Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting – October 14, 2026

The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) met on October 14, 2026 (note: the transcript references October 13, 2026, but official records indicate the meeting occurred on October 14). The meeting included a presentation on the Regional Safety Action Plan, a review of the Week Without Driving events, a discussion on bike parking design standards, and a grant update for the King Street Greenway.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved without corrections (motion by Andrew, second by Stephanie).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy (non-committee member) expressed concern that the Lozy Boulevard corridor has been studied repeatedly without implementation, asking what enforcement mechanisms accompany the new Safety Action Plan.
• Kathy also suggested that the city consider installing bicycle hangers (Cycle Hoop) in residential areas to provide secure covered bike storage, and inquired whether the proposed bike parking design standards would apply to city-provided parking.

Discussion Items

Regional Safety Action Plan

• Cotter Cox (Bolton and Mank) presented the draft La Crosse Region Safety Action Plan, developed over the past year with LAPC and partners.
• Crash data highlights: 60 fatal crashes, 451 serious injury crashes, and approximately 26,000 total crashes over 10 years; over 60% occurred at intersections.
• The High Injury Network (11.5% of road miles) accounts for more than two-thirds of fatal and serious injury crashes.
• Community engagement identified top concerns: speeding, pedestrian infrastructure gaps, intersection safety, distracted driving, inconsistent bicycle facilities, and limited crossing opportunities.
• Conceptual designs were developed for three locations: Highway 16 & North Kinney Cooley (recommended roundabout), Lozy Boulevard and Clinton Street (separated bikeways).
• Three demonstration projects were identified: Lozy Boulevard crossing enhancements, and curb extensions on Pearl and Elm streets.
• The plan also includes programmatic and policy recommendations, a funding/implementation section, and a data dashboard for ongoing crash tracking.
• Next steps: The plan will go to the LAPC policy board for adoption; constituent communities will be encouraged to adopt Vision Zero resolutions.
• Kevin (committee member) stated he was "extremely disappointed" with the plan, arguing it fails to challenge the assumption that 95% of trips are made by car and called on decision-making bodies to reject the document.
• The committee discussed the plan's coordination with WisDOT and the city's existing bike plan.

Week Without Driving

• Kathy reported on the annual Week Without Driving event. Key outcomes: good media coverage; approximately 35 participants in the Ride with Electeds; one new bus rider committed to permanent transit use; twelve bingo cards returned, mostly from new participants.
• Challenges: limited participation from elected officials (only Councilmember Chris Kahlo participated in a bus ride), and a need for earlier planning and more volunteers.
• Andrew suggested forming a planning review group to improve future events.
• Photos of the ride with elected officials were shared, showing turnout from local and federal staff, a county board supervisor, and a French Island trustee.

Bike Parking Design Standards

• Andrew presented a proposal to update the zoning code’s short-term bike parking standards by banning ineffective rack types (e.g., wave, wheel bender) and requiring U-lock-compatible, two-point-contact upright racks.
• A new long-term indoor bike parking requirement for multi-family developments was proposed, with possible exemptions for smaller projects (e.g., fewer than 12 units) based on research from other cities.
• Committee members supported the short-term standards but expressed concerns about the feasibility of long-term requirements for smaller-scale development.
• Discussion included the need to coordinate with the fire department regarding e-bike and scooter battery storage.
• No formal recommendation was made; the item was tabled for a future meeting.

King Street Greenway

• Jenna announced that the city was awarded $85,000 from the Transportation Alternatives Program for the King Street Greenway from 3rd to 7th Street, completing the corridor from Front to 8th Street.
• The total project cost is $1.2 million, which includes road utility improvements in addition to bike and pedestrian treatments.
• Planned features: curb extensions, green infrastructure, and a refuge island at 7th Street.
• Construction between Front and 2nd Street is underway, and the 3rd and 4th street segments will be built as part of a larger street project.

Other Updates

• A public information meeting for the Green Bay Street STP Urban project was noted (details to follow).
• The comment deadline for the Highway 16 Community-Sensitive Design Fund is October 30, 2026.
• Kathy announced the White Cane Safety Day proclamation event on October 15, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• The committee unanimously approved the previous meeting’s minutes.
• The Safety Action Plan is scheduled for adoption by the LAPC policy board; committee members will review the draft and provide feedback.
• A review group for the 2027 Week Without Driving will be convened.
• No decision was reached on bike parking design standards; discussion will continue at a subsequent meeting.
• The King Street Greenway TAP grant award was accepted; project development will proceed.