Milwaukee, WI
Bike Week 2024: Taking advantage of Milwaukee's bike infrastructure
It’s Bike Week 2024 and with the weather turning nicer and nicer, folks are looking to get back out on the roads for a little exercise, and take advantage of the great biking infrastructure we have in Milwaukee. In this month’s Drivers Ed with Debbie, she sits down with a bike expert to see how things are going.
Do you remember your first bike? It was your first feeling of freedom. You thought, now that I have my own transportation, I can go anywhere.
Well, it’s true.
“There is no doubt that bikes help kids explore more and feel, you know, the self-confidence just grows so much more when you are on a bike and the freedom that you get is just parallel to none,” says Owner of Wheel & Sprocket, Amelia Kegel.
She says it truly is a rite of passage for kids as well as parents. I mean, who doesn’t remember running alongside your kid as they finally got rid of those training wheels?
It’s not just about wheels, pedals, and brakes these days.
Kegel says “There is no doubt that the cheapest bicycle is going to be from a department store. But I’ve got to just say, the bikes that you get from a department store are not built to last.”
Most bike shops have upped their game when it comes to selection. Their bikes range from the most economical to the high-end, ultra-competitive $15,000 models for the Ironman races. But it wasn’t always like this. During the height of the pandemic, many shops had an inventory issue.
“There used to be no bikes in bike stores, but if you can see behind me, we are at the best stocking level we’ve actually ever been. [Supply chain] has been an issue, but we’ve navigated it,accordingly. We may not have exactly the right color, the right size, but we have a bike that’ll do what you are looking to do,” explains Kegel.
And with the road improvements specifically for bikes in many municipalities, it’s making things easier to get around in this mode.
But don’t forget, Wisconsin has some of the best bike trails in the country.
Kegel says, “And if you haven’t been on a bike in a while, like this might be the summer for you. We’ve never had better bike infrastructure here in the city. Milwaukee has the Oak Leaf Trail system that’s 120 miles that spans like north, south, east, and west of the city. The connectivity of bike paths has never been better, too.”
Oh, and please remember, if you are on a bike, you are required to follow all the rules of the road, like cars. So stop lights, stop signs, yield signs, and crossing signals all apply to you, too.
It’s all about being predictable. Most car versus bike accidents happen because the driver didn’t know what the biker was about to do. So best to keep all the hand signals and rules you learned as a kid in mind. They still apply. So take some time this week to get in touch with that kid again, and remember this philosophy, good for learning to ride, as well as a metaphor for life:
If you look at the ditch, you go in the ditch. But in this life, if you look at the road, you stay on the road.
TOP HEADLINES FROM THE 620 WTMJ NEWS TEAM:
MORE FROM WIS. MORNING NEWS: What’s next for Act 10?
MILWAUKEE – The clock is ticking in the fight between ICE and Milwaukee. The federal Department of Justice gave Milwaukee until Friday to respond.
Law enforcement mask ban
The backstory:
In April, Milwaukee passed an ordinance that bans all law enforcement from wearing masks. There are exemptions for health or safety reasons. Those breaking it can face a fine of up to $10,000.
Supporters said it was part of what they called “ICE Out Milwaukee.” It was clear from debate, they were targeting immigration agents.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
The U.S. DOJ sent the mayor and city attorney a letter on July 10. It says the federal government will not comply. It tells the city to respond by this Friday, July 17, that it will not enforce the ban against federal agents.
One Milwaukee nonprofit leader critical of ICE responded to the situation.
“I look at the federal government’s threats to Milwaukee as analogous to David versus Goliath,” said Emilio De Torre of the Milwaukee Turners at Turner Hall. “David was doing the right thing in the face of of violence and oppression, and Milwaukee’s doing the right thing too. If a person is proud of what they’re doing, if they know that what they’re doing is legal and justified, then they don’t need to be a coward and hide behind a mask.”
U.S. DOJ ultimatum
What we know:
The U.S. Department of Justice letter was signed by an assistant attorney and also Brad Schimel, who leads the U.S. attorney’s office in Eastern Wisconsin.
It says the mask ordinance is unconstitutional by breaking the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
“This Mask Ban endangers federal officers and undermines federal law enforcement operations,” the letter also states. “The consequences are severe. Protecting the personal identities of federal officers and their families is especially critical in part due to the increasingly common threats of targeted harassment, tracking, interference, and assaults on federal agents for simply doing their jobs.”
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Several Milwaukee groups held a vigil and protest against ICE on Wednesday, July 15 in Burnham Park. That included Milwaukee Turners, the Milwaukee teachers’ union and Voces de la Frontera. They are criticizing recent deaths.
Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Jason Calvi and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the U.S. Department of Justice, and Emilio De Torre, the Milwaukee Turners, along with Milwaukee’s ordinance on law enforcement masks.
The City of Chicago has awarded a $3 million Community Development Grant for the redevelopment of the former Grace’s Furniture building at 2618 N. Milwaukee. Planned by Bluestar Properties and Marc Realty, the building was built in 1914 as a storage warehouse and sits within the Logan Square Boulevards District.
2618 N. MilwaukeeGoogle Maps
With K2 Studio serving as the architect, the existing structure will be converted into a four-story health club with a ground floor restaurant and cafe. Set to be known as Logan Square Athletic Club, the health club will be operated by Chicago Athletic Clubs.
The redevelopment will rehabilitate the existing brick facade along N. Milwaukee Ave while creating a new brick facade on the south elevation.
2618 N. MilwaukeeK2 Studio
The $11 million development will be supported in part by the $3 million Community Development Grant, which is funded through the city’s Housing and Economic Development bond.
According to Block Club Chicago, the project is expected to begin construction in Fall 2026 with construction expected to last for one year, with the gym set to open in late 2027.
The Holton Street Bridge nearly ready to reopen after a rehab project
The Holton Street Bridge in Milwaukee is nearly ready to reopen after a rehabilitation project. A public reopening ceremony on will take place on July 16.
A teen was shot in Milwaukee on the afternoon of July 14, and the Milwaukee Police Department is asking the public for information about the incident.
Police said a 16-year-old was shot in the 2700 block of North 44th Street around 4:23 p.m., according to a news release. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
Milwaukee police are looking for unknown suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or submit a tip through the P3 Tips app.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
-
Illinois6 minutes agoData center fears mount after Illinois village residents prepare for the worst
-
Indiana12 minutes agoStatewide Silver Alert issued for two missing Indiana children
-
Iowa18 minutes agoWeight loss drug needles creating safety risk for eastern Iowa law enforcement
-
Kansas24 minutes ago
Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026
-
Kentucky29 minutes agoCyclosporiasis spreads across Kentucky
-
Louisiana36 minutes agoLouisiana pastor ordered to stay away from home of man he attacked
-
Maine42 minutes agoIn Maine, Bobby Charles vs. Hannah Pingree is the race that matters | Opinion
-
Maryland48 minutes agoMaryland confirms 5 new measles cases, bringing year’s total to 9 – WTOP News
