Off the Couch


Discussion guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use

Limit of 2000 characters, 2000 characters remaining

  1. That just not possible, the last story you did on the Hank Aaron everyone was ready to burn Scott Walker because he took ALL the money away from cycling projects in the state. I guess they where wrong again. Good to see this happing to get more duffs off the couch
  2. This is awesome news.
  3. @ksjc - Scott Walker did try to take all money away from biking and
    pedestrian projects. Thanks to pressure from the Bike Federation of
    Wisconsin and others it was just announced that $2 million was restored
    in the budget for bike/ped projects
    wisconsin-restores-2-million-for-bikeped-to-state-budget/). However, it
    is possible that none of that effects the Hank Aaron Trail since a lot of
    that was put in place prior to the current budget, not sure.
  4. Is there any details of the restored historic streetcar shelter. They did have a picture of it on the website. Where did it come from? How old is it? Where was it originally installed? Was it stored somewhere? Are there more artifacts from the old electric streetcar system being stored somewhere? Many of the trails in use today utilize these old streetcar right of ways. I think there should be more ways to memorialize these historic electric railways that were at one time so prevalent. Install some historical markers showing that the trolley used to run thru that area or more refurbished original artifacts such as the shelter. More of these right of ways are currently owned by Weenergies and would be nice to see trails developed on these as well. I know there is also talk of using the old Waukesha to Watertown line as a future bikepath, but that is also on hold due to funding.
  5. All good questions, WisRapids, and I hope someone answers. I have the same interest. Could you please post the link to that website, or direct me where to find it - I'd like to see the picture of the old shelter also. Thanks.
  7. I believe the historic shelters were from the 16th street viaduct. After it was redone they were in storage.
  8. There is one shelter on Canal Street east of 25th Street and another on the Milwaukee Street side of Catalano Square in the Third Ward. Both look very cool.
  9. To view the picture of the shelter click in the link at the end of the article, then go to maps, It has a very nice picture of it in the lower right hand corner. I remember this shelter now that someone mentioned where it came from, when I used to ride my bike across the 16th street viaduct years ago.
  10. Nice, I am going to ride it all and check it out today. Should be added
    interest in the State Fair area with that going on.
  11. Thank you runner girl for the info. Check out htis link for more on the restoration of the shelters.
  12. You can find a picture of the shelter in Catalano Square in this gallery
    I am checking for more detail on the shelter being refurbished for the western trailhead.
  13. It appears the shelter my have been refurbished from 2 badly deteriorated shelters and built into one functional shelter.
  14. Also of note: just north of the pictured underpass below the railroad tracks is the newly opened underpass below Blue Mound Rd. Just rode that an hour ago. It's great because it saves having to cross the busy and dangerous Blue Mound. Every time I pass a fellow biker, I say, "Isn't this great?" After the affirmation, I say, "Thank the Democrats."
  15. More detail on the shelters from Melissa Cook: The two shelters installed on the trail earlier cost $130,000 to refurbish, total for both.
    There were originally six shelters from the 16th St. Viaduct and they were able to salvage enough material to complete two shelters.
    There is one more good roof left, that will be utilized for the shelter on the west end.
    They will be looking closely at the remaining roofs, since we have had several inquiries, but it is somewhat doubtful if more than one good one exists.
  16. junkied, so Scott Walker was going to take all the money away but due to pressure he did not. What is your point? So, ultimately he did the right thing, correct?
    It's so funny to hear you guys pick everything apart in hopes of making someone look bad.
    Wisconsin is finally Open for Business! And our Parks and Recreation are thriving.
  17. Melissa Cook has directed the Aaron Trail for as long as any of us can remember, and has worked tirelessly through the years as every planned phase of the trail became a reality. The biking community and SE WI families who use this recreation trail owe her a sincere 'thank you.' She's made good on every one of her promises. I look forward to using the new extension as soon as it's complete for some great fall biking!
  18. marchingband - my thanks for adding that detail about the new routing under Blue Mound. As you noted, eliminating that street crossing will make the Oak Leaf a better ride.
  19. Thank you everyone for your comments and help.
  20. Another improvement to Milwaukee's Gold Medal winning parks by
    connecting the Hank Aaron to the Oak Leaf trail. The same park system
    that has NOT been decimated, destroyed, blah, blah, blah by County
    Executive Scott Walker.

    The biggest impediment to the park system is the union. I would run the
    Oak Leaf Trail daily and watch the parkies mow literally football sized
    fields that were not used for any kind of recreation. It was just make
    work. Scott Walker put an end to that and now their are football size
    fields of prairie full of wildlife. They cut 4 feet of grass on either side of
    the trail, that's all that's needed.
  21. Now its crushed stone and broken glass. We rode down it the other day and my friend got a flat. Why do idiots have to break glass on the path.
    lemme guess underaged drinkers acting like idiots..
  22. This is great news! I've been riding this stretch to and from work and look forward to a smoother ride. Too bad it always seems like bike trail work is done in the fall rather than spring so we can use the new trail all summer.
  23. One more comment for WisRapids or for anyone else still reading this story and is interested: there are numerous artifacts from Milwaukee's streetcar and interurban days at the East Troy Trolley Museum.

See all Journal Sentinel Twitter feeds