North Sherman and the generation gap

It's been a week since they finished re-striping Sherman Avenue and everyone seems to have adjusted just fine. There's no gridlock, the side streets aren't full of speeding Waunakeeans, turning left onto or off Sherman is no more trouble than before. As far as I can tell, the only people truly inconvenienced are those who felt entitled to speed down Sherman at 40 miles an hour.

But that hasn't stopped former Ald. Dorothy Borchardt and the Northside Business Association from continuing to bloviate over email and talk radio. You might have noticed the "No TWLTL" buttons for sale at some store counters. They've raised money to contract for an "independent" study they're releasing next week.

It seems like this issue breaks down along generational lines, with older residents more opposed and younger residents more supportive. As one of those supportive younger residents, I'd like the folks fighting this to think a bit more about who's going to buy their homes.

It's a fact: younger Americans are driving less. We don't measure livability in lane-miles like our parents' and grandparents' generations did. We'd like the option to walk, bus, or bike around town.Making Sherman Avenue better for pedestrians and bicycles makes our neighborhood more attractive to younger homebuyers. A more attractive neighborhood has higher demand, and higher demand leads to higher house prices.

For someone well into their post-retirement years who has a lot of wealth tied up in their home, it's worth thinking about.

Dorn closing is a sign...but of what?

Today's State Journal announced what most of us in the neighborhood have known all week, that Dorn Hardware is closing their Northgate store after 51 years. There have been rumors that a major tenant would be leaving ever since the North Sherman safety project was announced, but the rumors usually identified Frugal Muse rather than Dorn.

I've sort of been expecting a "we told you so" message from the Northside Business Association, but there's been nary a peep all week from anyone, not even on the Northside listserv. Of course, that hasn't stopped the idiots who comment on Madison.com from speculating that the upcoming street reconfiguration has already killed off Dorn Hardware. Has it really?

Tom Dorn, heir to the family business, doesn't seem to think so.

A better North Sherman...this summer!

Updated 2/18

Last fall, Ald. Rhodes-Conway held a community meeting to discuss residents' problems with North Sherman Avenue. The city's traffic engineering department has completed its report to recommend Sherman be reconfigured with bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and two auto traffic lanes plus a center "TWLTL" turning lane.

Rhodes-Conway is already charging ahead, having introduced the plan last week on a fast track to committee review and approval. Reading my earlier post, you'd probably think I approve, and you'd be right...mostly. It still needs a bit of work.

A better North Sherman Avenue?

(I wanted to put a nice picture at the top of this post, but Google couldn't find one. Apparently there's no such thing as a nice view along North Sherman Avenue. How appropriate!)

Tonight, Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway convened a community meeting at Warner Park to share data and collect resident input on traffic and safety along Sherman. The meeting was well attended (I'd estimate the crowd at 70-80, although the crowd skewed older) and came hot on the heels of a resolution she pushed through the Common Council just last week on this issue.

Is Rhodes-Conway reopening the fight over our neighborhood's Main Street?

Pedestrians and cars, it goes both ways

I read Isthmus' cover story on pedestrian safety a couple of weeks ago, went on a work trip to DC, and came home to a speed trap on Packers Avenue. All this churned together in my head, and helped me realize that our problem in Madison isn't just one of big steel cars with careless, malicious drivers.