P
Pyromancer
Guest
I recently had the pleasure of spending two weeks with some very good friends in Madison, Wisconsin.
Now, the USA isn't exactly famed for its public transport system, indeed Madison doesn't have a
single passenger rail service, despite being the state capital, however what it does have is a
comprehensive Metro bus network, operated by buses with a fold-down bike rack mounted on the front.
The city also has some very nice properly segregated cycle paths, some on former railway routes.
There is still rail freight traffic, but there's been a fair bit of rationalisation, notably the Soo
line being diverted into the Wisconsin Southern Railroad's system, and sections which have been
singled having the cycle path alongside.
I did a fair bit of cycling on one of my friends' bikes while I was there, and while I didn't use
the busses I did see their racks being used on several occasions. When not in use, they fold up flat
against the front of the bus, hinging down to carry up to two bikes when needed.
Such a simple, elegant solution to the problem, and not dependent on everyone having a folder. If
busses in Sheffield were to be fitted with such racks, I suspect cycling here would become far more
attractive, as you could use the bus to get up the major hills, of which there are many, while still
having the freedom of the bike at the far end.
Walking and cycling in a US city takes a bit of getting used to - for starters, the assumption at
junctions is that pedestrians have right of way. I kept confusing passing drivers by stopping at the
kerb, waiting for them to pass, whereupon they'd come to a dead halt in the middle of the road,
waiting for me to cross. Serious culture shock!
--
- Pyromancer Stormshadow http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
http://www.littlematchgirl.co.uk <-- Electronic Metal! http://www.revival.stormshadow.com <-- The
Gothic Revival.
Now, the USA isn't exactly famed for its public transport system, indeed Madison doesn't have a
single passenger rail service, despite being the state capital, however what it does have is a
comprehensive Metro bus network, operated by buses with a fold-down bike rack mounted on the front.
The city also has some very nice properly segregated cycle paths, some on former railway routes.
There is still rail freight traffic, but there's been a fair bit of rationalisation, notably the Soo
line being diverted into the Wisconsin Southern Railroad's system, and sections which have been
singled having the cycle path alongside.
I did a fair bit of cycling on one of my friends' bikes while I was there, and while I didn't use
the busses I did see their racks being used on several occasions. When not in use, they fold up flat
against the front of the bus, hinging down to carry up to two bikes when needed.
Such a simple, elegant solution to the problem, and not dependent on everyone having a folder. If
busses in Sheffield were to be fitted with such racks, I suspect cycling here would become far more
attractive, as you could use the bus to get up the major hills, of which there are many, while still
having the freedom of the bike at the far end.
Walking and cycling in a US city takes a bit of getting used to - for starters, the assumption at
junctions is that pedestrians have right of way. I kept confusing passing drivers by stopping at the
kerb, waiting for them to pass, whereupon they'd come to a dead halt in the middle of the road,
waiting for me to cross. Serious culture shock!
--
- Pyromancer Stormshadow http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk <-- Pagan Gothic Rock!
http://www.littlematchgirl.co.uk <-- Electronic Metal! http://www.revival.stormshadow.com <-- The
Gothic Revival.
