After months of planning and anticipation, Madison Bike Week is finally here! We are so excited to celebrate all things biking with a record-breaking 90+ events including coffee stops, group rides, discounts, parties, educational sessions, demonstrations, and more!
Bike Week is not only a time for getting out and having fun on your bike; it’s also a time for coming together as a community. When your only option is driving, you are more closed off from the world, which I believe is a major contributor to the growing feeling of distance from one another in society. On the other hand, biking allows you the freedom to see and experience the world around you. On the bike, it’s easy to stop and talk to a friend, wave to your neighbors, or pop into a store on a whim, all while getting around in a human-powered, eco-friendly way.
This Bike Week, we hope you have tons of fun, enjoy the events, and most importantly, find time to connect with one another.
Bike Week Features
While all of the Bike Week events can be found on the agenda, here are a few highlights you won’t want to miss:
- Monday, June 1: Join the Ride with the Mayor following a press conference at the Madison Municipal Building.
- Tuesday, June 2: Talk growth, housing, and transportation with city staff at Path to the Future.
- Wednesday, June 3: This is the busiest day of Madison Bike Week, with over 15 events: Pick from one of several morning and afternoon bike stations, or come dance at Beets x Beats on the Bike Path!
- Thursday, June 4: Visit one of 5+ commuter stations, then help us Fetch the Keg for Friday’s party from Paoli.
- Friday, June 5: Don’t miss the Madison Bikes Party at Brittingham Park, featuring food, music, and community vibes.
- Saturday, June 6: Learn about current and future projects on the East Side Madison Bike Infrastructure Tour.
- Sunday, June 7: Wrap up the week with the Pride Ride Madison, an Open Shop @ Freewheel Bikes, and the Brews Cruise.
Other Things to Know
On Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm, there will be a public information meeting about the John Nolen Drive construction project.
Broom Street is set to reopen this week, while North Shore Dr will close. Note that the Cap City Trail and North Shore Dr paths will remain open to cyclists during this phase, so there is no anticipated interruption to bike/pedestrian traffic until later in July when the Cap City Trail on the causeway closes.
You can find out more about the project and register for the meeting here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/projects/john-nolen-drive.
If you are curious about how the route along John Nolen will be affected in the upcoming closure, the City is hosting two Detour Rides today (that’s Monday, June 1st) starting at the Brittingham Park Tennis Courts by Broom St. The rides start at 4:30 and 5:30pm.
Join staff from the City of Madison and the Greater Madison MPO to explore the low-stress bicycle detour around Monona Bay. The five mile out-and-back ride will use paths and bicycle boulevards to show how bicycling to and from downtown will still be doable during the path closure.
Seeking Volunteers for Party
We’re still seeking volunteers to help us with the end of week party on Friday, June 5th at Brittingham Park. Shifts are in 1-hour increments from 3-9pm, so any time you can help would be appreciated! If you are interested, please let us know on the Google form.
That’s all for this update. See you out there for Bike Week!
As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.
Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!
