Why not offer a property tax break to people who have a plow to plow their own block or street.

If the city doesn't start plowing the streets better can we start driving on the bike paths? What better exercise than trying to out run A car, its better motivation and costs less than A personal trainer!

Note to Mr. Presny...even though ""It's clear people who recreate in the summer continue that experience throughout the year and are looking for opportunities to exercise and stay fit,"
It's also clear that, people who have a difficult time making ends meet in the summer continue that experience throughout the year and are still looking for opportunities to make those same ends meet when their tax bills become due.
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Ya think ya can relate to that?

There is nothing wrong with tax dollars going towards this AFTER snow is plowed of the streets and the streets are salted. It's all about Priorities. Janesville has the worst streets. I was recently up that way and I couldn't believe how poorly the streets were maintained and it's not a Wisconsin thing because we went to many towns visiting for the holidays. It's a Janesville thing, if I were a taxpayer I'd be furious. I was just passing through and wasn't happy about it, but I have winter driving skills so I was ok.

Your tax dollars go for a lot of recreational opportunities in this town. Not just the plowed part of the trail. Not everyone uses it, but then not everyone uses other recreational things either.

It might take longer to plow this section because of all the cross streets and there are curves, etc. The trail by the river is a straight shot.

Let's see if I got this right. The city can't plow some of the side streets because they are running short of funds. However, they are able to clear some of the trails instead. Does something sound a bit off here?

And when you're on the trail, SLOW DOWN!

Also while I don't doubt people use the trail, they are in the minority and are on foot or bike. Less chance of fatal accidents. Plow and salt the streets properly first.

People to stop whining about snow and acting like its a natural disaster when they live in Wisconsin.

You are forgetting the people who use the trail to get to work or school every day, instead of the roads. The do plow the trail dead last...and for virtually no cost. What more do you want?

This is just stupid. The roads should be properly plowed before they even think of spending money on a recreational area. People need to drive to work, school, doctor, etc. No one needs to go on a trail.

I would like to see all of the trails maintained year round.

I think the thought of having clear trails for exercise in the winter is a bit much for people to expect from the city. However, the cost doesn't seem overwhelming and its elimination wouldn't do much in terms of eliminating budgetary concerns.

I've lived in Janesville for almost 30 years yet there's still a lot of streets I've never used. I don't want to pay for their plowing or maintenance either. I think I'll ask if I can pay less taxes next December.

I realize that plowing the bike trail takes less time than plowing my street, and I realize that it can be done at a cheaper rate. But as a taxpayer, I kind of feel like I have the right to as clean a street as any other taxpayer, and I don't see why some people should get clean streets and access to a swept off bike trail when my wife can't get off out of our driveway to get to work. I really think that if the city were to pool the little bit of money they use for plowing the bike trail, maybe cut back on a few other things, they might be able to service everyone in the city - not just folks who whine or those who live on arterial streets. For those of us who don't use the bike trail in winter and don't get our streets plowed, it seems like we're getting the shaft. Can I pay less for taxes next December?

Here is food for thought. We could implement a trail pass to cover the cost BUT, we would have to enforce the pass which would mean an added salary of a park/trail officer. This would add a job at the expense of taxes. IMHO there could be enough users to over run the cost and it very well could be sustainable, if not profitable. We should all know by history how proficient Janesville law enforcement is with there funds.LOL. Lets hear the whining and crying begin now because the idea of using something isn't free.

A trail pass would be impossible to enforce (at least within the revenue raised). The whole point of the trail is making it as open to all residents as possible.

$500 does the job? This is one of the better bargains out there. Cutting it saves almost nothing - so doing so out of spite is the only real reason to argue for a cut.

How nice!? People ask for their streets to be plowed & the city turns a deaf ear but if some people want the trails to be cleared the city can't do it fast enough.

Walking or running through snow will give you much more exercise than walking or running on a plowed path. I'm not sure about bicycling. I would recommend knee-deep snow. :-)

I request plowing my street on a regular basis when it snows! (hey it worked for the trail!)

It may be time for a little paradigm shift. The city has miles of snow filled trails in the winter, and thinks the solution is plowing. How about grooming them for cross-country skiing? It’s a low cost option, requires no capital investment, and could start bringing in tourist dollars from our friends to the south. Try it for a couple years, do a little advertising, and see if we start bringing people and dollars in to visit. Sounds like an opportunity waiting to happen.

I would suggest that the City consider a Trail pass fee for the Trails within the city. The people who use the Trails would then be the people paying for the maintenace of the same trails. Pay for the use. Do not make non users pay.