By: Katie Nash
Northside Resident
On April 21, a crowd of 50 turned up at Cool Bikes North to learn how to advocate for improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on the Northside. It’s clear that Northsiders are interested in making this side of town more bicycle and pedestrian friendly for all ages and abilities.
Several common threads emerged from the panelists’ presentations: advocacy shows up in many forms, infrastructure improvements typically take several years, persistence and patience are critical, and little things can go a long way. We know the neighborhood best, so it’s up to us to speak out about needs and desires.
There’s so much useful information out there, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start or how to make your voice heard. Start by contacting your alder [cityofmadison.com/council/council-members/find-my-alder]. They have many connections across the city and are a great resource for the district you live in. Alders network with a lot of people, and part of their job is to receive feedback from their constituents. We can all let our Northside alders know (more than once) that we need safer and more accessible bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Another great resource that often results in quick action is completing the City of Madison’s Report a Bikeway Concern online form [cityofmadison.com/reportaproblem/bikeway.cfm]. When you’re out biking and come across anything obstructing bike lanes or other issues along your journey, this is where to report it. The city is very responsive and will often take care of the problem within a few days.
Arguably, the most important aspect of advocacy is staying informed. Sign up for the Madison Bikes newsletter [madisonbikes.org] to receive weekly emails. Madison Bikes does an excellent job of keeping readers informed about local public meetings and events related to bicycle advocacy and infrastructure.
For the City of Madison, sign up for the Bike Madison email list [cityofmadison.com/traffic-engineering/biking-walking/news-and-events] to stay informed about bicycle-related projects, events and other news.
To learn more and access additional resources about bicycle advocacy, check out the Bicycle and Pedestrian Resources for Northsiders [tinyurl.com/yp9bb4ct]. It’s free, open to all, and is regularly updated. Together, we can advocate for better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that is safer for everyone in our neighborhoods.
