Talk of banning bikes softens in the Town of Hull

Dave Schlabowske, the communications director for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, succeeded in injecting a calmer tone into the discussions of a town banning bicycles in central Wisconsin.

The Town of Hull's Public Safety Task Force will review an ordinance Thursday night to make the streets safer for the nearly 6,000 residents, but banning bicycles probably won't become law.

Schlabowske reported that after talking with Town Chairman John Holdridge.

"While they fully intend to proceed with their local ordinance, I think the good news that came from that conversation is that at this time the Town of Hull safety committee has no interest in banning bicycles or demanding permits for small group rides or runs," Schlabowske wrote. "The Chairman told me the primary purpose of their draft local ordinance is to improve safety and increase compliance with the laws for all road users.

"That begins with reducing speeding by motorists (they are looking at traffic calming), getting pedestrians to walk opposite the direction of traffic and expecting bicyclists to obey stop signs, ride single or double file, etc. He emphasized that their local ordinance will be in complete compliance with all state laws."

As Schlabowske notes, towns in Wisconsin do have the legal authoriy to ban bicycles on their streets, and cooperation from bicyclists and other users of the road can go a long way to ensure that doesn't happen.