormick of the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office said every spring
he issues standard warnings to a couple of bicycling clubs who take Highway
C to Lake Shore Road and up to Port Washington, regularly garnering
complaints from motorists for ignoring stop signs and other rude biker
behaviors.



The groups typically drive their bikes here from Milwaukee and start their
ride in Mequon, McCormick said.



"We've had numerous complaints that they take the whole road up and they don
't obey signals and so forth," McCormich said. "This has been an ongoing
issue for several years with us, so as soon as we get the first complaint of
the year, we'll make contact with the clubs immediately when they come up
and let them know any complaints will result in citations."



There haven't been any citations issued so far, McCormick said, mainly
because the warnings have worked, but also because it's nearly impossible to
ticket a cyclist unless a violation is observed by a deputy.



McCormick also said the Sheriff's Department would increase its patrols
along Terminal and East River Roads if it begins receiving complaints from
residents or the county.



County Planner Andrew Struck said he hasn't received any formal complaints
about bicyclists neglecting the stop signs at the Terminal and East River
roads intersection, but said he has observed infractions himself and is
aware of the general dangers posed by that stretch of the trail.



The county has applied for two state grants to bring the trail off the road
at that stretch in the town of Grafton and in another in Port Washington,
and Struck said preliminary indications are favorable for the first grant.



The grant, combined with a 20 percent county match, would pay for the trail
to be taken off-road at the midpoint along terminal between East River Road
and Highway W. It would continue over I-43 to where it picks up as an
off-road trail now.



Even if the plan is carried out, however, the intersection where the trail
lets out onto Terminal Road would remain largely unchanged.



Struck will field questions from the Grafton Town Board next Wednesday
regarding possible enforcement actions against problematic cyclists.



------------------------------------

Is there any way the meeting of the trail and the road could be
redesigned so that the trail merged with the road, (like an entrance
ramp) rather than coming to a T? Lots of times you have a trail
coming up parrallel next to a road and then the trail does a 90
degree turn to T intersect with the road. I suppose that makes sense
if half the cyclists are turning one way and half the other at the
road, but this sounds like most would continue in one direction on
the road to pick up the trail again later. In that case, a merge
intersection might be better.

John Riley



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com

Is there any way the meeting of the trail and the road could be
redesigned so that the trail merged with the road, (like an entrance
ramp) rather than coming to a T? Lots of times you have a trail
coming up parrallel next to a road and then the trail does a 90
degree turn to T intersect with the road. I suppose that makes sense
if half the cyclists are turning one way and half the other at the
road, but this sounds like most would continue in one direction on
the road to pick up the trail again later. In that case, a merge
intersection might be better.

John Riley



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com

I am a staunch advocate of cyclists observing traffic laws and I would
suggest trying to present compelling evidence that would encourage law
enforcement to monitor the area that you are referring to and
encourage them to ticket the offending cyclists.

Lewis.

***************************

"Dave Harney" wrote in message ...
Read the article - I'm sure you will be amused (and ****ed). This is all
about a nice paved trail that reverts to public roads for a short distance.
The public roads in question have very infrequent car traffic - maybe a
couple an hour. I'm going to the board meeting - any suggestions?

----------------------------------------------------------
September 4, 2003 article in the News Graphic "Ozaukee County's Newspaper
since 1883"



Trail cyclists continue to ignore signs.



Grant might ease problem by taking part of trail off-road.



By Chris Mier, News Graphic Staff



Grafton - They say they do it for the exercise, but some bicyclists still
fail to heed local stop signs - even after a 14-year-old Cedarburg boy was
hit by a car three weeks ago after peddling across Western Avenue without
stopping.



Surprisingly, though, the problem pertains more to Lycra-clad race-style
bikers than defiant teenagers.



Town Chairman Lester Bartel said he's heard of three cars swerving into the
ditch to avoid careless cyclists exiting the Interurban Trail onto the
intersection of Terminal and East River roads.



Bartel lives on East River Road and said he has sat out at the intersection
outlet counting the number of bikers plowing into the road with stopping.
Four of 15 cyclists rode into the road without stopping, or even looking to
see if any cars are coming Bartel said.



"They're always the same people doing it," Bartel said. "They're the guys
in the spandex pants and the funny shoes that want to look like Lance
Armstrong. It's not the casual bikers. By and large the majority of the
people are really good. It's the people trying to see how many thousand
miles they can get in the next 20 minutes. They must think they're up north
on some endless rail line, but they're not."



The town recently decided to lower the speed limit along East River Road
from unmarked to 35 mph, partially in response to the dangerous cyclists.



Bartel said the problem cyclists are not just ignoring the signs on the
trail, but even the stop signs on the roads.



"There are trucks that go down that road," Bartel said, "and a dump truck
isn't going to stop, it can't, and that nobody's been hit is beyond me. It'
s asinine."



The problems with renegade racers doesn't stop there either.



Lt. Cory McCormick of the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office said every spring
he issues standard warnings to a couple of bicycling clubs who take Highway
C to Lake Shore Road and up to Port Washington, regularly garnering
complaints from motorists for ignoring stop signs and other rude biker
behaviors.



The groups typically drive their bikes here from Milwaukee and start their
ride in Mequon, McCormick said.



"We've had numerous complaints that they take the whole road up and they don
't obey signals and so forth," McCormich said. "This has been an ongoing
issue for several years with us, so as soon as we get the first complaint of
the year, we'll make contact with the clubs immediately when they come up
and let them know any complaints will result in citations."



There haven't been any citations issued so far, McCormick said, mainly
because the warnings have worked, but also because it's nearly impossible to
ticket a cyclist unless a violation is observed by a deputy.



McCormick also said the Sheriff's Department would increase its patrols
along Terminal and East River Roads if it begins receiving complaints from
residents or the county.



County Planner Andrew Struck said he hasn't received any formal complaints
about bicyclists neglecting the stop signs at the Terminal and East River
roads intersection, but said he has observed infractions himself and is
aware of the general dangers posed by that stretch of the trail.



The county has applied for two state grants to bring the trail off the road
at that stretch in the town of Grafton and in another in Port Washington,
and Struck said preliminary indications are favorable for the first grant.



The grant, combined with a 20 percent county match, would pay for the trail
to be taken off-road at the midpoint along terminal between East River Road
and Highway W. It would continue over I-43 to where it picks up as an
off-road trail now.



Even if the plan is carried out, however, the intersection where the trail
lets out onto Terminal Road would remain largely unchanged.



Struck will field questions from the Grafton Town Board next Wednesday
regarding possible enforcement actions against problematic cyclists.



------------------------------------

Even handed enforcement of existing law? There are more motorists running
stops and creating a greater hazard than cyclists. Do they complain so of
their own failings? I think not.


"Dave Harney" wrote in message
...
Read the article - I'm sure you will be amused (and ****ed). This is all
about a nice paved trail that reverts to public roads for a short
distance.
The public roads in question have very infrequent car traffic - maybe a
couple an hour. I'm going to the board meeting - any suggestions?

Even handed enforcement of existing law? There are more motorists running
stops and creating a greater hazard than cyclists. Do they complain so of
their own failings? I think not.


"Dave Harney" wrote in message
...
Read the article - I'm sure you will be amused (and ****ed). This is all
about a nice paved trail that reverts to public roads for a short
distance.
The public roads in question have very infrequent car traffic - maybe a
couple an hour. I'm going to the board meeting - any suggestions?

Here in Finland they showed similar things on tv about an intersection
with a stopsign for cyclists. The funny thing was that there is only
one or two intersections with stopsign for cyclists in the whole 1
million people city area... makes you wonder why it was picked as
example.

Here in Massachusetts USA no one seems to stop at stop signs. That bicyclist
who is running the stop sign on the bike is also doing it in a car.

Solution obey the traffic laws period.



"Markku Poysti" wrote in message
...
Here in Finland they showed similar things on tv about an intersection
with a stopsign for cyclists. The funny thing was that there is only
one or two intersections with stopsign for cyclists in the whole 1
million people city area... makes you wonder why it was picked as
example.

Here in Massachusetts USA no one seems to stop at stop signs. That bicyclist
who is running the stop sign on the bike is also doing it in a car.

Solution obey the traffic laws period.



"Markku Poysti" wrote in message
...
Here in Finland they showed similar things on tv about an intersection
with a stopsign for cyclists. The funny thing was that there is only
one or two intersections with stopsign for cyclists in the whole 1
million people city area... makes you wonder why it was picked as
example.