20BY2020

Besides being the biggest, funnest bicycle party of the year and an opportunity to rub shoulders with the members of the iconic 7-Eleven team, the Saris Gala on Nov. 12th is also an important fund raiser for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.  This year’s gala will feature a special effort to raise money for next year’s effort to get a vulnerable users law passed.

Vulnerable user laws define a class of roadway users who are more vulnerable to being killed or seriously injured by a motor vehicle. The definition may include bicyclists, pedestrians, runners, equestrians, highway workers, motorcyclists and farm equipment users. A Vulnerable User Law is intended to protect vulnerable roadway users and to appropriately and fairly punish those who harm them through reckless, careless, or even malevolent behavior.

A Vulnerable User Law in Wisconsin would provide law enforcement and prosecutors with an enhanced set of penalties that fall between a basic traffic infraction and a serious crime. Essentially, the law increases the penalty for careless or inattentive driving when these actions result in the injury or death of a vulnerable user.

Bike Fed is in the process of building support with partners across the State and will work with legislators to pass a Vulnerable Users’ Law in 2012.

States with similar laws: Illinois (allows for Class 3 felony), Oregon (commentary here), New York (A07917-C S5292-B), Delaware

Look for the special opportunity  Saris Gala, the Bike Fed’s biggest fundraiser of the year held on November 12, will feature a special opportunity to make a donation to help pass a vulnerable user’s law in Wisconsin. To register for the event (ticket prices increase from $40 to $50 on November 1st) and for more information, visit: www.sarisgala.org.

The Bike Fed has a number of opportunities to help out with Bike Valet in Madison over the next few weeks. We have just begun offering our Bike Valet service this summer and it is gaining in popularity quickly! We’ve already seen first-hand the many benefits of our bike valet. Read our blog about our Bike Valet benefits and success: http://overthebarsinmilwaukee.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/how-to-get-200-bikes-in-a-prius/

In order to offer valet at all of these great events, we definitely need some help! Volunteering at the Bike Valet is a lot of fun! Plus, you are playing a significant role in encouraging more people to bike to these events. You are making a direct difference!

Please email me back (amanda.white@bfw.org) if you can help with bike valet at any of these events and specify which events/shifts you prefer.

Heartland Velo Show This Weekend – We are especially in need of volunteers for this event!

• August 27 – Shifts include: 10am – 12:00pm, 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 3:00 – 6:00pm
• August 28 – Shifts include: 10am – 12:00pm, 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 3:00 – 6:00pm
• Alliant Energy Center

Taste of Madison

• September 3 – Shifts include: 1:00 – 3:00pm, 3:00pm – 5:00pm, 5:00 – 7:00pm, 7:00 – 9:00pm
• September 4 – Shifts include: 11:00 – 1:00pm, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, 3:00 – 6:00pm, 6:00 – 8:00pm
• Alliant Energy Center

First Badger Football Game

• September 1 – Shifts include: 5:00 – 7:00pm, 7:00 – 9:00pm, 9:00 – 11:30pm
• Lot 114 across from Engineering Hall

ACTION ALERT! Mark your calendar for August 16!

The City is hosting five different Community Budget Conversation meetings to better understand what city services Madison residents most value and how we want our tax dollars spent. Each meeting covers particular city departments. The meeting for Traffic Engineering, Engineering, and Planning is August 16. Mayor Soglin, department heads, and most city alders will be attending this meeting. The discussion will not be focused on specific budget line items, but rather a general discussion on what people value within Traffic Engineering, Engineering, and Planning.

This is a critical opportunity for everyone who cares about bicycling in Madison. Please attend the meeting and tell the Mayor that bicycling is a major priority for you. I’ve heard that these meetings are attracting audiences of 100 – 200+ people. Let’s show our city leadership that hundreds of Madisonians prioritize bicycling! This is going to be a tough budget year with very difficult choices and deep cuts. The mayor will announce his capital budget on September 6, so this is our greatest chance to show up in large numbers to influence the Mayor and Common Council’s decision-making.

Plan to attend and bring co-workers, neighbors, family and friends with you! Please forward this post to list serves or post on your Facebook page to help us spread the word.

Tuesday, August 16
7 – 9pm
Madison Senior Center
330 W. Mifflin Street

To learn more about the Community Budget Conversation meetings click here: http://www.cityofmadison.com/budgetProcess/conversations.cfm

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact Amanda White at the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin at amanda.white@bfw.org or (608) 251-4456.

Whether you are a self-proclaimed bicyclist or simply someone who hops on a bike for a Sunday ride from time to time, bicycling is something that you enjoy. The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and many community leaders across Madison, have launched the 20by2020 Campaign to provide bicycle supporters like you the chance to help move bicycling forward in our community.

The goal of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin’s 20by2020 campaign is to unite 10,000 Madisonians in an effort to create a Madison where tens of thousands of residents and visitors make bicycling an integral part of their daily life. We want an innovative bicycle system that encourages 20% of all the trips in Madison are made by bicycle by the year 2020.

In the cities across the world where bicycling is truly a part of every day routine, the quality of life is incredibly high. Take Munster, Germany for example. In Munster, 35% of all trips taken are made by bike. Compared to Madison, where only 3% of trips are by bike. For decades, Munster has invested in bicycle paths, policy and promotion to encourage cycling for daily transportation. By developing a robust bicycle system that makes women, children, and seniors feel safe on a bike, Munster is now rated among the top cities in the world for quality of life.

Imagine a Madison where 20% of trips are made by bike by 2020. This would be nearly 6 times the amount of bicycling currently happening! When we achieve 20by2020, our kids will be healthier and happier bicycling to school. Our roadways will be safer and less congested. Our community will feel more vibrant and active.

We can achieve 20by2020 if we unite together. We need you to pledge your support of achieving our vision of 20by2020. The Bike Fed will keep you updated on local bicycling news, fun bicycling events, and exciting new bike paths and bike boulevards. Signing your name is simple, but the impact of 10,000 supporters is significant. Sign today.

You are invited to take part in the SmartCode Bicycle Planning Summit and contribute to this update. City staff and consultants are eager to hear from all stakeholders: landowners, taxpayers, businesses, and all kinds of bicyclists.

(See informational flyer at: http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/cityHall/planning/documents/BicyclePlanningSummitFlyer.pdf)

For more information about the summit and the SmartCode bicycle update project, including draft documents, when available, visit the project website at http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/cityHall/planning/SmartCodeBicycle.php.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Community Planner, Susan Sloper, at (608) 270-4256 or by e-mail at susan.sloper@city.fitchburg.wi.us.

Trek and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin are pleased to announce that they have reached a modified agreement that will allow the installation of B-cycle, a citywide bicycle sharing program, in the next month.

The capital costs of the new system will be donated by Trek Bicycle.

Trek, sensitive to the City’s current financial difficulties, has agreed to modify the contract so that the cost to the City will be $1 per year rather than the original $100,000. In return, the City, recognizing the significant capital contribution by Trek, will agree to extend the contract from the originally proposed three years to five. In addition, the City will not share in any profits generated during this contract period. The parties, by mutual agreement, can renew the contract in 2016.

“We are very excited to bring bike sharing to Madison,” said Trek President John Burke. “Madison is our home town and we are thrilled to be able to give back to this great city.”

In order to meet critical time deadlines, the original three year contract for $100,000 will be executed with the understanding that the terms will be brought before the City Council for approval. To wait for adoption of the new terms would delay the installation of the program by two months. Mayor Soglin said, “I am confident that as we team up to make this program work, getting the second contract approved can be done expeditiously. This is going to be a great program for the people of Madison, our visitors and B-cycle.”

The parties agreed to work closely throughout the contract period to make sure that issues regarding signage and use of the public right-of-way are minimized. The Mayor indicated that much needs to be done in the coming weeks to get the system installed and reporting to critical city committees as to the details of the plan.

Hello Friends – Check out two great biking events happening in Madison this Sunday!

Bike Madison Spring Fair

Join us at the Bike Madison Spring Fair on Sunday, May 1, 11 am – 3 pm at Wright Middle School, 1717 Fish Hatchery Road.  The fair is co-sponsored by the City of Madison Bike Madison Program, Public Health Madison Dane County and MSCR and is free for all ages!   Learn or refresh your bike skills.

Activities include a bike commuter workshop, a “We Are All Mechanics” demonstration on how to fix a flat tire, Dream Bikes bike will offer simple bike maintenance classes for children and adults, Williamson Bicycle Works will demonstrate how you can transport children by bike, Madison Police Department will offer hula hoop making and MSCR children activities & much more!

Take a bike tour with the Madison Police Department’s “Bike with a Cop” at 1pm or 2pm or join the Planet Trek Dane County on a group ride leaving at 1:00 to make a loop from the Sun (Monona Terrace) to Jupiter and back to Wright Middle School.

Local bike advocacy groups, 20 by 2020 and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will be on hand to talk about their programs and events.

Purchase a locally made ice cream sandwich or bar from the Red Tricycle Ice Cream Company.

For activity and workshop times or for more information, go to:   www.cityofmadison.com/BikeMadisonSpringFair

New Belgium Pub Peddle
Start Madison Craft Beer Week off right with a New Belgium Pub Peddle! This is a free event with free New Belgium swag being handed out. There is a limited amount though so come early!

Sunday, May 1st

Beginning at 1:00pm
Registration at: Dexters–301 North Street …

then we will continue to….

Ivory Room–116 West Mifflin St.
Madhatters–322 W. Gorham St.
Memorial Union–800 Langdon St.

**We will be staying at each bar for approximately 1 hour with NBB beer choices on draught and Lips of Faith bottles.

Grab your friends and come on a pub peddle on a beautiful Sunday afternoon!

Check out:
http://www.madbeerweek.com/
http://www.newbelgium.com/home.aspx

Cheers!

Check out the news just released by Mayor Soglin and Trek. B-Cycle bike sharing is definitely coming to Madison next month! What an incredible gift from Trek.

NEWS RELEASE

Date:                     Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Contact:               Eric Bjorling, Trek Bicycle Corporation, (920) 478-2191, x12526 / Eric_Bjorling@trekbikes.com

Mayor, Trek Bicycle Announce Agreement on B-cycle Bicycle Sharing Program

Trek and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin are pleased to announce that they have reached a modified agreement that will allow the installation of B-cycle, a citywide bicycle sharing program, in the next month.

The capital costs of the new system will be donated by Trek Bicycle.

Trek, sensitive to the City’s current financial difficulties, has agreed to modify the contract so that the cost to the City will be $1 per year rather than the original $100,000.  In return, the City, recognizing the significant capital contribution by Trek, will agree to extend the contract from the originally proposed three years to five. In addition, the City will not share in any profits generated during this contract period.  The parties, by mutual agreement, can renew the contract in 2016.

“We are very excited to bring bike sharing to Madison,” said Trek President John Burke. “Madison is our home town and we are thrilled to be able to give back to this great city.”

In order to meet critical time deadlines, the original three year contract for $100,000 will be executed with the understanding that the terms will be brought before the City Council for approval. To wait for adoption of the new terms would delay the installation of the program by two months. Mayor Soglin said, “I am confident that as we team up to make this program work, getting the second contract approved can be done expeditiously. This is going to be a great program for the people of Madison, our visitors and B-cycle.”

The parties agreed to work closely throughout the contract period to make sure that issues regarding signage and use of the public right-of-way are minimized. The Mayor indicated that much needs to be done in the coming weeks to get the system installed and reporting to critical city committees as to the details of the plan.

###

Celebrate the return of spring and the promise of many fun-filled days of biking by participating in the first annual Bike Madison Spring Fair. Enjoy MSCR fun activities, workshops such as, How Children See Traffic and Bicycle Maintenance Q& A. The Bike Spring Madison Fair is a FREE family event at James Wright Middle School.

Learn more: http://www.cityofmadison.com/bikeMadisonSpringFair/

Event flyer: Download

The Willy Street Co-op is showing You Never Bike Alone, a documentary movie that shows how cyclists are building critical mass in Vancouver, Canada, and changing the face of the city. It is the story of how a social movement grows and the people behind it.

Saturday, March 5, 6:30pm, Willy St. Coop East side location
Sunday, March 6, 4:00pm, Willy St. Coop West side location

For more information on You Never Bike Alone visit:
http://www.facebook.com/l/c1e43KiIuN0Cmt9oIPB-5QK3XwA/www.youneverbikealone.com/