Look, we all love Madison. But there are certain things about the city and its residents that fall into the category of “toxic traits.” It could be something major like the housing crisis. It could be something little like the tile floors at Woodmans. But these things just get under our skin. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, the gang shares some of Madison’s most toxic traits. Honestly, it was pretty cathartic.
We also put out the call to readers about their favorite toxic traits. And boy, you delivered. Here’s a sample of what bugs us all about Madison:
🗯️ Christy S. said it bugs her and her partner how Madison drivers don’t properly yield to emergency vehicles. “We see people trying to split the road, going into the left turn lane. Y’all, we need to go to the right. You see an emergency vehicle, we go to the right.”
😡 John H. wanted to call out Madison, and Wisconsin in general, for its toxic relationship with alcohol. “The rates of alcoholism and binge drinking here are enormously high and represent a genuine public health crisis.”
😠 Barbara W. wonders why more doors don’t have automatic door buttons. “I’ve now been forced to use a walker and I’m realizing how many places in Madison do not have the automatic door button. [...] I’m really feeling in concert with all those other unusually abled people who don’t have two hands, or need someone to open the door for them. That’s my gripe for today.”
🗯️ Katie D. said Madison’s toxic trait is that it doesn’t take advantage of its lakes. “There is very little public access to the lakes and very few restaurants with lake views. Put this in contrast to Chicago where just about the entire lake shore is a public park.” Katie also bemoaned the lack of public art in Madison and why there isn’t a train station that connects Madison to Milwaukee, Chicago, and the Twin Cities.
😡 Danny G. says Madison’s pedestrians need to step up! “Madison pedestrians refuse to assert their right-of-way, and it gives Madison drivers a sense of entitlement to usurp pedestrians' right-of-way. Even with a lot of traffic, they'll just wait it out, sometimes for a while, instead of using their own right to cross. I honed my pedestrian attitudes on the East Coast, and it's very puzzling to me.”
😠 Nancy K. is fed up with all the construction downtown! “I, and probably thousands of others, would appreciate the reason for the extensive construction in downtown and surrounding areas of Madison. Did I miss planning discussions and agreements from the City Council? I'm also puzzled by the lack of resources for the new tenants. Where do they shop, go to the dentist? Plenty of places to eat out.”
