Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/124935
STREET CRED: President, Downtown Madison Inc. and biking advocate Setting the pace: As a lifelong Madisonian, biking is ingrained in Susan Schmitz as a valid way to get around. As a child, that meant hopping on a bike with friends. As a mother raising a family in the '70s and '80s, it meant encouraging her daughter to do the same. As an advocate and leader for Downtown Madison Inc. (DMI) for the last 14 years, it means supporting opportunities for others to find the same joy in biking. One of those opportunities was Madison B-cycle—a bike-rental program launched throughout downtown Madison two years ago by Trek. "For years, people in Madison talked about needing a downtown circulator, which usually meant some sort of bus," she recalls. When the B-cycle program became about biking to work. And she believes that biking is that the minute I hit that seat, life improving biking infrastructure will help is good." root that workforce here and keep Madison a thriving town full of young professionals. Favorite trail or path: "I love the Capital "It all starts with planning," City Trail and the access it proshe says simply. "When citvides our citizens," Schmitz ies are planned and built for explains. "I also think the people instead of just cars, [contra-flow] bike lane on The number of those are the healthy cities of bicycle trips per day University Avenue is great. the future." It feels so safe because of that on University Avenue bump between the cars and the during peak season bikes." Biking style: Whether it's for a commute to work or a joyride whizzing down an open road, Schmitz can be found Favorite pit stop: "There's a section along most days of the year cheerfully biking the Great River Road, just north of La somewhere—even when most of us would Crosse. The shoulders are wide and paved, rather hide indoors. and it twists and turns through a beautiful "One day this winter I was riding to work part of the state," she says. "There is a tiny in ice and snow a few inches thick, getting town along this road called Stockholm— bounced around and I felt like a kid!" she population 87. It's quaint and quiet and the laughs. "The best thing about any kind of perfect place to stop." 12,000 THE COMMUTER QUEEN SUSAN SCHMITZ an opportunity, DMI jumped on board by suggesting real estate for the various bike corral locations and promoting the project around town. "It's safe, easy and users can determine their own routes instead of being limited by a bus route," she says. Her love of transportation doesn't stop at two wheels. Schmitz is also the executive director of the Transportation and Parking Committee for DMI. She finds that it's a great place to advocate for innovative biking infrastructure in a city that is already at the forefront, as well as creating access for pedestrians and cars. After a 2010 trip to Amsterdam with a contingent of Madison city officials and local biking advocates, Schmitz's eyes were opened to the possibilities of creating an equal share for all modes of transportation. "It makes so much sense! We have stop lights and traffic management for cars; sidewalks and walk signs for pedestrians; why not have the same for bikes?" she says with a shrug and a smile. The chain reaction: While Schmitz can be found out on the open road, or bumping along on winter-studded tires, her passion is commuter biking. "All of us who support commuter biking believe if you build it, they will come," she says. "Meaning, if you build safe and accessible infrastructure, people will use it." Schmitz points out that Madison businesses are nurturing a growing population of young employees who are enthusiastic 40 BRAVA Magazine May 2013