Get Mad! Get on the road! Get to Mad-Town as there's a mad meetup going
Date: April 18, 2015
Great Dane Pub and Brewery, 2980 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, WI
I will be setting up a reservation in March or early April.
The top exhibition of the tour will be on the Verona Road/West Beltline project - the interchange between Verona Road (US-18/151) and the Beltline (US-12/14). (http://projects.511wi.gov/web/veronaroad-18-151/) is a two-stage project that will build Verona road into a mostly freeway by 2019 (leaving a 3-way signalized interchange and a jughandle (complete with "All Turns here" sign) along with two SPUIs - while leaving the free-flow out of the picture. The Jughandle roundabout was constructed last year and this year the eastbound Beltline SPUI bridge is being built. There is no exact start date to speak of other than "Spring 2015". The westbound bridge will be built next year to complete the Beltline SPUI.
Also of note, is the expansion of I-90 from the Beltline Interchange (US 12/18) to the IL State Line, but other than a project that separates WIS-73 from US-12/18 with jughandles and upgrades it for an alternate route - this project will be nothing more than a lunch topic.
In addition there are several other "points of interest" scattered about the city and surrounding area that will be on the tour.
For those who want to wander before and/or after, pretty much everything will be in Dane County - as much in Madison as possible. I'll be putting a list of stuff that didn't make the tour on my website later to give a hint as to spots to find.
The Starting location/Lunch Venue will be selected as I get things organized. Updates will be posted here, on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/737101786375262) and on my Website (http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison_road_meet/)
I've got a transmitter site up on the Baraboo bluffs. I'll see if I can turn this into a "working" trip and get paid at the same time! :-D
Looks like I am out, the weekend before this my wife and I will be in Pennsylvania, combo of nephew getting married and doing spring Steel City Con show in Pittsburgh and will more then likely be working either Friday April 17 or the day of the meet or both to get some time off for earlier in the week.
I vote that the lunch venue must have fried cheese curds. Beer preferable.
Doubtful. Because the economy still sucks.
Quote from: Alps on December 23, 2014, 12:25:16 AM
I vote that the lunch venue must have fried cheese curds. Beer preferable.
I've found A&W's cheese curds to be pretty good. I think Culvers' are better, though.
I'm in at this point.
The Great Dane could possibly make a decent eating /watering spot.
Will have to wait until closer to the date before I can commit.
I don't want to commit just yet, but I'm placing the odds at 95% going. I do have one stop to make on the way out of town, should I go - Rocky Rococo. :cool:
Cannot commit more than a month in advance right now with my employer.
It's a fairly safe bet that I'll be in attendance.
Holy crap...a meet that's in my backyard! :-o :-o I really got to check this part of the forum more often. :pan:
Looks like I should be able to make it.
Quote from: Alps on December 23, 2014, 12:25:16 AM
I vote that the lunch venue must have fried cheese curds. Beer preferable.
The Great Dane and the Nitty Gritty fit those requirements, although the Great Dane has better/more easily accessible locations. :cheers:
Quote from: Alps on December 23, 2014, 12:25:16 AM
I vote that the lunch venue must have fried cheese curds. Beer preferable.
After the indigestion I got last night, I think I'm swearing off fried cheese curds forever. Or at least until I forget about last night.
And depending on how things work out, I may actually be in Madison when this happens.
The usual Michigan contingent (A.J. and I) are coming. Sounds like Brian Reynolds is not.
Lunch Location chosen. Great Dane Pub and Brewery (https://goo.gl/maps/gH9m0)
There is cheese - and apparently poutine (I have to see it to believe it though :sombrero: )
For those sticking around - I'm thinking of Nitty Gritty (https://goo.gl/maps/HksrE) - if you have a birthday on that day - consider this a bonus :sombrero
There's actually a very real chance I'll go to this.
Is there an official motel for this meet? I'm fixin' to choose a hotel. I may select a certain $64 hotel betwixt Madison and Fitchburg.
There's a "between" between Madison and Fitchburg? I always thought they flowed together.
Quote from: HandsomeRob on March 02, 2015, 11:23:41 AM
There's a "between" between Madison and Fitchburg? I always thought they flowed together.
I'm thinking of lodging at the Super 8 Madison South. Lodging is always costly though, and I hate spending zillions of dollars just to sleep.
I've already buyed a nonrefundable Megabus ticket from Cincinnati to Madison, so I'm going to this meet - unless personal illness or incarceration prevents it.
I booked a motel, but it's the Motel 6 way out on Thierer Road. I couldn't get a room at any reasonable price at the Super 8.
Other roadgeeking sights you can take in on the way to or from Madison:
- The recent 6-laning of I-90 between Elgin and Rockford
- Hwy 26 4-laning between Milton, WI and the Hwy 16/60 interchange near Juneau, WI
- US-12 4-laning in and around Baraboo, WI
Barring some setback, I now should be able to make it.
preliminary tour plan (http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison-road-meet-tour/) - NOTE: Need to refine a bit more.
and
Other catches (http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison-best-of-the-rest/) NOTE: If you can find some historic relics of old highways - you will have caught me off guard - but given Wisconsin's reputation, you probably won't.
If you do want to stop along the University Ave corridor, there is free parking available at a couple UW ramps on weekends, especially near the old button copy signs near the Engineering campus. Unless there is some big event, Lots 20 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.073383,-89.408172,3a,75y,341.86h,81.24t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5tDh6ZI78dgwiHki_oJmtA!2e0) and 17 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0721192,-89.4119646,19z) are generally ones I use on the weekends if I'm in the area. There are a couple in a lot behind the chemistry building off of Charter St, but usually that's only one or two spaces.
John Nolen Drive actually looks somewhat interesting because it's sort of elaborate. This road seems to have some sort of tunnel near the lakefront. Maybe some generic rural roads west of town might be interesting, but they might be too far out of the way.
I've been looking at Madison on Google Maps, and Madison just doesn't have that many roads that are very elaborate or abandoned, let alone many old signs.
Quote from: bandit957 on March 30, 2015, 11:02:09 AM
John Nolen Drive actually looks somewhat interesting because it's sort of elaborate. This road seems to have some sort of tunnel near the lakefront. Maybe some generic rural roads west of town might be interesting, but they might be too far out of the way.
I've been looking at Madison on Google Maps, and Madison just doesn't have that many roads that are very elaborate or abandoned, let alone many old signs.
The tunnel is where John Nolen goes under the Monona Terrace Convention Center (design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright for the architecture buffs). There have been some talks/dreams of making more of John Nolen Dr a subterranean roadway to make the connection to the park more pedestrian-friendly to access from downtown.
I do go by one abandoned road (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Madison,+WI/@43.1359821,-89.2889934,202m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x8806536d3a2019ff:0x4e0cfcb5ba484198) on my daily commute.
As far as corridors go, University Ave from WisDOT headquarters out to Middleton and Northport Dr from Aberg Ave (~ end of WI 30) to the edge of town have merit. It doesn't show up on Google yet, but the intersection of Monona Dr/Buckeye Rd/Lake Edge Blvd has an interesting signalization layout after Monona Dr was reconstructed the other year.
Quote from: DaBigE on March 30, 2015, 11:55:12 AM
I do go by one abandoned road (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Madison,+WI/@43.1359821,-89.2889934,202m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x8806536d3a2019ff:0x4e0cfcb5ba484198) on my daily commute.
This abandoned road is sort of close to the motel I got for this meet, but not horrendously close. Maybe I'll check it out if I have time.
I notice on Street View that there's a few places in Madison where the stop sign looms over the intersection on a mast like a streetlight. To me, that just seems hilarious.
I'll be in Madison when this road meet happens (I start a new job in Madison on the 13th), but I probably won't have time to go to it.
Quote from: bandit957 on March 30, 2015, 12:34:20 PM
I notice on Street View that there's a few places in Madison where the stop sign looms over the intersection on a mast like a streetlight. To me, that just seems hilarious.
Yeah, there's a few of those around Madison, prevalent at some of the larger all-way stop intersections. Sun Prairie (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.181127,-89.213543,3a,75y,200.73h,81.38t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1smBsBVsPJDvbkKIRw9RrL8A!2e0) has one too. WisDOT will use these, in addition to a flashing beacon(s), as an interim solution at problematic rural intersections.
Madison appears to be a very compact city. The populated areas don't seem to cover a very big area, and there don't seem to be many suburbs. It seems fairly efficient and easy to get around in.
Contrast this with greater Cincinnati, where every establishment is 10 miles out of town, and every suburban development is rubber-stamped. It takes forever to get across Cincinnati, compared to Madison.
Quote from: bandit957 on March 30, 2015, 05:08:55 PM
Madison appears to be a very compact city. The populated areas don't seem to cover a very big area, and there don't seem to be many suburbs. It seems fairly efficient and easy to get around in.
Contrast this with greater Cincinnati, where every establishment is 10 miles out of town, and every suburban development is rubber-stamped. It takes forever to get across Cincinnati, compared to Madison.
Easy being a relative term. While the isthmus may be picturesque, it's a PITA trying to get from one side to the other. Wisconsin & Southern also likes to run at least one train that crosses the isthmus during the PM rush hour.
Quote from: bandit957 on March 30, 2015, 11:02:09 AM
John Nolen Drive actually looks somewhat interesting because it's sort of elaborate. This road seems to have some sort of tunnel near the lakefront. Maybe some generic rural roads west of town might be interesting, but they might be too far out of the way.
I've been looking at Madison on Google Maps, and Madison just doesn't have that many roads that are very elaborate or abandoned, let alone many old signs.
I agree - I did a drive along historic state routes and found nothing of any value along them.
Quote from: DaBigE on March 30, 2015, 09:10:52 AM
If you do want to stop along the University Ave corridor, there is free parking available at a couple UW ramps on weekends, especially near the old button copy signs near the Engineering campus. Unless there is some big event, Lots 20 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.073383,-89.408172,3a,75y,341.86h,81.24t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5tDh6ZI78dgwiHki_oJmtA!2e0) and 17 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0721192,-89.4119646,19z) are generally ones I use on the weekends if I'm in the area. There are a couple in a lot behind the chemistry building off of Charter St, but usually that's only one or two spaces.
We better hope there are no events then :D
I'll calculate that in somehow.
Alps is checking out some stubs in Baraboo (If my guess is right, they are along the Ho-Chunk bypass among other places.)
Quote from: SSOWorld on March 30, 2015, 06:18:09 PM
Alps is checking out some stubs in Baraboo (If my guess is right, they are along the Ho-Chunk bypass among other places.)
All I know is they're where 12 transitions from freeway to surface road, and you have double stubs of future freeway and former mainline next to each other. I'm also taking the state's only trunkline highway ferry to get there. If anyone wants to come along, the Alps Train leaves at 6 AM Saturday morning (crack of predawn).
Quote from: SSOWorld on March 30, 2015, 06:18:09 PM
Quote from: DaBigE on March 30, 2015, 09:10:52 AM
If you do want to stop along the University Ave corridor, there is free parking available at a couple UW ramps on weekends, especially near the old button copy signs near the Engineering campus. Unless there is some big event, Lots 20 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.073383,-89.408172,3a,75y,341.86h,81.24t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5tDh6ZI78dgwiHki_oJmtA!2e0) and 17 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0721192,-89.4119646,19z) are generally ones I use on the weekends if I'm in the area. There are a couple in a lot behind the chemistry building off of Charter St, but usually that's only one or two spaces.
We better hope there are no events then :D
I'll calculate that in somehow.
Looks like this is also the same weekend as the UW Engineering Expo (http://engineeringexpo.wisc.edu/). Lots 17 and 20 will more than likely not be free (UW Transportation Services likes to make any excuse to make a buck),
at least in the morning. It only lasts until 2 pm, so based on your rough timeline, we should be in good shape. If anyone is in the area either Friday noon/early afternoon, or Saturday morning, I'd recommend going to it, as they usually have the traffic lab open as well as the vehicle simulator.
Hey all, For all the "Maybe"s on the list, please make a decision one way or the other by 11:59 pm on April 7 (next Thursday) so i can give the lunch venue a count for a reservation. I will not be waiting any longer since I will have to travel for work the week before the meet. Thanks in advance and see you in Mad-town!. -sso
Quote from: Alps on March 30, 2015, 06:39:41 PM
I'm also taking the state's only trunkline highway ferry to get there.
The Merrimac Ferry! Definitely worth a side trip!
A note about the lunch venue - they a one-check policy. However, we can make multiple payments on it so this will save us from having to figure out cash handover and avoid ATM fees. That said, The reservation has been made.
http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison-best-of-the-rest/
Updated to indicate some more places further away from Madison such as the Merrimac Ferry and the U.S. 12 "Ho-Chunk" bypass stubs.
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 11, 2015, 01:48:43 PM
http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison-best-of-the-rest/
Updated to indicate some more places further away from Madison such as the Merrimac Ferry and the U.S. 12 "Ho-Chunk" bypass stubs.
Another thing that might be mildly interesting is the abandoned stretch of Burke Road betwixt Crossroads Drive and City View Drive.
Also, what's the deal with that area just north of Lien Road east of I-90? It looks like an entire street grid that was abandoned completely. It appears to not be publicly accessible though.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 11, 2015, 02:41:20 PM
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 11, 2015, 01:48:43 PM
http://roads.ssoworld.org/blog/madison-best-of-the-rest/
Updated to indicate some more places further away from Madison such as the Merrimac Ferry and the U.S. 12 "Ho-Chunk" bypass stubs.
Another thing that might be mildly interesting is the abandoned stretch of Burke Road betwixt Crossroads Drive and City View Drive.
Ooo nice - and it's just off the tour route (How could I have missed that :banghead: . We could squeeze that in. Otherwise that can be an "after-meet" activity.
The Lien Road area might draw suspicion if we did attempt it.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 11, 2015, 02:44:21 PM
Also, what's the deal with that area just north of Lien Road east of I-90? It looks like an entire street grid that was abandoned completely. It appears to not be publicly accessible though.
This Madison construction map may shed some light on it: Madison 2015-2021 Project Map (http://www.cityofmadison.com/business/pw/documents/TIP2015-21.pdf) (3.25 MB). Basically, the area was being prepped for development expansion when the economy tanked. If you go down Lien Rd past the interstate, there's a lot of future roadway stubs built for whenever a developer decides to pick that area up again.
If anyone is looking to kill time before the meet, here's a link to Madison's traffic cam system (https://cameras.cityofmadison.com/advanced.web?s=0;)
And if anyone wants to relive any childhood memories of the Wienermobile, Oscar Mayer has recently placed one on permanent display at their headquarters (https://www.google.com/maps/dir//43.1096156,-89.3556364/@43.1103479,-89.3549175,382m/data=!3m1!1e3) (it doesn't show up on the satellite photo yet, but it's near the circular landscaping in their parking lot to the west of Wis 113).
If there are any roadgeeks into LED street lighting and are staying overnight, the following corridors would be of interest: Packers Ave/Northport Dr (Wis 113) from approx. International Ln to the city limits; Mineral Point Rd near Whitney Way (sorry, my memory is kind of sketchy on the limits there); University Ave from Frances St to Park St and Sheboygan Ave to Allen Blvd; E Johnson St from approx. Pickney St to Baldwin St. Also of interest would be the new jug handle at Mineral Point and Junction Rd (also home to one of Wisconsin's few single indication signals (a green up arrow on a mast arm - median mounted).
The Beltline crossing of the Yahara River also has LED streetlights (City of Monona)
Travel note for those coming to the road meet:
The Midwest Horse Fair (http://www.channel3000.com/news/Sheriff-Midwest-Horse-Fair-traffic-may-cause-Beltline-delays/32406810) is going on at the Alliant Energy Center, so traffic will be heavier on the beltline, especially around John Nolen Dr and Rimrock Rd. Road work has also commenced on US 51 as part of the upgrades to the Cottage Grove Rd interchange.
Is the reservation still for 11:30am tomorrow? The only time I found for it was on the Facebook page.
Quote from: JREwing78 on April 17, 2015, 04:58:56 PM
Is the reservation still for 11:30am tomorrow? The only time I found for it was on the Facebook page.
It is still on for 11:30am
Attendance was 22 strong (23 if you count the little Grumpy Cat, - no not Maya, her stuffed grumpy cat - oh and HE HATED IT).
Thanks everyone for coming in to Madtown. Things went good minus the hiccups at the end. I diverted to the abandoned Burke Road instead of taking Stoughton Road (US 51) south after the blank Interstate trailblazer. However, I forgot to mention it to two cars - one of which managed to find their way there after the driver kept going the wrong way, the other of which followed the rest of the itinerary I planned. That car did have an occupant with my phone # so we did hook back up again at the lunch venue. Note to self: tell everyone!
Special Thanks to DaBigE for giving me inside tips and info regarding happenings in the area to avoid or divert to.
Post-tour: those that remained got a taste of one of Chris Tarr's radio studios for the company he works for. Thanks for the tour Chris!
Post-meet photos
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8748/17198449621_0488a4af65_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/scLxTt)Madison Road Meet (https://flic.kr/p/scLxTt) by ssoworld (https://www.flickr.com/people/41036707@N02/), on Flickr
Front: Brian Rawson-Ketchum (rawmustard), Scott Onson (SSOWorld),
Standing front: Patrick Lilja (TheHighwayMan394 - MN), Chris Tarr (GeekJedi - WI), Michael Koerner (mgk920 - WI), A. J. Bertin (A. J. Bertin - MI), Brandon Gorte (Brandon - IL), Kim Harvey (kharvey10 - IL), Michael Gronseth (bulldog1979 - MI), Gene VanDusseldorp (MO), Maya Lokken (and Grumpy Cat), John Hansen (Big John - WI)
Standing back: Sam Scholtens (getmngo - MI), David Feryance (WI), Nathan Tarr, Jeff Morrison (Jeff Morrison - IA), Eric Frailing (DaBigE - WI), Tim Brown (bandit957- OH), Chris Kalina (I94RoadRunner - MN), Jason Risner (JREwing78 - WI), Steve Alpert (alps - NJ), Chris Lokken (catofdar - WI)
The rest:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoworld/sets/72157652060220005/
I didn't take too many since I was a driver. Others will have their fair share.
Added Chris K's forum name. - Alex
Only in Madison, when we were on the bridge over the Beltline, several cars under us were honking at us thinking we were up there protesting something.
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 19, 2015, 09:58:13 AM
Front: Brian Rawson-Ketchum (rawmustard), Scott Onson (SSOWorld),
Standing front: Patrick Lijia (TheHighwayMan394 - MN), Chris Tarr (GeekJedi - WI), Michael Koerner (mgk920 - WI), A. J. Bertin (A. J. Bertin - MI), Brandon Gorte (Brandon - IL), Kim Harvey (kharvey10 - IL), Michael Gronseth (bulldog1979 - MI), Gene VanDusseldorp (MO), Maya Lokken (and Grumpy Cat), John Hansen (Big John - WI)
Standing back: Sam Scholtens (getmngo - MI), David Feryance (WI), ____?, Jeff Morrison (IA), Eric Frailing (DaBigE - WI), Tim Brown (bandit957- OH), Chris Kalina (MN), Jason Risner (JREwing78 - WI), Steve Alpert (alps - NJ), Chris Lokken (catofdar - WI)
The rest:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoworld/sets/72157652060220005/
I didn't take too many since I was a driver. Others will have their fair share.
Lilja, not Lijia.
The _____? is Chris Tarr's son.
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 19, 2015, 09:58:13 AMThanks everyone for coming in to Madtown. Things went good minus the hiccups at the end. I diverted to the abandoned Burke Road instead of taking Stoughton Road (US 51) south after the blank Interstate trailblazer. However, I forgot to mention it to two cars - one of which managed to find their way there after the driver kept going the wrong way, the other of which followed the rest of the itinerary I planned.
I included Burke Road in my walking tour on Sunday!
Also, I did detect a couple of bunker blasts during the meet. No meet would be complete without it!
Quote from: Alps on April 19, 2015, 11:32:00 PM
Lilja, not Lijia.
The _____? is Chris Tarr's son.
That would be Nathan Tarr.
Quote from: GeekJedi on April 20, 2015, 07:09:11 PM
Quote from: Alps on April 19, 2015, 11:32:00 PM
Lilja, not Lijia.
The _____? is Chris Tarr's son.
That would be Nathan Tarr.
Thanks, I wasn't sure :D
EDIT: original post FIXED!! :D
Yep, it was a good meet.
Rare WisDOT leftover at the I-94 Welcome Center.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5370_zpsxhqgnupw.jpg&hash=81ab8125203981dee27b4f2d7bec9b018e357551) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5370_zpsxhqgnupw.jpg.html)
WisDOT goes all MTO in the Zoo Interchange construction zone.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5377_zpsvuhxlwda.jpg&hash=52ca1e814865d7f2319ba6fd32e75064bed5b1b1) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5377_zpsvuhxlwda.jpg.html)
Lunch was good.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5385_zpslnlvjnj3.jpg&hash=0c06e77bb50e1cd3ab9c03b777b93a9e237c2f46) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5385_zpslnlvjnj3.jpg.html)
Bipping signage.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5408_zpsri7b96tt.jpg&hash=5a096e0e3d921c049f1ce085883d2888df02ff49) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5408_zpsri7b96tt.jpg.html)
Abandoned signage.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg&hash=cfa387b063dfb0ce0e6f23e0e049937ec0f39acf) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg.html)
Quote from: Brandon on April 20, 2015, 11:22:44 PM
Yep, it was a good meet.
Rare WisDOT leftover at the I-94 Welcome Center.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5370_zpsxhqgnupw.jpg&hash=81ab8125203981dee27b4f2d7bec9b018e357551) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5370_zpsxhqgnupw.jpg.html)
rare indeed for "hide yo evidence" WisDOT!
Quote from: Brandon on April 20, 2015, 11:22:44 PM
WisDOT goes all MTO in the Zoo Interchange construction zone.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5377_zpsvuhxlwda.jpg&hash=52ca1e814865d7f2319ba6fd32e75064bed5b1b1) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5377_zpsvuhxlwda.jpg.html)
I really hate this diversion from the norm despite the circumstance!
Quote from: Brandon on April 20, 2015, 11:22:44 PM
Abandoned signage.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg&hash=cfa387b063dfb0ce0e6f23e0e049937ec0f39acf) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg.html)
Business definitely went under. ;)
Looked like a great turn out and loads of fun as always :-) Now it is all about Denver! :-)
Quote from: jpi on April 21, 2015, 06:19:47 PM
Looked like a great turn out and loads of fun as always :-) Now it is all about Denver! :-)
Yes, time for a Rocky Mountain High. :bigass:
Not enough for a full-fledged trip report so I will just share the highlights. I wound my way up to Lansing, then down to Beloit overnight, then to Madison, then directly returned to Cedar Rapids.
-Back into Allamakee County for the first time since 2010. I spent an hour in Lansing at the Black Hawk Bridge and an overlook for the first pictures there since 2006, and may end up going back again this summer.
-Too early for things to be in bloom yet (the weekend was right on the cusp of "roadgeek season" for me)
-Covered US 14 between US 61 and Janesville
-My GPS got caught off guard by two interchanges, WI 11 at I-90 (cloverleaf to double roundabout) and Fish Hatchery Road at the Beltline (now a left instead of a loop).
-Finished the "Star Wars Minute" podcasts for "The Empire Strikes Back" 15 minutes from the end of the trip.
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 20, 2015, 11:53:42 PM
Quote from: Brandon on April 20, 2015, 11:22:44 PM
Abandoned signage.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi837.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz298%2Fmidamcrossrds%2F100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg&hash=cfa387b063dfb0ce0e6f23e0e049937ec0f39acf) (http://s837.photobucket.com/user/midamcrossrds/media/100_5420_zpsw51pzrdu.jpg.html)
Business definitely went under. ;)
If you look at the historic Street View (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.135338,-89.28787,3a,90y,244.56h,93.15t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sfq_kjrxS1M94TzF6wNPzbw!2e0!5s20070801T000000), you can see what the buildings on that plot looked like (2007) and then see the subsequent deconstruction of them (2011).
I posted 77 photos from the event, but they also include Chicago and other goodies...
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15a.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15b.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15c.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15d.html
Quote from: bandit957 on April 29, 2015, 10:59:20 AM
I posted 77 photos from the event, but they also include Chicago and other goodies...
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15a.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15b.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15c.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15d.html
Great pictures, Tim!
Quote from: bandit957 on April 29, 2015, 10:59:20 AM
I posted 77 photos from the event, but they also include Chicago and other goodies...
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15a.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15b.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15c.html
http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/mad15d.html
One minor nitpick: the bike lane on University Ave. is one-way eastbound, not two-way (unless it changes somewhere between Charter Ave. and where you crossed it).
And it's interesting that you found Ronald Reagan in Madison. I didn't think there were any Republicans left here.
Quote from: algorerhythms on April 29, 2015, 09:30:37 PM
One minor nitpick: the bike lane on University Ave. is one-way eastbound, not two-way (unless it changes somewhere between Charter Ave. and where you crossed it).
I think they have one on the other side that's westbound.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 29, 2015, 10:20:15 PM
Quote from: algorerhythms on April 29, 2015, 09:30:37 PM
One minor nitpick: the bike lane on University Ave. is one-way eastbound, not two-way (unless it changes somewhere between Charter Ave. and where you crossed it).
I think they have one on the other side that's westbound.
Yes, between the through and right-turn lanes
Quote from: Big John on April 29, 2015, 10:22:08 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 29, 2015, 10:20:15 PM
Quote from: algorerhythms on April 29, 2015, 09:30:37 PM
One minor nitpick: the bike lane on University Ave. is one-way eastbound, not two-way (unless it changes somewhere between Charter Ave. and where you crossed it).
I think they have one on the other side that's westbound.
Yes, between the through and bus/right-turn lanes
Fixed.
The WB bike lane begins as an exclusive bike lane at Bassett St and "ends" where peels off at Babock with an option to cut across and continue up University Ave, at the split at Campus Dr. Before it reaches the downtown area, the bike lane exists as a shared parking/bike lane along Gorham St (Gorham St turns into University Ave at the curve at Bassett St).
The EB bike lane starts at the Campus Dr/University Ave split follows Campus Dr to just east of the railroad, where it splits off and becomes a contra-flow lane along WB University Ave. the EB bike lane is separated by a concrete curb its full length until it peels off at Basset St, where it will eventually find its way to the Lake Monona Loop path.
When University Ave was reconstructed into its current WB one-way format, the contra-flow bike lane was considered revolutionary and to some extent a big experiment. IIRC, ITE Journal (or some other civil engineering periodical of the time) did a story about the corridor shortly after it opened after reconstruction (late 70s, early/mid 80s?).
That contraflow bike lane can catch drivers off guard; you don't typically think to look for oncoming bike traffic on an otherwise one-way street.
Quote from: JREwing78 on April 30, 2015, 11:45:34 PM
That contraflow bike lane can catch drivers off guard; you don't typically think to look for oncoming bike traffic on an otherwise one-way street.
IMHO, contraflow bicycle lanes should not be allowed. All non-sidewalk traffic should go the same direction for predictability. When all traffic is predictable by all road users, you have fewer potential opportunities for crashes.
While it may not be "predictable", that bike traffic is right in the field of vision (unless you suffer from severe tunnel vision). Like I said earlier, it was (and apparently still is) a controversial design, but it works. Having ridden that bike lane many times in college, the only ones that seemed to be caught off-guard were the pedestrians crossing University Ave (against the lights), heading northbound on the cross street, as they would typically only look one way, towards the vehicular traffic.
Quote from: DaBigE on May 01, 2015, 09:14:30 AM
While it may not be "predictable", that bike traffic is right in the field of vision (unless you suffer from severe tunnel vision). Like I said earlier, it was (and apparently still is) a controversial design, but it works. Having ridden that bike lane many times in college, the only ones that seemed to be caught off-guard were the pedestrians crossing University Ave (against the lights), heading northbound on the cross street, as they would typically only look one way, towards the vehicular traffic.
Like I said, predictability for
all road users. That includes the often forgotten pedestrian.
That may have more to do with bicycles not being looked for by drivers and pedestrians than any inherent "lack of predictability". It's obvious from DaBigE's description that pedestrians weren't looking for bicycles...just for cars, even though there's this wide curb-separated space from other traffic that also has its own signals. Of course, if pedestrians are crossing against the signals (as DaBigE asserts), there are other issues present as well.
And the second question is how often do bikers go against the green on that contraflow?
Quote from: SSOWorld on May 01, 2015, 11:09:31 AM
And the second question is how often do bikers go against the green on that contraflow?
Just as often as when they're going
with the normal flow of vehicular traffic or as often as their pedestrian counterparts. Just because they're mostly college students doesn't mean they're any smarter. :no: Numerous times while in downtown Madison I've encountered cyclists creating their own contra flow "lane" on other one way streets.