'Friends of the Bugline' Campaign Formed to Preserve the Trail
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My name is Joni Griffin. My husband, Raymond and I moved to Menomonee Falls six years ago to get away from the "hustle and bustle" of Milwaukee. We were attracted to the "rural atmosphere" of Menomonee Falls. We live just a few blocks from the Bugline Trail and we use it extensively for hiking, biking, walking our dog and I ride my horse on it with friends.
When I heard the plan to widen and pave our beautiful trail with asphalt, I was outraged. I had to do something to try to stop this insane project, so I launched a campaign to "Save The Bugline, Don't Pave the Bugline!". We call our campaign: "Friends of the Bugline." We have been circulating a petition to stop the paving project and the response has been incredible! We have around 500 signatures and there are more petitions being circulated. We would have hundreds more, but you know how it is, got to go to work too!
While collecting signatures, the same question comes up again and again: "Why would they want to pave the Bugline?", followed by: "I don't want that, where do I sign?"
To be honest with you, I have not yet heard a viable reason for this project. The biggest reason not to do it, is that the majority of the people, plain and simple-DO NOT WANT IT! So far our protests seem to be falling on deaf ears where our public elected officials are concerned.
They would like us to believe that it doesn't matter what we want or what we think and that it is a "done deal." I just cannot accept that and will continue to fight this project.
Anyone wishing to sign the petition, there will be "Friends of the Bugline" with petitions at the meeting in Sussex on May 10. We also are planning a "Rally on the Bugline" on May 12 at noon. You can contact me at buglinesaver@gmail.com for details, or to request a petition form to be e-mailed to you.
Reuben Glaser
6:18 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
"Save The Bugline, Don't Pave the Bugline!"
What a catchy slogan!
Joan Griffin
8:41 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Thank you, Reuben! Make yourself a poster and join us at the "Bugline Rally" on May 12th!
Brian
7:17 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
My first impression when I heard they wanted to pave it was positive. Wouldn't it be nice to walk on a smooth surface that doesn't get muddy when it rains, is free of potholes, etc? Then again, what's the maintenance plan for the new surface. If its not kept up, then we're better off with the current path. And who's paying for it?
I'd like to see a list of pro's and con's regarding this project. Is this info available anywhere?
Steve ®
8:22 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Stop the flow of reckless spending now.
Tell Obama to suck it and use the funds for an actual road. Shady Lane and Menomonee are an embarrassment.
Andy Smith
9:47 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Paving the trail would be an OUTRAGE, surely. It would be a TRAVESTY if older people and those with disabilities could more easily use the trail without fear of twisting an ankle or falling over a rut or a pothole. Besides, It would impact our fundamental QUALITY OF RURAL LIFE if the trail was widened somewhat so that pedestrians, bikers, those in wheelchairs and those with canes or walkers could more comfortably use it, We don't want TOO MANY people to use it ... because it's "our" trail. We moved here, in part, to enjoy using it as much as we could before it gets too busy. When our communities had plank sidewalks, THE PEOPLE rose up against replacing them when they rotted and splintered with more durable concrete. And, before paving roads and streets became commonplace, THE PEOPLE rose up against the extravagance of paving thoroughfares. Don't think so? Read your history. There is little cost to maintaining a gravel trail ... it doesn't need to be groomed, unrutted, kept from getting muddy. There's no need to constantly replace, add to and refresh gravel. When you pave a trail, you may need to do it again perhaps ten years from now. There simply are NO GOOD REASONS to proceed with this. There were people against the Bugline Trail (let it go back to nature; it's an unnatural scare upon the ecology; we don't want to invite unknown people walking night and day near our property) Are some now expressed support for leaving it as it is? Wouldn't THAT be a delicious irony?!
Terrance Jones
12:07 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Andy- let me guess- you are one of the bikers who wants to put on your tight latex pants, stick your hind end in the air and race down the newly paved bugline running over families, grannies with their walkers, and the handicapped.
Joan Griffin
1:19 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Andy, do you actually know any elderly people or disabled people who have complained about not being able to use the Bugline? When my husband and I walk our dog on the Bugline, we meet elderly people who abdsolutely love to walk on the kinder, surface of crushed limestone and certainly do not fall and twist their ankles. I have also asked people with strollers I've encountered on the Bugline if they have any trouble maneuvering their strollers and they tell me it's no problem and they go on it all the time. This tells me that if a stroller can manage on the crushed limestone, why not a wheelchair? Perhaps these people just prefer to use the sidewalks and the paved trails in parks that already exist. With your kind of mentality, we would be laying asphalt throughout the Kettle Moraine trails and state park trails. Where does it end? Is there to be no natural trails anymore?
Rita Hahn
11:18 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Leave our bugline natural.This is as dumb an idea as the turnabouts! The bugline, people enjoy is a natural path to walk and enjoy nature. If we have so much money to waste,fix our roads! Leave the bugline alone.Id go to the rally if I knew where its starting, May 12..Let me know Su6lady@sbcglobal.net
Joan Griffin
1:01 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
We would love to have you join our rally, Rita! I will be starting on my horse from the group campsite in Meno. Park around noon, but others can join in anywhere along the trail. I will head east to Meno. Ave. where I will turn around and head back to the park. There is a parking lot on Lannon Rd. just north of the Bugline for those who do not want to pay to enter the park. For those who do meet in the park, bring a lunch for after the rally! buglinesaver@gmail.com
Mark Maley
12:01 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Joan, I met you at Chilly Fest in February and I'm glad to see you're still passionate about this issue...and that you're blogging on Patch! You raise some good points!
Joan Griffin
1:06 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Thanks, Mark, The Patch has been absolutely wonderful in helping with our cause! Kudos to you and your staff! The Patch is a great tool to get the word out on issues that concern all of us.
Terrance Jones
12:03 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Right now families, dog walkers, and little kids can ride their bikes or walk safely. If you pave the bugline groups of bikers will take to it and ride at high speeds. There will be accidents and someone will be hurt and Waukesha county will be liable for the dangerous conditions they created. The path is lovely, it doesn't need fixing and it's perfect as is for it's purpose.
Brice G
12:32 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I looked over the proposal by Waukesha County, and they have valid points for paving the trail. Accessibility is a big issue. I'm also glad that they are trying to create an enhanced trail network for commuters to bicycle rather than drive to places. However, I would like to see the figures about decreased maintenance cost that they claim. Will snowmobiles and horses still be allowed on the trail? It seems that these uses will rapidly deteriorate the paved surface, leading to increased maintenance costs. They also cite washouts, but paving that many miles of trail will certainly increase runoff to the nearby land - how will that affect the land? Will it increase erosion? The trail is also being taken over by invasive species like buckthorn, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard, replacing our native spring flowers and shrubs that attract an enormous variety of native birds and mammals. Disturbing the surrounding land will only exacerbate the issue of invasive plants. Why not use the funding to actually enhance the trail system? Or, if paving it, there should be a requirement to earmark some spending towards improving the trail in other ways. Lastly, and largely in response to Andy's "smart" remarks - over 99% of traveling surfaces in the area are paved. The minority, or perhaps majority, of citizens that prefer unpaved surfaces have very few spaces, especially on a local scale, that are unpaved. When Bugline is paved, where do you suggest we go?
Dad 4 life
4:16 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Oh so you are you of the people that really irritate me by leaving your horse crap lay all over the path. If your horse dump at least have the courtesy to kick it off to the side. Most dog walker have to pick p there animals poop you should too. Snowmobiles and horses tear up the the existing Bugline. As the Bugline stands it is in dire need of something. The trail sucks and is rutted, grass grows through it and needs extensive re surfacing. I agree with Brian that a certain percentage be put into restoring the natural plants when completed.
Margie Finger
11:47 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I wanted to inform you that the bugline was first a horse trail. Also that snowmobile registration and their gas tax helped fund this trail. Have you ever paid to be on this trail? I have not and enjoy it just the way it is. Please be open to leaving one of the Waukesha County trails unpaved. We are so privileged to have the option between paved and unpaved at this time. Looking forward to talking with everyone at the May 10th meeting
Joan Griffin
8:49 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
Dad 4 Life and other uninformed trail users. I and my friends I ride with do try to keep to the side of the trail so our horses do not leave manure in the middle of the trail. Horses only eat hay/grass. Unlike dog manure which is made up of meat by-products, horse manure is pure and simple-GRASS. After a day or so, it breaks down back to grass and blows away, unlike dog manure which as those of us who have dogs know, lasts & lasts. Also, FYI, our horses do not damage the trail. Actually bikes do more damage to the trail than horses. Of course the snowmolibes are hard on the trail, but it is THEIR trail. It was the local snowmobile clubs who first started the Bugline trail 40 yrs. ago and that is why they are grandfathered in to using the trail. If we all work together to get the government to use the available funds to repair and maintain the present trail, then all can use it.
M C
12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
"As the Bugline stands it is in dire need of something. The trail sucks and is rutted, grass grows through it and needs extensive re surfacing."
Rather overstated, don't you think? The trail sucks? Not sure that I agree with you there. And I don't really care if a little grass grows through on occasion. There are some spots where some rutting needs to be fixed, and where some additional gravel is needed. That does not mean that we should go to the extreme of widening and paving the entire path.
Also, I do not ride horses. I ride my bike on the trail. I have never been bothered by any extensive horse manure on the path. I have rarely seen any on the path. I am more annoyed actually by those who leave their dog's poop on the middle of the trail. I have no problems with horses on the trail. (I do ride most often on the Sussex/Merton end of the trail. Perhaps horses are more of an issue on the Falls side? I don't know. I haven't noticed problems when riding on that side.)
M C
12:38 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
For those of you who think there is no good reason to oppose the "improvement" of the Bugline, I have summarized what I believe to be the key points in opposing this change in my open letter on the Patch (http://sussex.patch.com/articles/don-t-pave-the-bugline-an-open-letter-to-the-waukesha-county-board). I suggest you look at it. I do not deny that there are some reasons for paving it, but I believe that these are vastly outweighed by reasons not to pave. And I am all for accessibility, but that doesn't mean that the same standard of accessibility should be applied to every place and activity. Most trails are paved and accessible. There is a place to have some of a different character.
It would be great if those who disagree with each other on this issue avoid being insulting. We certainly have enough of that already in our political sphere.
Joan Griffin
1:21 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
You are absolutely right! As many others have pointed out, The Bugline Trail is unique and should be preserved. Just to remind everyone, we the "Friends of the Bugline" will be collecting signatures on our petition at the meeting on Thurs., 5/10 from 5-7pm at the Pauline Haass Public Library, N64 W23820 Main St. in Sussex. Also, we are having a "Rally for the Bugline" on Sat., 5/12, leaving the group campsite at Menomonee Park around noon, heading east to Menomonee Ave. and returning to the park. You can join our rally anywhere along the route if you wish. Let's show our support to keep our trail's natural beauty and to keep it "user friendly" for all! Contact me at: buglinesaver@gmail.com with any questions.
Joan Griffin
6:35 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
My husband & I just had a wonderful bike ride on the Bugline. The wild flowers are in full bloom, so beautiful! And in spite of the heavy rains we just had, we had no trouble. I have narrow tires on my bike and it was fine. I do have to say that the ruts that are there are from cars, probably the police cars that patrol the trail.
Doug Bath
5:33 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Menomonee Park in 2014 is going to be flooded with runners and horses getting spooked by those runners. I've run on the Bugline the most as it is straight and I'm less likely to surprise people.
it's a long way from Menomonee Falls to any other non-paved trail.
you can find asphalt pretty much anywhere.