Bike Fed Keeps 1 Eye On Road, 1 On Transportation Budget

As cyclists celebrate Wisconsin Bike Week, advocacy group Wisconsin Bike Fed is keeping an eye on state budget negotiations.

Dave Schlabowske, the organization’s deputy director said he’s paying particular attention to state transportation funding, which has triggered a difference of opinion between Gov. Scott Walker and some fellow Republican state lawmakers.

“Every budget cycle, we’re going to be worried about, not just bike projects, but road projects,” until state leaders come to an agreement over where to get more money, Schlabowske said.

The Wisconsin Bike Fed would like to be part of the discussions, Schlabowske said.

“We’re open to all ideas for how to solve the funding problem that exists in our state transportation budget,” he said. “Bicycling and walking is, I believe, 2 percent of our transportation budget. Yet, we account for up to 9 percent of all trips, walking and biking. So, we’re really kind of a bargain, if you think about how much we spend, and how many trips we make.”

Schlabowske said spending on bike and pedestrian infrastructure makes transportation safer for everyone.

Schlabowske spoke as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and a few other city officials biked to work on Monday.

Barrett said Milwaukee is making progress toward being a “platinum” city, under a Bicycle Friendly Communities designation set by the League of American Bicyclists. Madison is has a platinum designation, while Milwaukee is currently at the Bronze level.

Barrett said more city streets are getting bike lanes, and traffic-reducing or “traffic-calming” measures are being installed to create so-called “bike boulevards.”

Other events connected to Wisconsin Bike Week are scheduled in five cities over the next several days.