August 26, 2011
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973. Our neighborhood is in Madison & Fitchburg.
President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net 218-1760
News contact, Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net <mailto:mmullen@chorus.net> 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org <http://www.dunnsmarsh.org> (temporarily out of order)
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623 <http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623>
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Two major things: (1) Job openings with U-Haul which will be moving into the CUB building soon.
(2) No calendar. Just check out the dates in the headlines. They are in larger italic type to help you see.
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Article list 8-26 11
OPPORTUNITIES
1 - Free B-cycle Memberships This Weekend
2 - Check Out Madison B-cycle Use
3 - U-Haul Now Hiring for Store at Old Cub Location
4 - Hints for Finding and Filling Out U-Haul Application
5 - Speak Out on Madison Public Safety Budget Priorities, August 31
6 - Next DMNA Council Meeting, Sept. 7
7 -Doggy Do Bag Stations Established in Marlborough Park
8 - A Visit to the New Fitchburg Library (Attachment: “1 col Fitchburg library.jpg”)
9 - Madison Offers “My Account” to Keep You Informed
10 - Already Have “My Account” with the City? Then Sign Up for “Opt-Out” to Prevent Disclosures
APACHE POND
11 - Trail Around Apache Pond Is a Big Attraction
12 - Apache Pond Volunteer Planting Party – Sat., Sept. 17, 9 am to Noon
13 - Grand Opening Celebration for Apache Pond, Noon, Sat., Sept. 17
LICENSES
14 - Cats, Dogs, Bikes, and Basketball Hoops Need Licenses in Fitchburg
15 - Animal and Bike Licenses Required by City of Madison
FROM OUR ALDERS
16 - Alder Poole Responds to Alder Arnold’s Bike/Ped Opinion
(Attachment: “2 Fitchburg 2011alder dist.jpg”)
17 - Fitchburg Alder Dorothy Krause Shares Her Thoughts
18 - Hacker’s Corner: Bike Lanes on Frontage Roads Still in the Pipeline
(Attachment: “3 bike lane e-mails.doc”)
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OPPORTUNITIES
1 - Free B-cycle Memberships This Weekend
If you are curious about B Cycle - even just to see how the system works, so you can explain it to friends, family, or visitors - here's a chance to try it for free.
The Madison B-cycle bike sharing program will be offering free 24-hour memberships August 26th through 28th in an effort to give more people the opportunity to try out the revolutionary urban transportation program. Users who take advantage of the offer will only have to cover usage fees for trips lasting longer than half an hour. To take advantage of the free 24-hour pass, users simply need to register at any B-cycle station or online at www.madison.bcycle.com <http://www.madison.bcycle.com>
Madison visitors and residents alike can check out bikes at B-stations located throughout downtown, and return the bike at the end of their trip to any B-station in the city. Designed for short trips in urban areas, B-cycle provides on-demand transportation for Madisonians on-the-go. It’s an eco-friendly, healthy alternative to automotive transportation, and best of all, B-cycles are there whenever you need them.
Launched in the Summer of 2011, Madison B-cycle is the new way Madison moves. By the end of 2011, 35 B-cycle stations holding 350 bikes will be located throughout the downtown and university campus areas of Madison. Members of the Madison B-cycle team will be available at the August 27th Farmer’s Market to answer any questions a potential B-cycle user might have.
from Eric Bjorling, Trek Bikes
2 - Check Out Madison B-cycle Use
Madison B-Cycle started up a few months ago with a few rental bike stations and a small number of bikes. It’s grown. But is it being used?
Yes it is, but there’s more room for growth.
A neat (cool, awesome) way to check this out is to go to the website that tracks usage nearly real time, updated every 2 to 20 minutes. That website is http://bikes.oobrien.com/?city=madison <http://bikes.oobrien.com/?city=madison> It shows a map of the city with dots for all the docks. The dots are colored blue through red to show how full or empty the racks are.
A chart at the bottom tells how many empty spaces there are and how many bikes are parked in the docks. It also tells the percentage of empty spaces and bikes in docks.
Now in Madison we have 333 spaces in the docks. When I first looked at the map when I began this article, bikes were in 213 of them (63.4%). There were 122 empty spaces (36.6%). Looking after I finished this article, the statistics changed to bikes in 198 (59.5%) of the spaces and 135 (40.5%) empty spaces. I presume that means that about 40% of the bikes are in use right now. My last check was at 9:43 a.m.
To find out exactly where each bike station is and to check how many bikes are available and how many empty spaces there are to park a rented bike, just click on the circles that represent the stations. When you do, the address is given, statistics for that address pop up, and you can also see a graph for the past 24 hours
An even more interesting feature of the B-cycle website is that you can check B-cycle use in cities all over the United States and the world: Minneapolis, Boulder, Denver, Washington, DC, and Boston among others in the US; Montreal, London, Rome, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, and many more outside the US.
Another neat thing about the maps is that you can zoom in so that most streets are named. This means you could plan your vacation to one of these cities with bike use in mind.
Check it out.
by Mary Mullen
3 - U-Haul Now Hiring for Store at Old Cub Location
On behalf of Tom Hodel, Marketing Company President, I would like to inform you both that we are now accepting job applications for our new store at 4716 Verona Rd (old Cub Foods store).
The positions we currently have open is:
Customer Service Rep - all part time positions, starting pay of $9.00 per hour
General Manager - Fulltime position, starting salary is $35k to $38k per year
Anyone who is interested can fill out the online application at www.uhauljobs.com <http://www.uhauljobs.com <http://www.uhauljobs.com> >
[Editor’s Note: Before you start your application, please be certain to read the following article for hints about getting to the application and hints on how to fill it out.]
Whoever is hired will be training at one of our other locations until opening day, which could be the eastside at 22 Atlas Court or on the westside at 522 W Platte Dr or at our downtown location at 602 W. Washington Ave.
If you have any questions please let me know.
Thanks,
Penni Narlock, Executive Assistant
U-Haul Co. Western Wisconsin
22 Atlas Court, Madison, WI 53714
608-223-3057
4 - Hints for Finding and Filling Out U-Haul Application
Guess what! I’m a college graduate, and I had a hard time figuring out just how to find and use the on-line U-Haul application.
Here are some hints for you if you are hoping to get a job with U-Haul right near our neighborhood at the old CUB grocery store location. I compiled them from trying to use the site myself and from talking to Penni Narlock, Executive Assistant to U-Haul, Western Wisconsin. She’s the person who put out the notice about the jobs.
Here are the hints.
· First, be aware that you must be able to verify that you have a legal right to work in the United States. You must agree to a drug test if you are offered employment. Other requirements are having a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, and the ability to operate motor vehicles with both automatic and standard transmissions. If you can’t meet these requirements, there’s probably no use to make an application.
· Gather things you will need for your application:
o Social Security number
o work history including employer address, telephone number, supervisor name, starting dates, ending dates, pay rate at beginning and end
o resume or a cover letter (if you will want to put them in the application) It would be easiest to have the resume and cover letter already in digital form so you can just paste the information into the application.
o names and telephone numbers of 3 references.
If you are away from your computer for more than 20 minutes, everything is erased and you have to start over.
· Get on you computer and go to <http://www.uhauljobs.com <http://www.uhauljobs.com> >
· Assuming you want one of the “Customer Service Rep” positions, fill out the blanks as follows:
o Customer Service Rep
o Madison
o WI
o 53711
o You do NOT need to check any of the skills/jobs boxes on this page
· At bottom, click on the red arrow next to “Find”
· A slough of “Customer Service Rep” job titles will come up. Click on any one of the 3 from Madison. (The Verona Road location isn’t listed yet because this location is not yet open, but this is how you apply for working at Verona Road anyway.)
· Read the description. You’ll note some of the items included in the first hint.
· On the bottom or top green strip, click on the red arrow next to Apply Now. There you will read some important information about the application process including the warning about how your data will be lost if your computer application is abandoned for more than 20 minutes. Be aware. I lost all my data when I was filling out my sample application.
· Supply all required information. Unless the application is complete, it will not be accepted.
· When you get to the “Skills and Experience” page, be aware that the more boxes you check, the harder the assessment will be later on in the application. You will be asked questions about your knowledge of all the skills/experience you check. If you fail the assessment, you must wait 60 days to apply again.
Good luck.
by Mary Mullen
5 - Speak Out on Madison Public Safety Budget Priorities, August 31
Are you a person with an opinion on the City of Madison’s funding for Public Safety? Then you will want to attend the last in a series of 5 meetings hosted by Mayor Paul Soglin. The meeting is about budgets for the Fire, Police, and Public Health Departments.
Attend this meeting on Wednesday, August 31, 7-9 p.m., Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive.
6 - Next DMNA Council Meeting, Sept. 7
Any resident may attend the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Council meetings. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
The next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m. at Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive.
Please contact DMNA President Bob Hague if you plan to attend and have something special you want to bring up to the Council. Only Council members can vote, but residents generally are allowed to speak.
7 - Doggy Do Bag Stations Established in Marlborough Park
“Ask, and ye shall receive,” was a mantra from my childhood. Later on, at a fund raising workshop, that same concept was emphasized. “You can’t get it if you don’t ask for it,” was the watchword for asking for the big bucks.
The same idea goes for neighborhood business.
Case in point, doggy do bag dispensers in Marlborough Park. There are now 3 of them at entrances to the park.
Here’s the story of how they got there.
On April 19, DMNA Council member JoAnn Kelly brought a proposal to the Council about the doggy do problem in Marlborough Park. She suggested that we to ask the city of Madison to provide dog waste bag dispenser stations in the park. The Council agreed with her and deputized her to contact the city about this issue.
By the next Council meeting, July 6, Jo had learned that the City would indeed provide 3 dispensers if the neighborhood association would pay for the bags which cost $48 for 2000 bags. The Council approved.
Not too long after that and there they were, tan plastic dispensers attached to posts at the entrances from Milford, Sentinel Pass, and Apache Drive. Embossed on the front is “Dog Waste Bags.”
Are they used? Well, I saw a dog walker extract a bag from the Milford dispenser a couple of weeks ago. Later, this same dog walker wrote a $25 check to the neighborhood association in gratitude for the Association’s efforts.
“Ask, and ye shall receive.” It works.
by Mary Mullen
8 - A Visit to the New Fitchburg Library (Attachment: “1 col Fitchburg library.jpg”)
The other day when I was delivering a document to the Fitchburg City Hall on Lacy Road, I took the opportunity to stop into the new Fitchburg Library. What a pleasant place - roomy, light, and airy, plus artful.
Check out the picture collage about the library to see whether this place might suit you too.
You don’t have to be a Fitchburg resident to use the library. Anyone with a library card from a Dane County library can also borrow books there. But Dane County resident or not, this space is a great place to spend a few hours. Computers are available too.
Hours of the library are as follows, but be aware that holidays are different.
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday (Labor Day - Memorial Day) 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
For a treasure-trove of information about the Fitchburg Library, try out their website at http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/library/index.php
by Mary Mullen
9 - Madison Offers “My Account” to Keep You Informed
“Oh, dear! What are they doing now? Why didn’t somebody tell me about that detour (bus route change, job opportunity, fun thing to do)?”
Have you ever been in the position of suddenly learning an inconvenient - or fun - fact that you wish somebody had informed you of before you were right in the middle of it or before you missed it?
There’s help if you want to know what’s going on in Madison
The way to keep up is to sign up for an account and then join the e-mail lists you are most interested in. There are many, ranging from employment opportunities, Mayor Soglin’s blog, Metro Transit, Madison Parks, City Hall, Madison Police Department, Department of Civil Rights, Senior Center, and many, many more.
How to do this? Simple. Just go to https://my.cityofmadison.com/ and follow the directions to sign up for your account.
It’s a great resource.
by Mary Mullen
10 - Already Have “My Account” with the City? Then Sign Up for “Opt-Out” to Prevent Disclosures
By participating in My Account, the Wisconsin Public Records Laws may subject your email address and other personal information to disclosure to third parties.
A new feature has been added to My Account that gives you the option to have your email address and personal information be treated as confidential and will not be shared. We recommend that you make your selection promptly.
Update your Public Records Information Setting:
https://my.cityofmadison.com/optout.cfm <file://localhost/optout.cfm>
(https://my.cityofmadison.com/emaillists/redirect.cfm?ID=32210&MID=5805&LID=140)
APACHE POND
11 - Trail Around Apache Pond Is a Big Attraction
Hi Rick [Eilertson],
Just wanted to let you know I am seeing lots of activity at the pond. Walking with and without canine companions, strollers, bikes with training wheels, lots of families & neighbors enjoying it already!
It really looks great, and my husband and I are looking forward to the planting party. Thanks for making this happen!
This observation and thoughtful note of appreciation were sent by Fitchburg District 1, Seat 2 Alder Carol Poole to Fitchburg’s Environmental Engineer, Rick Eilertson. He has been the point person in the transformation of the area below Apache Drive and Crescent Road from a wild wooded area to a wet pond. The purpose of the pond is to protect Dunn’s Marsh and downstream waters from sedimentation.
Carol and her husband live on Crescent Road just a bit west of the pond and can easily see all the new human and canine activity on the trail around the pond. She is in her second term on the Common Council of the City of Fitchburg.
Eilertson is planning a rain garden planting party within the public property just east of the pond. The rain garden has been in the plans since the inception of the project. The planting party will be scheduled Saturday morning, 9 am to noon on September 17. It will to be followed by a brief grand opening ceremony and lunch. [See related articles.]
Anyone in the neighborhood will be welcomed to take part in planting, the ceremony, and refreshments afterward.
In his note back to Carol, Rick thanked her for taking the time to let him know how popular the pond walk has become.
“That's awesome Carol!” he said. “Thanks for the feedback. This has really been a great team project and one that I'm quite proud to have played a part in.”
His final words in the e-mail pointed out how important and how much appreciated a word of thanks can be to a public worker - or anyone for that matter.
Thanks again for your e-mail - It really cheered me up (I can't tell you how much I needed that today)! I'm out tomorrow to attend a funeral in Waukesha, but will be back in the office on Friday. Rick E.
by Mary Mullen
12 - Apache Pond Volunteer Planting Party – Sat., Sept. 17, 9am to Noon
This summer, Fitchburg installed a new stormwater pond at the intersection of Apache Drive and Crescent Road to help reduce erosion and sediment runoff into Dunn’s Marsh. The pipe installation, grading, and temporary seeding was completed by Iverson Construction in June. Stantec is continuing with vegetation management activities around the pond and will be helping with coordination of a volunteer planting party on Saturday, September 17, from 9am to Noon.
Volunteers for the planting party will include neighborhood residents, Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association members, the Boys & Girls Club, local service groups, and any other interested parties. Work efforts will include planting 200 native plants around the pond edge, 200 native plants in an adjacent rain garden, and 18 trees at various locations around the pond.
The Apache Pond Volunteer Planting Party will culminate in a Grand Opening Celebration to be held at Noon in front of the pond, followed by a lunch by the pond. Pizza and beverages will be provided; however, participants are invited to bring a dish to pass if they’d like. Donations for memorial benches and/or stormwater information signage will also be welcomed.
If you are interested in volunteering for this event or have any questions, comments, or suggestions on the Apache Pond project, please contact Rick Eilertson at rick.eilertson@city.fitchburg.wi.us <mailto:rick.eilertson@city.fitchburg.wi.us> or 270-4264.
from Rick Eilertson
13 - Grand Opening Celebration for Apache Pond, Noon, Sat. , Sept. 17
So you don’t plan to participate in the planting party for Apache Pond? Doesn’t matter. You are still invited to the Grand Opening Celebration for this wet pond. Just show up at noon down by the pond at the foot of Apache Drive on Crescent Road.
A short program will be followed by lunch as mentioned in the article above.
Don’t miss this special celebration in the neighborhood.
by Mary Mullen
LICENSES
14 - Cats, Dogs, Bikes, and Basketball Hoops Need Licenses in Fitchburg
If you live in Fitchburg and you have a cat or dog, it needs to be licensed. So does your bike. And believe it or not, a basketball hoop also needs a permit. Most of these documents need to be renewed annually, but a bike license is for the life of the bicycle.
For a spayed or neutered cat, the annual license fee is $5.00. If your cat isn’t spayed, the fee is $7.00
For dogs, the annual fee is either $15 or $20, depending on whether it is spayed or neutered. If you apply after March 31, add an extra $5.00. There’s a break for you if you own more than one dog. The “multiple dog license” is $43.00
Pet owners may apply for an animal license in the Fitchburg Clerk's Office or by mail. When mailing the application for dog or cat license, include a copy of your current rabies vaccination certificate. The license, tag, and your rabies information will be mailed back to you.
The bike license, only $5.00, comes from the police department which you can visit during normal business hours. You’ll need to provide the serial number , make, color, speed (number of gears?), and tire size of the bike.
The basketball hoop permit costs $30.00 a year. They are required if you want to park your movable basketball hoop structure in the street such as at the end of a cul-de-sac.
by Mary Mullen
15 - Animal and Bike Licenses Required by City of Madison
If you were feeling lucky that you live in the City of Madison when it comes to licensing your pet or your bike - most in the Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood do - don’t gloat too soon. Madison pet owners and bicyclists also need licenses.
For a cat or dog in Madison, the license fee for a spayed or neutered pet is $15 a year. For an unsprayed or unneutered cat or dog, the fee is $20.00. As in Fitchburg, the fee is raised $5.00 if you purchase the license on or after April 1.
Go to http://www.cityofmadison.com/treasurer/petLicensing.cfm for the application form and more details.
Bicycle licenses cost $10 each in Madison, renewable annually. However, if your family has more than 2 bikes, the “extra” bike licenses are only $8.00 each.
For Madison, bike owners need to supply the serial number, manufacturer (i.e. Schwinn, Trek), model (Varsity, DuraSport, etc.), type of frame (See the provided list), any other identifying information, wheel size, frame size, # of speeds, color.
Register bikes and pay for the license online at https://arcout.com/com/BikeRegistration.aspx <file://localhost/com/BikeRegistration.aspx> You can also buy at license at any bike store or at the City Treasurer’s office in the City County Building.
by Mary Mullen
ALDER NOTES
16 - Alder Poole Responds to Alder Arnold’s Bike/Ped Opinion
(Attachment: “2 Fitchburg 2011alder dist.jpg”)
In the August 11 e-News, I printed an opinion e-mail sent out by Fitchburg Alder Steve Arnold. Arnold had decried the lack of support for several pedestrian and bike projects he wished to have included in Fitchburg’s Capital Improvement Program, otherwise known as the CIP list.
While it was clear that this was Alder Arnold’s opinion since he stated that it was, and he identified that he was one of the Fitchburg alders serving District 4, I should have pointed out that Arnold does not represent the Dunn’s Marsh area of Fitchburg.
Our two representatives on the Fitchburg Council - which is in District 1 - are Carol Poole and Dorothy Krause. Both of these alders live in the Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood although they also represent areas in Fitchburg beyond our neighborhood as well. Alder Arnold represents District 4 which covers the majority of the land area of Fitchburg mainly south of Co. Road PD and east of Fish Hatchery Road.
Check out the attached map to see the current aldermanic districts in Fitchburg.
Here is Alder Poole’s response to the Arnold opinion piece.
Please note that Alder Arnold's article represents his opinion and not necessarily that of the Fitchburg Alders that represent our neighborhood.
The city has a resolution in place to not build infill sidewalks unless requested by the neighborhood or unless there is a serious safety issue. This is not the case and there is simply not support for them.
As for the multi-use path [along South Fish Hatchery Road], there are other issues surrounding that one too, including coordinating with the county on construction and the need to cut spending in tough economic times.
Our Capital plan is just a plan, if projects become more feasible in time, they can be added back.
by Mary Mullen
17 - Fitchburg Alder Dorothy Krause Shares Her Thoughts
[Editor’s note: These articles that focus on the Allied area were written by Alder Dorothy Krause for the Jamestown Neighborhood newsletter, Sunday, August 14, 2011]
Allied Neighborhood Pride
As an extension of a Safety and Security document generated by Madison’s Allied Area Task Force, the Southwest Commuter bike path behind Allied Drive has been receiving a safety facelift. The undergrowth along the path had been previously identified by the Neighborhood Watch program as a safety concern. With recent news reports of problems on bike paths around the city, area residents kicked efforts into high gear to get the path mowed more effectively.
When a member of an area bike email list posted information expressing concern about safety on the path near Allied, Fitchburg Alder Dorothy Krause responded, noting efforts already underway in the neighborhood and encouraging members to write to area elected officials as well as city staff, requesting that the under growth be cut back. Mowing was done within a week of the post. It might have also helped that the reply was copied to those officials.
Alder Krause is currently writing a proposal for the USDA’s People’s Garden grant which will include clear-cutting of the underbrush along most of the hillside on the path between Lovell Lane and the Verona Road underpass. The proposal will also include landscaping of the hillside as well as the opportunity for area residents to establish gardens on appropriate areas in the right-of-way as is common in other areas in Madison.
Why focus on Allied?
Looking at area city maps, it becomes obvious that Allied Drive is physically located within the City of Fitchburg, though it ‘belongs’ to Madison. If you ask residents in the area whether they live in Madison or Fitchburg, they generally don’t know. Nor are they aware where the lines are drawn, or what property is on which side of the line. An interesting note is that the Boys and Girls Club building is in Fitchburg, while their parking lot is in Madison. Allied Drive, the bike path, and Carling Drive on the west side of the path
are all in Madison, while the entire Chalet Gardens area next to Carling Drive, off of Verona Road is again Fitchburg.
No wonder people are confused. But, that means the community really needs to be taken as a whole, regardless of city lines. Alders in both Madison and Fitchburg understand this fact, as does the Police and Fire Departments, and other services that end up straddling the lines.
As a resident in the Allied area for more then nine years now, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of people living in chronic poverty. I’ve also seen that the long term answer to helping people out of poverty is to give them opportunities to become productive. These are people with pride, but their pride has been ground down by their circumstances. In working with groups of Allied residents, I’ve seen that sense of pride begin to emerge in beneficial ways. And it has been my intent to promote that pride of community, in ways that benefit the greater community of which we all are part.
The Allied Area Task Force was established by the City of Madison in 2005 in response to rising crime rates, and includes city officials from both Madison and Fitchburg, area residents, and area service providers. Over time it has been the springboard of much of the good work that has been accomplished by residents, including the Neighborhood Association, the Neighborhood Watch program, a Welcomer’s group, Mothers in the Neighborhood, and GEMS (Girls Empowered by Motivated Sisters—an education and support group for preteen and young teen girls, led by women in the neighborhood). The Boys and Girls Club has become an asset to the community, which hosts many community meetings and events, in addition to its core service of providing excellent programming for area youth. The MSCR Learning Center, the JFF office, the Wellness Center, the Wellness Coop, Allied Partners, and other groups in the community all work in cooperation with residents to help them help themselves.
I have learned a lot working with this community, work that has helped me to better understand the challenges that they, and people in other similar areas, face and which is an understandable dilemma to the city… and to society as a whole. What we can, and should, do about chronic poverty is a multi-million dollar question. The way I see it is that we can either continue providing money for their basic needs, or, we can (and should!) find ways to help them to provide for themselves. How to do that is a huge question in itself, but one which we must explore.
Because this topic has become so important to me, I’ve been attending all of County Executive Joe Parisi’s Jobs and Prosperity Project meetings the past month or so. I want to get a sense of what is possible in various industries, and work within those possibilities to help good things happen. I am especially interested in helping to create jobs in the $12 to $15 range, as well as working toward more affordable housing options, not only for people living in chronic poverty, but also for those teetering on the edge in these economic times. I know it’s not going to get easier, but I have faith that it will get better.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Krause, Fitchburg Common Council, District 1, Seat 1
2105 Apache Dr., Fitchburg, WI 53711
608-271-7532
18 - Hacker’s Corner: Bike Lanes on Frontage Roads Still in the Pipeline
(Attachment: “3 bike lane e-mails.doc”)
OK, did that get your attention - Hacker’s Corner?
It used to be that you’d have to physically snoop to find your parents’ love letters. These days, for Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, hacker journalists got their thrills by getting into private cell phone messages and passing them on.
But what is a poor non-tech-savvy person like you or me to do?
Never fear, right here in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News, you can see with your own eyes some of the actual correspondence that goes with being an active neighborhood association, an alder, and a city staff person. In historian parlance, these are “primary sources.” Check them out in the attachment “3 bike lane e-mails.” (OK, they aren’t quite as sexy as love letters or the hacker journalist’s snooping, but they are still the real thing. And they aren’t illegal either.)
Here’s the actual story.
Last summer - that’s in 2010 - the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association requested that bike lanes be painted on the Beltline and Verona frontage roads. After prompting from Alder Brian Solomon, City of Madison Traffic Engineer Mark Winter said it was too late to get them in 2010, but they would be forthcoming in 2011.
Why, you might ask, don’t we have them yet? That’s just what the DMNA has inquired about this year. Again, it took e-mails from Alder Solomon to get an answer. That’s one reason we have alders - to get answers when we ordinary citizens can’t.
The short answer Alder Solomon got from Mark Winter is that the signs and lanes are still planned for this summer, but it may be a few weeks because there’s only one painting truck and crew.
For the long answer and insight into what it means to be an active neighborhood association, an alder, or city staff, check out the attachment. It documents the skinny in e-mail messages.
Be sure to read the very last e-mail in the string because it brings out a disturbing apparent change in the city’s plan to provide bike lanes in our neighborhood.
by Mary Mullen
---- End of August 26, 2011 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News ------
THANKS FOR READING
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