“It’s basically about liberal extremists in Madison who hate cars and think everyone should bike to work,” Rep. Steve Nass, a Whitewater Republican, told the Wisconsin State Journal. “It is basically making it difficult to use an automobile.”
The idea to mark areas at intersections safe for cyclists with a red thermoplastic material affixed to the pavement came from a trip to Germany and the Netherlands in April taken by Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and 19 other civic leaders. The group specifically went in search of ideas to encourage more bicycling in the Madison area.
Rep. Mark Pocan, a Madison Democrat, responded to Nass’ plan to introduce legislation in January to ban the bike boxes. In a May 25 blog post, Pocan wrote, “With the (legislative) session over, Representative Steve Nass is waging warfare against a nasty new demon threatening life as we know it in the Badger State. Shield the children’s eyes. This new malicious entity is a bike box.”
Nass argues the bike boxes are too costly. But city officials say they are paying $3,000 for each one, with the remainder of the $16,000 price tag of the pilot project covered by the North Carolina company that manufactures the materials. No state funds are being used.
top of page
Visitor Comments »
top of page