MILWAUKEE – Construction season will be here before you know it, and this year in the City of Milwaukee, that construction will include dozens of projects aimed at both combating reckless driving and growing a network of protected bike lanes on city streets.
Gathered at the soon-to-be Harley Park at 38th and Highland, where an already-existing stretch of PBLs will be extended west from 35th to 20th Streets, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson reiterated his goal to have a protected bike lane network of 50 miles in the city by 2026. “Milwaukee’s roads WILL be safer” Johnson said Tuesday. “Is it ambitious? Absolutely it is, but it is a cause worthy of all of our endeavors.”
A map showing the various traffic calming projects planned for the City of Milwaukee in 2024. The light blue numbers indicate projects funded by the American Rescue Plan, gold numbers indicate federal and/or state aid projects, and dark blue circles indicate city-funded projects.
While the implementation of PBLs is presented as a method to combat reckless driving, Mayor Johnson says he also hopes they serve the purpose of making the city a more attractive place to live for young professionals.
“They’ll fall in love with the city and its amenities first, before they decide to take a job or settle down or what-not” Johnson told WTMJ’s Vince Vitrano during an event held by Walker Media Agency Monday, referring to young workers. “That’s why I talk about this protected bike lane network. It’s certainly got an application in terms of reckless driving, but that’s a bonafide amenity that’s become very, very popular in cities across the United States.”
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READ MORE: Milwaukee continues to build its protected bike lane network
As you might have seen from my X thread on the unveiling yesterday, I was curious to know what the cost comparison is for the post-concrete island combination being utilized across the city versus a complete concrete separator method. City Engineer Kevin Muhs explained to me the individual posts cost between 80 to 100 dollars each, while the islands are around 6,000 dollars apiece. Muhs did not have a cost estimate for how much a concrete-separated bike lane would cost per city block, but in Denver the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2022 estimated the cost of one mile of one-way protected bike lanes to be around 300,000 dollars.
Of the projects on tap for 2024, there are 18 intended to improve access for students riding their bikes to school as part of the Safe Routes to School partnership between the Wisconsin Bike Federation and Milwaukee Public Schools. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the programs encourage children in grades K-8 to walk and bike to school by creating safer walking and biking routes.
SRTS Program Manager with the bike fed Michael Anderson tells me that warmer winters like the one we’re seeing this year encourage people to take two wheels during a window in time when biking is usually not feasible for most. “Any year, there are days in January and February where anyone can come out and ride, and even with our current infrastructure people have been riding year-round in Milwaukee” Anderson tells WTMJ. “We’re going to have more and more of these warm days, but that makes Milwaukee a more year-round climate where walking and biking to school isn’t so much of an obstacle.”
A handful of other PBL variations have been utilized across the city, perhaps most notably on North Avenue, where concrete planters have been installed by the East Side Business Improvement District. However, these planters have faced scrutiny from both cyclists and residents for the debris left behind when they are struck by cars. A post on the East Side Neighborhood Facebook page showed one stretch of North Avenue where a planter had been destroyed:
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A push for pedestrian safety on Milwaukee’s East Side
As for whether or not the planters will be removed, Muhs acknowledged that while they are being damaged “at a relatively high rate, planters are better than people”. Other options may be considered for the stretch of road in partnership with the B.I.D.
Some PBL projects have already been completed; the most recent on Walnut Street between 12th and 20th Streets opened late last year, and includes bike lanes separated from the main road by a grass terrace.
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LISTEN: Decision Wisconsin – Changing the status quo in 2024 with Sherwin Hughes
MILWAUKEE — This Fourth of July marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which created the United States of America.
In honor of that milestone, the Milwaukee County Historical Society is launching a new exhibit, “We the People: Milwaukee Stories of Immigration, Citizenship, and Community,” on June 12.
What You Need To Know
The exhibit showcases the real people who came from all over the world for a better life. The people, who over time, helped shape our country into what it is today
The experience comes with audio recordings from people who immigrated to Milwaukee, and their children
A big part of Milwaukee’s history is the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the Midwest in the mid-20th century. That is documented in We the People
Overall, the team at the Milwaukee Historical Society hopes the new exhibit reminds people of our similarities and shared home, as our nation turns 250
“This is the perfect opportunity to maybe tell a story that isn’t always told,” said Ben Barbera, executive director and president of the Milwaukee County Historical Society. “We can’t necessarily talk about the founding fathers. There weren’t many Revolutionary War battles here. But we can tell a story that is essential to the country.”
That story showcases the real people who came from all over the world for a better life — people who, over time, helped shape the country into what it is today.
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The story starts with those who were here first.
“The Indigenous populations of Wisconsin, because without them being pushed out and forced out, we wouldn’t have immigration come to this space,” said Olivia Hoff, community programs manager for the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
The exhibit features photos and artifacts dating back centuries.
“This is a sewing kit that was made from clothing that was worn by people who came here from England,” said Janean VanBeckum, curator of the exhibit. “They were Puritans being persecuted. They came in, settled on the East Coast, and then their family moved here.”
Families from Germany, Poland, Italy and Ireland followed. Decades later, there was a surge of immigrants from Latin America, Asia and parts of Africa.
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“When you start the exhibit, you get an identification card of an immigrant,” said VanBeckum. “It’s based on real immigrants, but not any particular person, and you can go around and choose your own adventure to kind of see what happens to your immigrant’s life as they move through the process of coming here and either becoming a citizen or not becoming a citizen.”
The experience includes audio recordings from people who immigrated to Milwaukee and their children.
“This is the humanistic story,” said Hoff. “It really generates empathy too because you are hearing it from the people themselves.”
The exhibit also highlights people who came to the Milwaukee area from within the United States. A major part of Milwaukee’s history is the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the Midwest in the mid-20th century. That history is documented in “We the People.”
Overall, the team at the Milwaukee County Historical Society hopes the new exhibit reminds people of their similarities and shared home as the nation turns 250.
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“People can realize that everyone has a similar scope of their life and that we all may be struggling to fight some of the same battles, and that by working together, creating a civic discourse, we can be less divided.”
Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
By Bernard Rahming, Forward Scholars
Forward Scholars is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit providing one-on-one reading tutoring to K–3rd grade students who are not yet reading on grade level. With the support of more than 300 volunteers and a community of generous donors and partners, we empower students to build the skills and confidence to succeed.
Sips for Scholars is our summer fundraiser and celebration of student growth. Join us for an evening of connection, inspiration, and community as we celebrate the impact of literacy and invest in brighter futures for our students.
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Date: June 30, 2026 Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Broken Bat Brewing (135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53204 ) Tickets: $50 Per Person (Advance tickets close June 23)
Get your tickets!
Everyone is welcome. We’d love for you to join us!
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MILWAUKEE — With their most effective starter on the mound and the wind at their sails from a 19-run, 25-hit outburst at Coors Field, the Giants jumped out to an early lead.
And, poof, like most of San Francisco’s hopes this season, it was gone.
About as soon as Matt Chapman’s two-run homer cleared the wall and the outstretched glove of Jackson Chourio in the top of the second, Landen Roupp began to give the lead right back.
The Brewers pounced on Roupp for seven runs in the bottom half of the inning and only added on from there while running away with the first game of their series, 16-2.
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Matt Chapman’s two-run blast in the first inning was the lone Giants bright spot in an absolute drubbing by the Brewers Monday night Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock
It was such a drubbing that it ended with a position player called up before the game, Buddy Kennedy, lobbing pitches while Daniel Susac, a catcher with no prior experience besides two minor-league games at first base, played third.
Roupp struck out Jake Bauers to bring a merciful end to the second inning, nine batters after the Brewers left fielder started with a leadoff walk. Sal Frelick and Chourio both jumped on first-pitch fastballs for explosive extra-base hits, Chapman wasn’t able to field a bunt from speedy No. 9 hitter David Hamilton, and Roupp issued another walk to Christian Yelich.
The biggest hit of the inning came off the bat of Bryce Turang and gave newly called up Jonah Cox his first opportunity to show off his defense that has been called the best in the organization. Cox gave chase but instead went crashing into the wall in left-center field as the ball careened away and Turang cruised into third for a bases-clearing triple.
Turang jogged home on a sacrifice fly from the next batter for the Brewers’ seventh run.
The Brewers added another run off Roupp the next inning and eight more against the Giants’ bullpen (plus Kennedy). But for all intents and purposes, they were already buried.
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Jackson Chourio and the Brewers offense erupted for 16 runs on 18 hits Monday night. AP Photo/Aaron Gash
What it means
Whatever good feelings the Giants brought with them on the plane after their rout to end their series against the Rockies were gone by end of the second inning.
It has been hard enough for the Giants to pull ahead; staying in front has been just as much of a challenge.
The Giants have held a lead in only 48 of their 60 games, the fewest in the majors, and are one of only five teams to relinquish the advantage more often than not, falling to 23-25.
The culprit of late had been the bullpen, but in this one, there was nobody to blame but Roupp, who struggled to find the strike zone and was hit hard when he did.
Roupp exhausted 96 pitches to complete four innings, only half for strikes, and recorded season-highs in bases on balls (four) and earned runs (eight).
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The outing raised his ERA almost a full run, to 4.22 from a rotation-leading 3.30.
Landen Roupp now sports a 4.22 ERA after giving up eight runs in 4.0 innings Monday night. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Who’s hot
Jung Hoo Lee recorded the most hits by a Giant in a single series since 2017 by going 11-for-15 over their three games in Colorado and picked up right where he left off.
Lee’s second-inning single extended his hitting streak to nine games and set the table for Chapman’s two-run shot that gave the Giants the briefest of 2-0 leads.
Bryce Eldridge, getting a rare start in the field, made a nice play to start a 3-6 double play, going to the ground to snag a hard hopper from Frelick, tagging first and getting back to his feet to make an accurate throw to Willy Adames at second base.
Eldridge also laced a double — his sixth in four games on the road trip — that left the bat at 107.7 mph, the Giants’ hardest-hit ball of the game.
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Giants catcher Eric Haase could do nothing but look on after the Giants lost 16-2 Monday night. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Who’s not
After posting a 5.21 ERA in May that ranked as the fourth-worst in the majors, the Giants’ starting rotation didn’t start the month of June on any better note.
As a staff, San Francisco has surrendered at least six runs in six of its past seven games and all four to begin the road trip, albeit with the caveat that the first three were played at Coors Field.
Up next
Salt in the wound: As the Giants try to get back on track, they will be opposed by their former top prospect, Kyle Harrison, who has blossomed into an NL Cy Young contender since being dealt to the Red Sox for Rafael Devers and again this offseason to Milwaukee.
The Giants will have another homegrown arm, Trevor McDonald, on the mound.
