From the Federation

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin occasionally shares content with Spin Daily. Enjoy.

Our laws do not protect us when we ride

POSTED ON OCTOBER 26, 2012 BY DAVE SCHLABOWSKE, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Recently two people riding bicycles have been killed when they were hit by cars after the drivers fell asleep. Most recently in Dane County Carrie J. Pete, 37, was killed in the crash while riding on the right shoulder of Highway M on Oct. 8 when 21-year-old Timothy J. Grulke fell asleep while driving and hit her with his pickup truck. Earlier this summer Robert Gunderson will killed by 20-year-old Andrew S. Yang, 20, when he fell asleep and drifted across the centerline on Woods Rd. in Waukesha County.

Yesterday Tom Held reported on The Active Pursuit that Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel decided that Yang should be cited for traffic violations, but he will not be charged with any criminal offense.

Schimel told Held “In order to sustain a criminal charge for causing the death with the motor vehicle, I would need to demonstrate that Mr. Yang engaged in some criminally negligent or reckless conduct. This requires more than just ordinary negligence, but rather an awareness that his conduct was practically certain to result in great bodily harm or death to another. Under the circumstances here, given that Mr. Yang had adequate sleep the night before, did not engage in unreasonably exhausting activities during the day and had not been awake for an unreasonable period of time prior to driving, it would not be possible to obtain a conviction for criminally negligent or reckless conduct. Thus, it is not possible to proceed with criminal charges.”

Held notes that Schimel reached similar conclusions in the fatal crashes that killed Brett Netke and Jeff Littman, both in 2010. Both Littman and Netke were killed while riding properly and legally along the far right hand side of the road when they were hit. Unless the ongoing investigation in the recent crash that killed Carrie Pete uncovers some new evidence, criminal charges seem unlikely in that case as well.

I asked James Scoptur, blogger, Tosa Spokesman rider and attorney with Aiken and Scoptur, if he agrees with the Waukesha DA’s decision not to seek criminal charges. I was curious if a more aggressive or “bicycle friendly” prosecutor might make a different decision.

“The hardest part for the is that his burden of proof is just so high that the reality is that it would probably be a waste of his time and the taxpayer’s money to try the case,” Scoptur told me this morning. “The problem is we have this huge gap between civil and criminal negligence. In a civil case, I only need to prove a person was negligent, but in a criminal case the prosecutor has to prove a much higher level of negligence.”

The way our current laws are written, that is very difficult unless a person was chemically impaired (drunk, stoned, high, etc.) or intentionally tried to hit someone with their motor vehicle Scoptur went on to explain. I then asked if he thought District Attorneys might be more likely to seek criminal charges if Wisconsin had a Vulnerable User law of some kind.

“I have reviewed the Bike Fed’s proposed VU legislation as well as looked at other state’s VU laws. It is definitely a gap filler that would bridge the gap between civil and criminal,” Scoptur replied. “While relatives in these cases can still seek civil damages, that really does serve as much of a deterrent in these cases. You are less likely to commit a crime again if you spend four years in jail than if your insurance company forks over some money.”

http://bfw.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SB-431-Vulnerable-User-Bill.pdf

Click the link to open a PDF of the Bike Fed's draft Vulnerable User legislation.

To that end, the Bike Fed is currently working with members of the Wisconsin Legislature to draft a Vulnerable User law that provides a level of punishment beyond a traffic ticket and  better fits the crime when an innocent person is killed. We believe that we need a law that better protects people riding bicycles, walking, law enforcement officials who have someone pulled over and other the vulnerable users of the road to put the scales of justice a bit more in balance.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on the legislation, and be sure to come to the State Bike Summit to help us put reasonable protections for people on bicycles into law.

Driving offers great freedom, but it should come with equal levels of responsibility for the risk to others if not done with great care. In our busy drive-thru culture, piloting a motor vehicle has become something people do almost without thinking. That needs to change.

Posted in Featured, Safety, Share & Be Aware | Tagged fatal bicycle crash, fatal bike crash, vulnerable users laws | 4 Comments

Schneider, Strigel stay scary good

Women go back and forth for third straight race

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MILWAUKEE  — Samantha Schneider is one-up on Abby Strigel after Velo Trocadero's Halloween Cyclocross race at Washington Park.

Schneider, Milwaukee, and Strigel, Madison (Cyclocrossracing.com) have take the two womens Pro 1/2 Wisconsin Cycling Association (WCA) cyclocross races prior to the Saturday, Oct. 27, contest at the former Milwaukee County zoo site, with each winning one. This time it was Schneider's turn to take the top step, while Strigel took second. Amber Markey, Monona (My Wife Inc.) who also finished third to Strigel Oct. 21, in Sun Pairie, took third at the Halloween classic.

                                       Photo by Gale Hellpap

Dave Dineen (KS Energy Services/Team Wisconsin) 

chooses to go clad in a cow costume at the 

Oct. 27, Halloween Cyclocross race at 

Washington Park, Milwaukee. 

A mechanical cost Dineen and he didn't finish 

the Masters race he competed in earlier in the day. 

But, he returned in his bovine motif for the Category 4 race.

On Oct. 20, at Noyes Park, Milwaukee, Schneider drew first recent blood, while Strigel took second., but the following day Strigel got the better of her rival.

The Oct. 27 race featured a 1.25-mile course that included three barrier sections, a long run-up and the coffin hop — two fake coffins laid end-to-end that could be bunny-hopped or ridden around — a traditional treat of the Halloween course.

Racers, who were encouraged by event organizers to wear Halloween costumes, were also treated to winding descents and a few flat-paved straight-aways. 

Costumes, sunny weather and a casual atmosphere may have contributed to a strong turnout of about 345, according to USA Cycling's website. Velo Tracedaro also held a free kids race, which included youth members of Dream Bikes, a Milwaukee- and Madison-based bicycle organization.

The mens Pro 1/2 race saw a new podium compared to the last three races. None of the podium finishers from the last two races competed in the Oct. 27 Halloween spectacle. Matt Shriver, Madison, won the day’s main event, while Joseph Maloney, Madison, (KS Energy Services/Team Wisconsin) finished second, while Michael Hemme rounded out the podium.

For full race results visit, http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2012-3127

The next race on the WCA calendar is the Estabrook Park Cyclocross race Nov. 3, at Estabrook Park, Milwaukee.

Estabrook Park Cyclocross

If you go:

Date, Nov. 3

Where, southwest of the intersection of East Hampton Road and North Wilson Drive, Milwaukee

Time, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Event flyer,

http://www.wicycling.org/media/raceflyers12/estabrook%20flyer%2012%20revised.pdf

Cross takes a creepy course

Milwaukee cyclocross race to feature Halloween vibe

By Andrew Hellpap
spindailynews@gmail.com

Casual passersby to Saturday's Halloween Classic cyclocross race at Washington Park, Milwaukee, could be forgiven for scratching their heads in wonder.

The yearly race on the Wisconsin Cycling Association calendar presented by team Velo Trocadero, features the usually enthusiastic fans and racers, but with a holiday theme — the riders are allowed to wear Halloween getups, according to Luke Holtan, race director.

"The costumes that riders of every category show up in are always impressive. We love the vibe that Halloween brings to our race, and highly encourage everyone to dress his or her best," he said.

Velo Trocadero riders have been riding the course on a regular basis lately to get a feel for this year's venue, and the course is shaping up to be a true cyclecross course, he said.

                                                                             Submitted Photo
An Elmo lookalike takes on the coffin hop at the 2011
Halloween Classic presented by Velo Trocadero at Washington Park,
Milwaukee

The 1.25-mile venue is mostly grass with some dirt and paved sections. The course makes a tour of Washington Park. It's not a scenic tour alone, however, the course features two sets of barriers. The first set of barries is in an open field, and the second greets racers as they hit a run-up section, Holtan said.

Last year's race drew about 325 riders from as far away as Illinois, and throughout Wisconsin — many showing up in costume, he said. Last season's event also featured a kids race with nearly 50 riders. Velo Trocadero hopes to bolster the kids race turnout this year with the presence of youth members from the Dream Bikes organization.

Dream Bikes is company in Milwaukee and Madison that sells bikes, but also has programs to help people who couldn't typically afford a bike, according to the business' website. They also have employment programs to give teens between 14 and 18 a job, and teach them skills for future employment.

Saturday's racecourse has a special feature, in addition to Washington Park's history as the former Milwaukee County Zoo designed by architect Frederick Law Olmstead. There is a "deadly" obstacle on the course, which riders will need to be aware of, a coffin hop. In deed, riders will run over a coffin on the course.

"As always, the coffin hop will be available for those who dare," Holtan said.

Halloween Cyclocross Classic
If you go:

When, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2010
Where, Intersection of West Lloyd Street and West Lisbon Avenue
Time, 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Event flyer, http://www.wicycling.org/media/raceflyers12/Washington%20Park%2012%20FLYER.pdf

Matter shows Sun Priaire how it's done

Sunday's cross race winner held beginners clinic earlier in the day

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SUN PRAIRIE — Brian Matter's success on his mountain bike this season appears to have transferred to his cyclocross bike.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, Matter topped the winner of the last two Wisconsin Cycling Association Pro 1/2 cyclocross races, Corey Stelljes (Cyclo-crossracing.com) who tumbled all the way to fourth on the physically challenging course at Sheehan Park, Sun Prairie. Isaac Neff (Trek Cyclocross Collective) finished second, and Mark Lelonde (Twin Six) rounded out the podium in third, according to results from USA Cycling's website.

The success of Matter, a Sheboygan resident, is nothing new this season. He won Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) Pro and Category 1 cross country season title. Stelljes finished fifth in the WORS season series, WORS website said.

Matter's triumph came about five hours after presenting a cyclocross clinic to riders prior to a race designed specifically for beginners to the sport. 

                                                            Photo by Cindy Jensen
Most riders, like Shawn Bass (MadCity Velo Club)
in the Masters 35-plus Category 4 race, push their
bikes up the short, very steep hill section of the 1.7-mile course
at the Sun Prairie Cup at Sheehan Park Sunday, Oct. 21

Samantha Schneider of Milwaukee just missed back to back wins in the womens Pro 1/2 field after taking the Saturday, Oct. 21, My Wife Inc., race at Noyes Park in Milwaukee. Madison resident Abby Strigel (Cyclo-crossracing.com) took the top step after finishing behind Schneider Saturday. Amber Markey (MWI) of Monona took third.

The challenging 1.7-mile course in Sun Prairie — the municipality also hosts the first USGP of Cyclocross season opener at Angel Park — featured long sections of sweeping off-camber terrain, in addition to short, sharp elevations changes and triple barriers. Perhaps the key feature was a drastically steep, but short run-up section that became unridable by mid morning. Early in the morning junior riders could barely, but still successfully ascend the bump on their bikes. The hill was the main viewing point for spectators throughout the day.

About 250 riders in all categories toed the line before the main event, the 23-member mens Pro 1/2 field lined up at 2:45 p.m.

Next weekend features only one race, Halloween Cross presented by Velo Trocadero at Washington Park, Milwaukee, Saturday Oct. 27.

For a complete list of Sunday Oct. 21 race results please visit,

http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2012-2644

Sun shines on Stilljes — again

Madison native wins for second consecutive week

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MILWAUKEE — As the sunlight finally broke the cloudy morning sky, Corey Stilljes (Cyclocrossracing.com) took the mens Pro 1/2 race at Noyes Park.

For the second week in a row Stilljes bested Chad Hartley, a Wisconsin pro from the Kenda presented by Geargrinder team. Hartley took second Saturday after finishing third to Stelljes at Furthercross Oct. 14, in Verona.

Soggy conditions and grey skies greeted the riders as they converged on Noyes Park, just west of Highway 41 on Good Hope Road. As the afternoon kicked off with the Category 3 mens race, the clouds broke just in time for the main event.

On the womens side, Samantha Schneider, Milwaukee, bested Abby Strigel (Cyclocrossracing.com) in the Pro 1/2 field.

This was the first occasion My Wife Inc., (MWI) hosted a race at Noyes Park. The club had held its second race of the season — MWI also puts on the Cross the Domes race in Milwaukee — at Doyne Park, but moved the race to Noyes Park after working with Milwaukee parks department, according to Mike Heenan, race director.

The club was hoping for a turnout of about 250 racers, Heenan said, but about 175 showed up Saturday, according to USA Cycling's website.

Racing continues this weekend with the Sun Prairie Cup Sunday at Sheehan Park, Sun Prairie.

For a full list of race results from Saturday's action in Milwaukee visit, http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2012-3085

Brazen Dropouts build change, fun into Sun Prairie site

Madison-area cross race to feature new clinic, kids and beginners races

_{By Andrew Hellpap}                                                                      

_{spindailynews@gmail.com}

_{Racers returning to this year's Sun Prairie Cyclocross Sunday, Oct. 21 race won't be surprised, but there will be a few changes to the scenery.}

_{Brazen Dropouts, a Madison-based cycling club and amateur race team, will again be holding the race at Sheehan Park, 925 Linnerud Drive, but the course will no longer circle the ball diamond as it has in years past, according to Paul Roltgen, Dropouts race director. Instead, the course will meander around the lower ball field parking lot.}

_{Roltgen has been directing races for years, including when Brazen held a race at Badger Prairie, which is also the site of the 2011 and 2012 USA Cycling cyclocross national championships. The 1.7-mile Sun Prairie course, with its sweeping corners and short hills was designed with a purpose, he said, while still keeping the course's main feature, a sled hill run-up and bobsled-like downhill with banked corners.}

_{"The fun factor. Our team has 15-plus years of experience putting on CX (cyclocross) races, this course will be laid out for maximum fun and will look and feel like a professionally run event. We have great food, energetic spectators and in general a cool vibe," Roltgen said.}

_{2011 saw about 250 race entrants, and Brazen brass hope to continue the trend of strong attendance, Roltgen said. He hopes the race can draw 300 people this year with the addition of the kids and beginners races, in addition to the cyclocross clinic put on by Brian Matter. Matter is a local elite-level mountain bike and cyclocross racer. As of Oct. 18, Matter is leading the deeply talented Wisconsin Off-road Racing Series (WORS) Elite Males overall season category, according to the WORS website.}

_{"I really want it to be a place where folks give CX a try for the first time, once they start they are hooked," Roltgen said.}

_{Sun Prairie Cyclocross}

_{Where: Sheehan Park, 925 Linnerud Drive}

_{When: 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.}

_{Event flyer: http://www.wicycling.org/media/raceflyers12/2012%20CX%20Flyer.pdf}

MWI tees up new course

Milwaukee-based cross team moves 2nd 2012 race to Noyes Park

By Andrew Hellpap

spindailynews@gmail.com

After a run at Doyne Park, Milwaukee, My Wife Inc. (MWI) has moved its second race of the cross season to Noyes Park.

The 2.5-kilometer venue at 8235 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, is a short nine-hole golf course, that offers a mix of features to challenge racers, but also to create an experience that has the team excited about the public response, said Mike Heenan, MWI technical director, and the team's co-founder/director.

"We have developed a great relationship with the parks department and they thought Noyes Park would offer more variety of terrain and ultimately be a better venue than what we used last year, Doyne Park, he said.

Though Heenan is know to make last minute changes to a course, he said, the venue should feature a fair amount of elevation change, but the team has also tried to utilize it in a way to minimize the amount of straight climbing in each lap.

"I design our courses to reward bike handlers — racers that have developed the skill set to drive their bikes, stay off the brakes and rail through corners," Heenan said.

My Wife Inc.'s, second race of 2011 at Doyne Park MWI hosted about 230 racers, while the team's first race, Cross the Domes garnered 330 people.

Heenan admits it is sometimes difficult to get large attendance at a first-time venue, he is hoping the team's reputation with designing strong courses will sell itself, he said.

"I think what makes our races unique is our perspective. Most of the team has raced throughout the Midwest and has the opportunity to see big, well-organized races in Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, Massachusetts; seeing and racing on well designed courses from different regions allows us to take the best of what we like at those venues and bring them to our races," Heenan said.

For those who participated in Cross the Domes, Oct. 6, which was also part of the Wisconsin Cycling Association cross calendar, they may find Noyes Park a bit familiar, he said. Both parks feature a similar design philosophy, flowing off-camber turns, wide apexes with multiple line choices, and a good mix of power and technical sections.

The only drawback to the new venue is parking, Heenan said. Noyes Park has a small parking lot, so he is asking participants and spectators to be courteous. For example, racers should set up team tents on the grass so they don't take up available parking space in the lot. My Wife Inc., is working with the local municipality to provide temporary parking in the south side of Good Hope Road.

Like working with the city as a partner, moving to a new venue or puting on a race at all can't be done alone, Heenan said.

"These races would not be possible and without the full support of everyone on the team. Designing the course is really the easy part, the team does all the heavy lifting; 5 a.m. course set up, registration, equipment rental ... putting on a quality race is a ton of work and I am thankful that everyone in our tight knit crew at MWI does their part to pull it off," Heenan said.

MWI Classic Cross Race

Where: 8235 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee
When: Saturday, Oct. 20
Time: 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Race flyer: http://www.wicycling.org/media/raceflyers12/noyes%20park%20cx.pdf

Cross continues across southern Wisconsin

Two races on this week's docket.

Spin Daily Staff
spindailynews@gmail.com

This weekend in Wisconsin cycling features two cyclocross races in the southern and eastern parts of the state.

Saturday's race, the MWI Classic, will be held at Noyes Park in Milwaukee, according to the MWI event flyer, while Sunday's Sun Prairie Cup will be held at Sheehan Park, the Brazen Dropouts event flyer said.

Thursday, Spin Daily will preview the MWI Classic, while Friday will take a closer look at the Sun Prairie Cup.

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A new day

Greetings from Spin Daily, and welcome to Madison's newest source for information about the sport and lifestyle we all love and sometimes obsess about — cycling.

For now, we are a little barren, but soon that will change. As Spin Daily establishes itself, look to this site for race reports, lifestyle articles, columns by local cycling advocates and much more.

In the meantime, feel free to send Spin Daily a cycling news tip at spindailynews@gmail.com.

Happy trails,

- Andrew Hellpap

Executive Editor, Spin Daily