Where do I sign

In my older years I can't stand riding my bike on that crappy stone trail, but shame on me for turning soft. I could care less either way.

Another thought, take a few thousand dollars of that money to put up barbed wire and snipers around the Townline Rd. train bridge so we can finally take it back from the graffiti rats.

Pave it! Pave it!

Will someone ever get around to shutting off the tax payer spigot?

I'm a cyclist. I vote "pave it."

My back and "other parts" can't take it anymore. I can't ride on the public roads in the Falls either. Same problem!

There's a paved bike path between Cedarburg and Port Washington (further, even) that my wife and I frequent. It's awesome! The coffee/sandwich shops get our money along the way...

I am on the bugline often and have stopped everyone I meet to tell them about plans of the bugline being paved. I have spoken with approximately 250 people and have found 15 people that want it paved. Most people were surprised that there was even thought of paving. I have meet people that live near a paved trail and come to the bugline for it's surface and beauty. We have all heard the reasons and they are so important-Softer surface to help joints. I am an older runner and can still run because of the bugline. Younger runners need it also. Talk with Track and cross country coaches in the area. They love the bugline-gives them a break from road and sidewalks. There are many paved trails that road bikes can ride. I have heard about the concern of their safety. I am concerned about the safety of the people that are not on bikes if the bugline gets paved. I have been on paved trails where the bikes speed by. I am not against biking. I ride a hybrid bike on the bugline and it is beautiful. The cost is also a big concern. I have heard someone say"how can we pass this money Up?" My answer is easy- because people do not want it paved.
If you want to voice your concern call the Waukesha County Parks 262-548-7801 A consultant firm was hired and you can get on a list to attend their meetings. Also call your county board members. 2 voted against the paving. Thank You Ted Rolfs and Robert Hutton. Some members that voted for the paving have not even been on the bugline.

It's a tough one to debate as I see both sides. I love the Bugline and ride it often. The soft surface will always need maintenance, just as asphalt will. The soft surface actually gives me a better work out as it is tougher to move the bikes wheels. However when its wet, it is a total slop-fest and the tires sink badly. Ultimately, if its paved, it will attract roller bladers who never hear you coming and take up a big swath of the path in their gait. Fiscally, it makes no sense. And hey, horse back riders, could you please pick up your poop? I say leave it as-is.

I can see both sides as well. Although, having it paved will make it more available in wet weather. I would like to see the Town of Lisbon put in bike lanes on their roads! We recently moved to Lisbon and I can't ride anymore let alone walk in my community! Hillside, Plainview, Good Hope . . . all are very dangerous for walkers or cyclists, yet they you see them anyway. Will it take a few people getting hit first?

On second thought, as a gift to the area, I'll pave it with my bricks of gold.

It's about accessibilty. I would love to be able to ride my bike somewhere I don't have to worry about getting hit. If anyone has used the Interurban Trail or any of the oakleaf Trails, you'll see it doesn't take away from any of the natural beauty. I have lost more then a few tire on the unmaintained crushed gravel. The winter is beautiful but with the freeze and thaw constanly the Bugline is mush. Not much fun riding or running in the stuff. It's a great idea. Pave it.

Shady lane and Menomonee need to be redone, badly.

If you want to waste taxpayer money borrowed from China that will cost 15x more by the time compounded interest takes effect, start there.

As I said before, my preference is to have it paved.

But, I would willingly concede to the greater opinion, if they'd rather it not be paved.

I'd be fine either way.

We personally like the stone. It is a popular trail. But at $2.4 mil of taxpayer dollars, is it money well spent. The upkeep costs can be higher because it is paved vs gravel.

Where does the DNR figure in here? They compel Developers to establish storm water detention mechanisms for impervious surface. The county is about to create somewhere between 675,000 and 850,000 square feet of new impervious surface. Where does Mr. Grimm plan to install those detention ponds? How many extra millions will that cost? If Ms Griffin wants to stop the paving, perhaps she could put a "Bug" in the DNR's ear!!!

The trail is wonderful as it is, natural, a forgiving surface for runners, a surface for one's mountain bike tires to grip into, as a runner who has run hundreds of miles of my long runs on these trails I say please let them be.

Wow. Nice natural trail or smooth inviting path... tough one. Not sure what the difference would be for upkeep between the two, but to save $1.5M is a good reason to leave it as is. Seems like our elected officials have only ideas on how to spend more of our money. Leave it as it is.

When this issue first came to the attention of the public last fall, I wrote a carefully written letter to the county board stating my opposition to paving and reasoning for it. I received no reply or acknowledgement. It seems they have a plan and are not at all interested in what the public thinks, since clearly the majority are opposed to the project.

Maybe we should initiate another recall. We need more recalls in this state…

Thank you to all of you who are "Friends of the Bugline"! I have been getting lots of messages of support and offers from snowmobile clubs and running clubs and others who want to do whatever is needed to get our message to the "public servants" that we, the people, who vote and pay you to represent our best interests, DO NOT WANT THE BUGLINE PAVED!!!!!

We ride the bugline regularly on our hybrid bikes 10-20 miles at a time from spring to fall and would love to see it paved and used more. The pot holes and washouts are dangerous and discouages many from using it. Both my husband and I have wiped out from unexpected piles of gravel after a heavy rainfall or pot holes in spite of being careful. It passes through Menomonee Park which is very accessible by the trail. There are not any "off road areas" to ride safely in the area and not everyone has bike carriers or finances to go elsewhere. Future plans to expand the path to connect to other trails will make the area even more attractive to other bicyclists, roller bladers and others. The local businesses will definitely benefit along the way when it is paved. If cost is an issue I will gladly take up the challenge to raise funds for the upkeep and further expansion of the bugline. I would much rather support our local trail and businesses than the ones in Cedarburg or Waukesha, which prove that paved trails are attractive and used by many.

At this point in time the petition is available to sign at: Hall's Saddlery on Hwy 164 in Sussex. I hope to have it available at more area businesses soon. I also am hoping to have "Friends of the Bugline" taking signatures at the 4-H Washington Co. Tack Sale held at the washington Co. Fairgrounds on Sun., March 18th, but this is not confirmed yet, so stay tuned! I am getting an overwhelming response of support to my efforts since the story on The Patch and my campaign was even mentioned on the Fox 6 news tonight! Lots of people are coming on board. I am encouraged by the response of our community! Joan Griffin

MC: Besides signing the petition, you could contact the Waukesha Co. Supervisors, or just Co. Exec., Dan Vrakas at: countyexec@waukeshacounty.gov and let them know why you do not want this project to go forward. I am trying to get the word out to as many people as I am able. There are so many citizens who are unaware of this project and once I enlighten them, they are apalled at the idea of having the Bugline paved. We need to GET THE WORD OUT!!! Joan G.

Don't you think that there is a better way to spend a 2.4 million dollars? the trails were intended for nature trails. It's ridiculous and stupid to spend that kind of money, monies that can be used to improve other things within the community such as roads, schools, even helping those who are in need like food banks.for those of you who want it paved, have you seen what happens to trails after they have been paved? erosion and uneven pavement that is just as dangerous as an unpaved natural trail, save the money and swap the bikes for ones that can handle the terrain. I say keep the bug line the way it is! Save the money and put it towards more important things.

I am opposed to the paving of the bugline. As a life long resident of Menomonee Falls I have enjoyed the bugline in its natural state for hiking, biking, horse back riding, and snowmobiling. paving it would restrict many of the uses in which it was designed for. It is not a suitable surface to ride horses or snowmobile. Who's idea was this in the 1st place? Looks like more useless government spending to me. I agree with a previous post. Fix some of the roads that are in dire need with that money if there is such an urgency to spend tax payer money. More people travel the roads everyday than use the bugline.

People have ssaid they want to bike faster on a paved trail. People have said they want to allow kid bikes, strollers and handicapped to have better access.

Will there be a posted speed limit of 15 miles per hour? Or is there an elephant in here that nobody is talking about?

Being out on the bugline in this weather (95 degrees), I really appriciate the gravel... it does not radiate heat like asphalt. Gravel is also softer, easier on runners and most bikes do just fine. (I've even seen some road bikes...)

Some people have bikes that wouldn't do well on the trail, some people have wheelchairs that wouldn't do well on the trail... some people have bikes, wheelchairs or running shoes that do just fine! If it's something you're interested in, you need to get the right equipment, disabled or not.

Don't pave it! There are plenty of paved trails around. The bugline is one of few that remains packed gravel. It's beautiful, cool and has a natural feel to it. The gravel goes back to when the bugline was a railroad servicing the quarries... so though it's not 'natural', it is part of our history.

And yes... by paving it we would lose a lot of wooded area.