Person, B-Cycle bike, path, Bike Week sign (h/t Harald Kliems and Cyclists of Madison)
It’s hard to believe we’re running up against Memorial Day 2025, and then Madison Bike Week follows immediately afterwards. We’ve already scheduled almost 60 (yes, six-zero) events at over 40 (yes, four-zero) locations, with more coming in every day. There’s no hard cutoff on event submission, however if you’d like to be blessed/hyped on the socials, you’d be wise to get yours in by this Friday, May 23.
In particular, let’s highlight that on Friday, June 6 @ Brittingham Park, we’re hosting our end-of-week party with all sorts of FREE fun, food, and drinks. This event requires a lot of people-power so if you’re up for taking a volunteer slot, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!
This Week
On Monday at 7pm, join Bike Fitchburg for their monthly meeting a the Fitchburg Senior Center. Shout out to Bike Fitchburg for hosting a bunch of exciting Bike Week events too!
On Tuesday from 9-10am, Global Health Institute at the UW is hosting a free webinar facilitating “the discussion on healthy cities & climate change.” There are some big names on the panel, including Carlos Moreno, the author of “The 15-Minute City.”
On Wednesday from 5:30-7pm, the City of Madison is hosting a “casual” walk & talk through the Hiestand Neighborhood to discuss the Southeast Area Plan. It starts at the Hiestand Park Picnic Shelter and the rain date is May 29, which could be an important detail, given the forecast.
On Wednesday at 5:30pm, join the first in the full-summer series of e-bike group rides from the Capital Brewery Bike Club, leaving from, you guessed it, Capital Brewery in Middleton. There are actually a bunch of different rides for bike riders of every level on different days so check their site out if you like. The brewery is also hosting some fun Bike Week stuff and donating beer for the end of week party. Shout out!
With the end of the UW semester, the downtown/campus area is going to be much quieter. This past weekend was a bit crazy, with both graduation and Mother’s Day filling the city with people from out of town and lots of happy families.
We are definitely getting into peak biking season, and the paths have been pretty crowded. Please be courteous on our lovely shared use paths and be patient with those going at a slower pace. There are lots of less-experienced bicyclists, walkers and other non-wheeled people. We also get lots of out-of-towners, who may be moving more slowly or in less predictable ways. Let’s make them feel welcome, safe, and happy. More people on bikes is good for everyone.
If you are in a hurry or want to go at top speed, the paths through the Isthmus or campus, along Lake Monona, or SW from Camp Randall may not be the best place to ride. Streets allow faster speeds, and you’re less likely to scare a family walking or a visitor checking out the scenery.
Madison Bike Week events calendar is live!
The calendar of events for Bike Week, June 1-8, is live! A reminder that you can already submit any events your organization, business, club, or neighborhood may have planned. Just fill out the submission form on the Madison Bike Week page.
2025 Madison-area construction map
Spring also brings road construction, and that can mean bad biking or detours. Madison does a pretty good job with keeping routes open, but not all parts of the county are as diligent.
Madison Bikes board member Craig Weinhold has created a Google community map with ongoing construction projects, detours, and closed path segments throughout the greater Madison area, but we need your help with keep it up to date. The map covers more than the city of Madison, so if you are out on a ride and notice a closed road, unannounced construction, or even trees down or chip sealing, please add it to the map.
Craig says, “So far I’ve added construction announcements from State, Dane County, Madison, UW, DeForest, Windsor, Verona, Monona, Waunakee, Marshall, and Stoughton. If others can help canvas other areas, that’d be great. Look for a road construction page. The towns are the least organized; they often have no announcement of their chip-seal plans.”
Madison Area MPO wants your opinion on walking and biking
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has a survey out about how you feel walking and biking. It covers the whole MPO area, which includes most of the suburbs of Dane County. Please take a moment to weigh in, especially if you live/work/visit area outside of Madison. There is also an interactive map to highlight areas of concern or needing improvements. The results of the survey will be shared with surrounding communities.
New alder talks bicycling
New Alder Davy Mayer shared a blog post this past week titled, “I Love Bikes and Especially Bike Infrastructure,” including how he helped solve a bicycle-parking problem for a bar in his district by getting a couple of racks installed by the city.
Volunteer opportunity for Run Madison
Run Madtown is an endurance event coming up on May 24th (5K) and May 25th (10K & half-marathon) in Madison. It is also a fundraiser for various non-profits in the city. They are looking for bike marshals to take the lead on the course on Saturday, May 24th, 6:45-8:30 pm, and Sunday, May 25th, 6:30-11:00 am. If you are interested in volunteering, let them know that Madison Bikes sent you when you fill out the volunteer form.
The week ahead
It’s a pretty quiet week for meetings. The Transportation Commission is meeting, but there really is nothing to note on the agenda. (As a member of that committee, I’m happy for small miracles after a couple of long ones.)
Tuesday and Thursday
There will be two in-person meetings about the North-South BRT line plans. These two meetings focus on South Park St and Fitchburg, but you can provide input on the entire route, if you missed previous meetings. Since the BRT will affect bicycle facilities in the area — both positively and negatively — bicyclists may want to weigh in on these plans.
Tuesday, May 13, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, Madison Labor Temple, 1602 Park St. Rm 201B Thursday, May 15, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, Fitchburg City Hall, 5520 Lacy Rd, Council Chambers
Wednesday
Madison Queer Bike Ride meets for its monthly ride in Law Park near Machinery Row at 6:00 pm. All bodies are welcome, and the ride will be at a party pace. Follow them on Instagram for more details.
Friday
Friday, May 16 is National Bike to Work Day. Here in Wisconsin, we don’t follow the national calendar for a couple of reasons – it’s often still chilly in Wisconsin in May, so we prefer to celebrate bicycling in early June, and we want a whole week to celebrate all types of bicycling – but there are a couple of events this Friday to celebrate the national day.
Coffee and donuts at 8-10 am at Machinery Row commuter station
Machinery Row, Madison Bikes, and the City of Madison are hosting this event on the Capital City bike path at the corner of John Nolen Dr. and Williamson St. Stop over on your morning bike commute for a quick bite!
Ride with the Fitchburg Mayor
Celebrate Bike to Work Day with the City of Fitchburg with a bike ride to work with the Mayor! The event will start with assembly at 7:00 a.m. at the McKee Farms Park BCycle station (near the main shelter), and will include a 1-mile ride to City Hall at 7:15 a.m. and brief remarks, including award presentations to Fitchburg’s newest Bicycle Friendly Businesses, at City Hall about 7:30 a.m.
Sunday
Freewheel volunteer/board meeting will happen at 11:00am – 12:00pm at Neighborhood House Community Center, 29 S Mills St. Join in person or on Zoom to get involved with Freewheel planning. New volunteers warmly welcomed!
Then at noon, join Freewheel for Open Shop @ Neighborhood House. Bring your bike or work on donated bikes at Freewheel’s Open Shop. Experienced instructors are here to help. All skill levels welcome from beginner to pro. Everyone’s a learner, everyone’s a teacher.
Metro buses with Madison Bike Week ads are out and about!
Let’s start with Madison Bike Week: We’re less than one month out. You may have seen a Bike Week ad on a Metro bus, or maybe you spotted one of our posters at a local business.
Event submission have been rolling in at a steady pace, and if I’m counting right, we’re at 21 events already. What are they? Well, you need to be a little patient still. We’ll reveal the initial schedule next Monday! In the meantime: Consider whether you want to organize an event yourself, or talk a friend, your employer, club, or anyone else into it. It’s free, it’s fun, and it builds community. Check our our FAQ or go straight to the registration form. Oh, and remember that we also offer small grants to Madison Bike Week event organizers!
Bikes for Kids sale
Our friends at Bikes for Kids Wisconsin are holding their Everything Bikes Annual Sale at their location on Coyier Lane on Saturday:
It’s the largest used bike sale in the city! Head to Bikes for Kids Wisconsin on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 between 10am and 2pm to view hundreds of bikes at the lowest prices around.
We’ll have something for everyone! Accessories include bike trailers, tagalongs, car racks, bike trainers, a wide array of parts, bags, mirrors, clothes, baskets, and more. We’ll also have vintage bikes, high-end road bikes, e-bikes new and used, folding bikes, and tandems for sale. Prices will be marked and some items will be make an offer. Cash and Card Sales supported.
All purchases support our mission of making bicycle transportation accessible for all!
Climate grant for Vel Phillips Memorial High School Bike Club
The City of Madison announced its latest Youth Action Climate Fund awards recently. Among the 17 funded project is a $5000 grant for the Memorial High School Bike Club.
The grant […] will help to fund essential tools, bike racks and storage equipment, while also supporting an upcoming field trip to Trek Bicycle’s global headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. […]
“This grant really helps us make biking more accessible for students,” said Grace Riedle-Joranlien, Memorial art teacher and Bike Club advisor. “We want to create a culture where students feel empowered to ride to school and take care of their own bikes—where a flat tire or a broken chain isn’t a barrier.”
The club’s origin story is rooted in community partnerships and a strong student interest in biking. The Wisconsin Bike Fed, a nonprofit focused on increasing bike ridership across the state, approached the school last spring to gauge interest in launching a student-led club focused on bike mechanics, commuting and sustainability. Thanks in large part to the organization’s support, the club now meets weekly during lunch, offering students the chance to repair and refurbish unused bikes for school and community use.
Congrats to the students! Read the full news release here.
Construction starting on North Shore Drive Path
First signs of construction starting
This week marks the launch of construction of the first segment of a new multi-use path along the south north side of North Shore Drive. This will create a new connection from the SW Commuter Path to S Bedford St. And in a future phase, to done together with the John Nolen Drive reconstruction, the path will connect all the way to John Nolen Drive and to Bassett Street.
On the east side, two other bicycle improvement projects will start construction as well. See all the details here.
