As I See It
Now is the time to talk about bike lanes
The fight over bike lanes is about to get louder in La Crosse. The city has been criticized for building too many bike lanes for too few riders, but is now about to consider adding more bike lanes that would disrupt vehicle parking on some major thoroughfares. At a meeting today of the city’s Bicycle-pedestrian Advisory Committee, members will be asked to approve an update to the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan. That plan would remove parking on some parts of Third and Fourth streets and replace the area with bike lanes. Critics say there should have been more notice, especially for those downtown businesses which could lose parking. But this is not a new idea. This idea isn’t being sprung on anyone. The city has had a master plan for pedestrians and bicyclists for years. Today’s agenda item is simply to get a presentation on the latest plans, and to possibly approve updates. And this remains a draft, not a final document, and final approval would need to come from the city council. That means there is still time to get involved, and let your thoughts be heard. If you have opinions about more bike lanes in the city, now is the time to let City Hall know your feelings.
R Head
May 14, 2024 at 8:57 am
There are so many bike lanes now. Maybe Mitch should let the homeless set there tent up in the bike lanes. They could crap in the storm drains. They would be close to bus line. It a win win deal.
Anonymous
May 14, 2024 at 10:19 am
Bike lanes are a good thing for a city to have. Especially when they are planned and executed properly. It promotes a healthy culture and, if they’re being used, makes for less traffic and easier parking for those who do come from out of town or need to drive. Think moon tunes as a good example of where bikes are being utilized to reduce traffic. The entire country could use more people on bikes. Our obesity and chronic illness rates are proof enough of that.
To tie bike lanes to homelessness shows a complete lack of awareness.
Bob N.
May 14, 2024 at 10:33 am
That’s not a bad idea. Bicyclists in bike lanes must be an endangered species, I see so few of them.
Cyclists are the worst offenders of traffic laws, why give them anything? They run red lights and stop signs, never signal for a turn, drive on the wrong side of the road and pay no gas tax.
Somewhere there’s a mumbling liberal who thought painting bike lanes on streets would cut down on vehicular traffic. Fat chance.
walden
May 14, 2024 at 10:37 am
Its a great idea, considering so many bikes in the City are stolen by the homeless.
Walden
May 14, 2024 at 10:36 am
Meanwhile, another 300 people die today from drug overdose thanks to Joe Biden’s open border.
LSE Tax Payer
May 14, 2024 at 9:59 am
Mayor Mitch is power-hungry and only cares about the majority of the people in this city. He only wants to do favors for his friends and us, the taxpayer dollars, for this. If this isn’t a blatant show of corruption in the La Crosse Goverment, I don’t know what is.
Rob S
May 14, 2024 at 11:21 am
If bike lanes were properly planned and executed, they would work well. There are many cities where they have prioritized bike safety and it pays off with reduced traffic, reduced need for parking etc. Moon Tunes right here in La Crosse is a great example of people commuting by bike and reducing both traffic and parking. Bob – do have specific examples of it not working? Because it sounds like an uninformed position based on being mad that someone is on a bike and that you have to slow down for a minute on your commute. People in cars dont always signal turns. They run stop signs. They hit people on motorcycles because they arent looking. they drive drunk Etc. should we take away all roads because of the bad actors? And have you considered that properly executed bike lanes would reduce your run ins with bikers?
Our country needs to promote more biking. One look at our obesity and chronic illness rates are proof of that. People will drive a mile rather than walk or bike. as a consequence, fewer and fewer people are healthy. Even the military is having problems with getting people healthy enough to pass the testing/training… could say it is a security risk for the country. Not to mention that unhealthy populations cost tax payers and health insurance payers tons of $$ every year.
Bob N.
May 15, 2024 at 7:21 am
Pal-
You ignore my assertion that the existing lanes are rarely used. You blame that on the lanes not being “properly used and executed”? What does that mean? You’re one of these “I know better” types that thinks more bike lanes in La Crosse will lead to fewer fat people, just as your predecessors thought the bike lanes we have would cut down vehicular traffic. I’m not mad at bikers. I rarely see any. Enjoy your bike rides, leave the rest of us alone, and enjoy NO MOW MAY.
nick
May 14, 2024 at 12:43 pm
I will not ride my bike on city streets in LaCrosse.or the surrounding area. We have too many drivers running stops signs and red lights. We have many cyclists that wear their expensive clothes and ride their expensive bikes who have no idea they have to obey traffic signs.
I ride my bike on the sidewalk between north LaCrosse and the Y in Onalaska only crossing over by the big fish with the light and even then with flashing lights I have to wait since cars will ignore the light and keep going.
If this were the Quad Cities, the path starting at the welcome center in Onalaska would be paved making it much easier to ride.
The downtown area is pushed by leaders to come to and then they make it harder by wanting more bike lanes.
R Head
May 14, 2024 at 1:50 pm
If the Quad city’s is so great you should move there. That the place where the big prick is governor.