so I assume you heard about Paul Soglin shooting his mouth off...and I quote

Bicycling Madison Style: As Dumb As It Gets

You know what they think of us in Milwaukee - Madison is populated with tree hugging, tofu snorting, sandal wearing (winter too), calcified hippies who do not know the 60's are over.

I defend our city, mightily.

Until this week.

Readers of Waxing America know I pedal with the best of them and am the first to protect the interests of bicyclists against aggressive drivers, errant dogs, and dangerous street litter and potholes.

The bicyclists who braved the week's second storm should be taken out and shot. Spare them and the poor driver, when they skid on treacherous streets and slide under the wheels of a truck delivering fresh vegetables.

I will give them a pass on the first storm. Not because it was not forecasted (it was), but because every one gets a little giddy and reckless with the season's first major storm.

As I drove by the bicyclist on University Avenue and then the one on Park Street, it became evident that Milwaukee is right. Madison, as a community, needs some guidance. Confirmation of all this was clear as I headed up Glenway and saw city crews meticulously plowing the bike path at the top of the hill.

Guys, the one hundred block of Standish Court looks like the start of a new ice age, glacier included, and that was before tonight's storm.

As for the idiot on the moped on Mills Street, causing a 28 car back up as he crawled along at 3.7 MPH, I'd like to take the business end of my snow shovel and replace his seat.

None of the bicyclists were wearing those stylish clip-in sandals.






and THIS IS IN MADISON!!!!! omg


http://www.waxingamerica.com/2007/12/bicycling-madis.html#comments

http://www.waxingamerica.com/

Well, he used the ignorant-sounding "forecasted," so at least his writing is consistent with his views. And as they say, consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative . . . :D

Well, I too question the wisdom of cycling in heavy snow on busy streets. I'd wait until the snow was cleared. One or two days taking the bus or walking under these conditions isn't unreasonable for your own safety. As for plowing bike lanes/MUTS before or along with roads, so what? Bicyclists need to get to work/school/stores too. Soglin was always a loose cannon. What's new?

There's nothing more pathetic than an aging Hippie. And you're looking at typical hippie arrogance- because he didn't do it in the 60's, it's not valid.

And there's that standard hippie justification- "I pedal with the best of them and am the first to protect the interests of bicyclists against aggressive drivers, errant dogs, and dangerous street litter and potholes." Really, Paul? So, you want to protect bicyclist from aggressive drivers, but you want to shoot them when they slow you down on a snowy day?

F'ing Hypocrite. There's a reason you lost the mayor's race in your last desperate attempt to get attention.

I've ridden with Paul..... his bike handling skills are average....
unrelated.....
he reminds me of a walrus........


I just thought I'd post this for the whole world to see....for a politician, he sure ain't a diplomat....

He reminds me of every Hippie I've seen who's gotten conservative as he's gotten older but decided that it's not HIM that's changed, it's the WORLD that's changed.

It's not our fault you didn't spring for traction control on your BMW, paul. Maybe if you had spent some of your 6 terms as mayor trying to make the city less dependent on cars, you wouldn't be having this problem right now.

Maybe Soglin should move to Milwaukee.

How dare he be anger for bikers put themselves and others at risk. He has no right to be annoyed when a cyclist slows traffic to a halt. It's my God given right as an American to bike or drive as slow as I want anytime I want even if it puts me and others at risk.

trust me, there are a few old hippies out here that still believe and do their part to try to make it better....but we are not living in Madison....no way I could live the way I do in the city....

I wasn't in WI in the 60's and 70's but from what I gather, he wasn't a hippie......ever....

politically active doesn't make a hippie, environmentally aware and politically aware put you on the road to hippiedom...

Does he realize Madison is one of the best riding cities in America, and definitely near the top in the midwest? Does it realize that people move there because of this?

Does he realize Madison is one of the best riding cities in America, and definitely near the top in the midwest? Does it realize that people move there because of this?

Well sure he does, what he doesn't realize is you have to think before you shoot off your mouth in public. Maybe he doesn't understand that people may be listening to his blithering.

I actually heard about this on the news the other night.

Looking at your signature line, I assume you are local too. If so, you KNOW what kind of bike traffic you see on a weekend through the Arboretum to Paoli and back....or for that matter on a nice summer evening. I understand that the Iron Man, bike route is one of the most rigorous in the country. There is some sweet riding within 50 miles of Madison, from hills to flats.

This whole area is a strong cycling area...The Tyranena Oktoberfest had over 1200 entrants.

i still was living in madison. even with idiots like this guy it's still better than most other places.

Well, he used the ignorant-sounding "forecasted," so at least his writing is consistent with his views. And as they say, consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative . . . :D


unfortunately the "forcasts" have been fairly accurate recently, I just shoveled the last 4 storms worth of snow off my sisters mobile home roof....10 inches of granular powder and 4 inches of solid ice.

I think what Paul is missing, is that for a lot of people, bicycles are a lot more than a hobby, they are transportation. The public transportation in Madison is hardly adequate and for those off a bus route and lacking a car, bikes may be their ONLY means of transportation.

he is a retired politician with money, he doesn't have to get to work or classes; rain or shine OR SNOW if you know what I mean.

i still was living in madison. even with idiots like this guy it's still better than most other places.


One better...live in rural WI 30 miles from Madison...
Madison is close enough, but not too close.

I could just never LIVE in any city.....I like quiet, I like dark, I like seclusion....

As I drove by the bicyclist on University Avenue and then the one on Park Street, it became evident that Milwaukee is right.
WTF, he's saying that you must be the stupidest person in the world to be out biking in these conditions, and yet he's driving?

Does he realize Madison is the best riding city in America, and definitely near the top in the world? (sorry for the editing)
He should know this by now. And thank you, I will pass this on the the folks that made it possible.


I defend our city, mightily.
Obviously you don't.

I pedal with the best of them and am the first to protect the interests of bicyclists against aggressive drivers.
If you could pedal with the best of them, you would be pedaling with the best of them. Rather than threatening them from within your car.

The bicyclists who braved the week's second storm should be taken out and shot.
You need to apologize for all of this, especially the above comment, this is unacceptable.

I suppose all the people bound to wheel chairs should be shot too....

Last week on the news there was a segment on winter wheelchair access in Madison...they failed abysmally. Perhaps the people Soglin should be lashing out at are the people overseeing the snow removal and those drivers who refuse to move their cars to allow adequate snow removal.

I understand that most of the roads in Madison are not salted to protect the lakes, then they best get the damned cars off the roads because it sure isn't going to keep the people from driving in unsafe conditions exacerbated by poor planning and snow removal.

Granted, the logistics of snow removal in a city are immense but I take care of my property, I have 1/4 mile of driveway and probably an 1/8 acre of hand shoveling to do. I get up at 4:30 if necessary so my wife and kids can get out after a storm.

Apparently Solgin doesn't intend to run for any office in town again.

How dare he be anger for bikers put themselves and others at risk. He has no right to be annoyed when a cyclist slows traffic to a halt. It's my God given right as an American to bike or drive as slow as I want anytime I want even if it puts me and others at risk.

Sorry Don, you are wrong. Impeding traffic is a ticketable offense, not a "God given right". I view it as dangerous, inconsiderate and selfish.

Perhaps you had your tongue firmly planted in your check when making the comment. but I did not catch that.