Bicyclist commuters may escape trail fee
11:32 PM 3/05/03
Lesley Rogers Barrett County reporter

Bicyclists who commute on the Capital City Trail might be exempt from a new trail fee.

Dane County officials may buy a state trail pass for users who sign an affidavit saying they use the trail more for transportation than recreation.

"While it's not perfect, it's pretty fantastic," said Joe King, a member of the Bicycle Alliance of Dane County. "It acknowledges the benefit to society and encourages multiple forms of transportation."

Recreational bicyclists and in-line skaters 16 years or older would still have to pay a $3 daily fee or $10 annual state trail fee, under the proposal, which is expected to be introduced at 7:30 tonight at the Dane County Board. It will be voted on later this spring.

After much controversy last December, the Dane County Parks Commission approved the fees to help pay maintenance for the 9.5-mile paved trail, which was opened in 2000 south of Madison from Verona Road to Industrial Drive.

The trail pass gives users access to more than 30 other trails in the state.

If approved, the $5,000 pilot program for free state trail passes would be paid for through a transfer of funds from the county highway department to the county parks department, said County Board Sup. Chuck Erickson, Madison, who drafted the resolution.

"It's not a lot of money (to buy the pass), but it's a disincentive for someone to ride their bike to work or to run an errand," Erickson said.

Erickson is introducing two other resolutions. One pushes for a state-law change for local bike-path maintenance costs to be reimbursed by the state, similar to highway maintenance costs.

The other asks Gov. Jim Doyle to create a statewide task force to find an ongoing source of funds for all construction, operation and maintenance of trail systems.

Erickson said although the state's finances are tight, a larger percentage of money from the state highway department should fund alternative road transportation, such as mass transit and bike paths.

Tim Wong, a year-round bike commuter who doesn't own a car, said he likes the spirit of the proposal, but he said the difference between someone who bikes for transportation versus recreation is unclear. He disagrees with any fee for a paved urban bike trail. "I feel like my taxes have already paid for that," Wong said.