After a two and a half year campaign and three vetos by the County Executive, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors includes a Bike Racks on Buses program in County Budget in a vote of 16-3. As a result, Milwaukee County Transit System expects to have bike racks on buses this spring.

By including the Bike Racks on Buses program in this budget cycle, Milwaukee County Transit System was able to leverage Transit Enhancement dollars made available by the Federal Transit Administration. The Federal Transit Administration, which administers the Transit Enhancement program, typically reimburses projects requiring a 20% local match, yet in an effort to update all bus fleets nation-wide, they have lowered the local match to 5% for all Bike Rack on Bus programs! Thus, by including the Bike Rack on Bus program in the budget, MCTS is able to implement the program this spring for only 5% of the total cost, $32,500.

Throughout the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin's campaign, the program has received overwhelming support. Implementing a Bike Racks on Buses program was the number one suggestion given to SEWRPC in December 2006 during a public input meeting; over 1600 signatures from residents were gathered on petitions; many letters of support including support from Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Ann Beier the City of Milwaukee's Director of Sustainability, and Robert Harris Regional Director of the State of WI Department of Health and Family Services were received. The program has garnered much support because of the many benefits it will produce. In another letter of support Barry Barker, Executive Director of the Transit Authority of River City states, "Putting bike racks on our buses has proven to be one of the most cost effective, and easy to implement, strategies we have ever used to increase ridership, improve our image and serve our community."

Bicycle Federation of WI Program Manager, Shea Schachameyer commented, "When I helped the BFW launch the campaign two and half years ago I was routinely met with people who on one hand wished me luck, but at the same time told me that it was never going to happen in Milwaukee. While it was definitely challenging, it was exciting to work on a campaign that had so many cards stacked against it. I view the campaign's success as yet another example of the power of grassroots organizing; it was because of the broad base of support which the campaign attracted and the BFW's ability to mobilize those supporters on a dime's notice which has led the program to be implemented this spring."

In the next few months, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will work with MCTS in implementing the program, specifically by helping to develop a marketing and outreach plan.