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Middleton committee reviews Bike Week feedback, plans Week Without Driving events to build accessibility empathy
Summary
Committee members reviewed Bike Week feedback—signal timing and crossing concerns at Kauga, Sentry and Century—and discussed Week Without Driving activities including field trips with disability‑focused nonprofits, commuter stations, a Stonehorse Green concert encouraging non‑driving attendance, and business partnerships to boost participation.
Members of the Middleton Ped‑Bike‑Transit Committee on Tuesday reviewed Bike Week feedback from community rides and commuter stations and spent substantial time planning Year‑Round outreach around a proposed Week Without Driving.
Daphne summarized feedback from the community ride and confirmed she would circulate photos and attendee comments. She said many participants raised safety concerns about multi‑phase crossings at locations such as Kauga, the Airport/University path crossing and Sentry. "I don't think it's really appropriate to make pedestrians or cyclists wait up to eight minutes to cross a road...we're inviting essentially people to jaywalk," Kirsten said, describing observed waits of around six minutes at some crossings.
Members reported commuter‑station counts (estimates of roughly 30 at a Monday station and over 60 at a Wednesday station) and the community ride drew an estimated 50–70 participants. Attendees said some cyclists opted for the Parmentor/creek corridor rather than negotiating the Kauga roundabout.
To raise awareness and participation, the committee proposed centralized Facebook events for schedule changes, adding afternoon commuter stations, and partnering with outside groups. Ideas included a Stonehorse Green concert during Week Without Driving that would encourage attendees to bike, walk or bus; a stamp‑rally or "non‑drive bingo" with local business prizes; and a Middleton team in Roundtrip's challenge. Wheel & Sprocket, Long Table Chocolate Shop and local businesses expressed willingness to support events.
Kirsten proposed partnering with the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired and a wheelchair‑mobility nonprofit to run empathy field trips and demonstrations so participants could experience barriers faced by visually impaired and mobility‑limited residents. Committee members emphasized that such exercises should be guided by people with lived experience rather than solely by volunteers simulating disability.
The committee urged staff to plan earlier for next year's Bike Week, recruit volunteers for periodic walk and bike audits at high‑risk locations, and to consider signal‑timing adjustments that prioritize pedestrian and bicycle crossings where feasible. An e‑bike demonstration was scheduled for the July meeting.
Next steps: Daphne will collect and circulate materials from regional Week Without Driving organizers and staff will help coordinate outreach with Madison Bikes and other partners.
