To Ozaukee Press:

Since 2002, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail has been featured as a countywide attraction for residents and tourists. It is widely promoted in county and city advertising as a bike path.

Unfortunately, it has become dangerous to ride a bike on the trail. The trail is littered with hazards such as weedy overgrown jarring cracks across the trail, cracks along the length of the trail that will turn your bike wheels into pretzels, and my favorite camouflaged potholes. These craters are waiting to propel unsuspecting riders off their bikes.

These hazards make it an uncomfortable and dangerous trail to ride. I know many cyclists who now avoid riding the trail due to its harshness and danger.

I emailed the Ozaukee County Parks and Planning Department requesting the allocation of funds for the maintenance of the intercity trail and who is responsible for it.

I did not get any answer.

The Ozaukee County website says they are “seeking repaving funding.” Does that mean they built the trail and didn’t plan for maintenance? Don’t we pay taxes for the maintenance of our county’s facilities?

Ozaukee County is one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest, counties in Wisconsin. Yet we can’t afford to pay for the upkeep of one of the crown jewels as promoted in county and city advertising?

For my part, I would be in favor of a county tax for the maintenance of the Ozaukee

Intercity trail, provided it is clearly intended for that purpose and cannot be used for any other project.

Isn’t it time to make the trail safe to ride again?

Karl Wildner

Port Washington