Cycling Advocates
Ride to Pro Walk Pro Bike 2006 |
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| Daily Trip
Log |
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from Vancouver B.C. to Madison, Wisconsin
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Picture of Vancouver, BC  |
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du Chien to Dodgeville, WI |
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Date: 2006-09-01
Distance: 89 Kilometres
Cycling Time: 5.18 Hours
Average Speed: 17.26 kph
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Trip Distance since Leaving Vancouver
- 3,715 Kilometres |
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Thoughts
for the Day
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Cycling in Wisconsin – So
Far – Quite Enjoyable
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It was fortunate that breakfast did not start
until 7:00 am at the motel, this morning. The extra half hour before we
set off allowed some of the fog to be burned off before we got to it. |
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The first 20 kilometres was spent climbing from
the Mississippi River banks to the farmlands of this state. The road curved
in between the hills and carved its way up. Only for the last piece did
the grade increase to where additional effort was required.
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After that, the rest of the ride was just up
and down. Some climbs were significant. |
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What took effort today was the wind. It came
into our faces for most of the day. The strength was sufficient to reduce
forward progress by 3 to 5 kph. At the end, my body muscles were tired and
did not hesitate letting me know. For today, I did not push very hard and
just took a ride. |
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This is farmland, corn, soybean, and dairy cattle.
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In Montfort there was a cheese sign. So time
to stop at the Western Farm Cooperative cheese plant, do some tasting and
get some curd cheese. |
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In Dodgeville for the night at the extreme Eastern
part. Too far to walk downtown so will stay in this area. |
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Cycling
Facilities
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Pierre du Chien
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Along Highway 18 there was a bike path on the
road shoulder. For the first part from downtown there was a clear lack of
maintenance. Weeds were growing out of cracks in the asphalt. Then the path
improved in quality tremendously. |
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The path had a centre line, solid towards the
intersections, dotted for passing in between. |
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At the intersections there was a solid line
across the path to signify the entry into the conflict area where people
may be walking. The curb cut was painted yellow. The common area for walkers
at the intersection was textured so that people with seeing disabilities
could recognize where they were. |
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From my perspective, while the path was well
designed for most of the length the intersection design was lacking, as
it usually is. The paths need to be brought adjacent to the curb traffic
lane about 30 to 50 metres before the intersection, on the entry to the
intersection and also on the exit from. This will allow motorists to see
cyclists proceeding to the intersection form both directions. Cyclists’
safety would be increased.
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In addition to the Bike path, there were unsigned
bike lanes on the roadway providing cyclists the choice of cycling on the
path or on the road. Many cyclists do want this option. |
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Highway 18 – Paved Shoulders
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This is Wisconsin. Cycling so far is good. There
are paved shoulders. They are clean. There is no rubble on the shoulders.
There are no rethread tire pieces lying around. |
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The paved shoulder width varied. Frequently,
it is the width of a bicycle. While the width of a bike lane would be preferred,
as a minimum, and 2.5 to 3 metres would be preferred, at least one can cycle
on it. Such a width does not attract others than confident cyclists. Wisconsin
should reconsider its minimum paved should r width. At east, it has paved
shoulders. |
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What must be remembered in designing paved shoulder
width is the effect of cross-winds on cycling and also the effect of fast
moving trucks and the wind effect on cyclists. |
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