Regent Street: Recap and next steps
Quick disclosure first: I am on the Transportation Commission and the Board of Public Works. The following is a very abbreviated summary of the whole process so far.
Regent Street was back at the Transportation Commission last week. Here are the slides and the video recording of the meeting. To recount what happened so far: In April, the commission had narrowly approved the proposed geometry for the street. That geometry
- did not include any bike facilities on Regent but some improvements on crossing and parallel streets
- had a bunch of car parking/loading on both sides of Regent
- one travel lane in each direction for the stretch between Randall and Brooks (down from one lane + rush hour/parking lane)
- very wide travel lanes because that’s what the fire department/EMS want
- greatly expanded sidewalks and space for sidewalk cafes and some trees
- an additional lane and wider road footprint between Brooks and Park (at the UW Health 20 S Park Clinic)
The project next went to the Board of Public Works for approval. After much public comment in opposition and a staff presentation that made a case for why the project as proposed was indeed in accordance with the Complete Green Streets policy, the board overall concurred with the staff proposal and the transportation commission’s vote. Except for the additional lane between Brooks and Park. Because of the different votes at the board and the commission, the Common Council sent the project back to the Transportation Commission.
At the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, again there was a lot of public comment requesting the inclusion of bike facilities on Regent, limiting parking/loading to only side of the street, as well as business and employer representatives speaking in favor of the previously approved design. The discussion of the commission was mostly focused on the one block between Brooks and Park. The commission eventually approved one of the options that includes an additional lane in that block. Additionally, the commission approved the addition of a buffered bike lane on Mills that goes all the way to the intersection with Regent:
What’s next: Now the project will go back to the board of public works, on Wednesday, May 20, 4:30 pm. You can register for that meeting here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register After that, the Common Council will have the project on the agenda and weigh all aspects of it. At the transportation commission, several alders were in attendance and asked questions about how the project aligned with adopted city policies.
Madison Bike Week 2026
On to more fun matters: The countdown to Madison Bike Week 2026 is ticking. Less than two weeks until it starts! If you haven’t already checked out the event website (big shoutout to super volunteer and newsletter contributor Ben Sandee who developed the new site from scratch!), now is a good time! You can filter events, create a personal agenda, upload images, get notifications of cancelled events, and more.
The current event count is 67, and I’m sure it’ll still go up more before Bike Week starts. It’s not too late to organize your own event and get it on the calendar! https://www.madisonbikes.org/events/bikeweek-event-registration/
If you’re on our volunteer list, you already received an email with some Bike Week volunteer opportunities. If you’re not on the list and would like to help out, shoot us an email at volunteer@madisonbikes.org.
Safe Routes to Schools meeting and feedback form
The city, the Wisconsin Bike Fed, and the Madison Metropolitan School District are working on a Safe Routes to School Plan. The plan “presents a vision for increasing walking, biking, and taking the bus to school.” A draft is now available and you (and your kids!) can provide input. You can do that either online or at virtual meeting on May 21, 6-7 pm. Links to sign up to the meeting and the online comment form are all on the website for the plan: https://www.cityofmadison.com/traffic-engineering/biking-walking/programs-and-projects/safe-routes-to-school/safe-routes-to
Tancho Drive Path: We’re gonna celebrate, in June
Construction on the Tancho Drive Path on the far Northeast Side, at the border with Sun Prairie is progressing. The path was supposed to be open by May 19, but it may take a little longer. Save the date for our community celebration in June!
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, sponsored by Madison Bikes, Oakwood Village-Prairie Ridge, and Sun Prairie Moves, will be held on Friday, June 26 on the path adjacent to the Oakwood-Prairie Ridge main building, 5565 Tancho Drive. There will be drinks, snacks, and some brief remarks by individuals from the City of Madison, Sun Prairie, and Prairie Ridge. We are currently interviewing some Prairie Ridge residents to get their thoughts on the importance of the new path to them. Information from those interviews and more information on the ribbon cutting will follow in a future Madison Bikes update.
UW–Madison Campus Construction
The semester is over, which means a lot of road and path construction projects on campus have kicked off. Not everything is always going to plan or communicated ahead of time and we have received various reports of unexpected closures and detours. If you’re on Facebook, our Madison Bikes Community Group has been a good venue to stay up to date. UW Transportation Services has an overview and updates available here: https://transportation.wisc.edu/2026/04/22/summer-2026-construction-forecast/
Downtown Plan meeting
Tonight (Monday May 18) from 6:30 to 7:30pm, you can join a virtual open house for the Envision Downtown Madison Plan. Materials, more details, and a registration link are available on this website:
Ride the Drive volunteers sought
Ride the Drive is happening in August this year, and the search for volunteers has begun:
Ride the Drive is returning to Madison on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Since its start in 2009, this event has grown into a community celebration of health, the environment, and connection, made possible by volunteers like you.
Click Here to:
We invite you to join us and be part of another incredible day. This year, we are excited to welcome over 200 volunteers to help bring the event to life. Whether guiding at intersections, staffing booths, or helping with setup and cleanup, your role helps create a welcoming and vibrant experience across the city.
And yes, there is a little bonus this year.
Two shirts one ride.
Volunteers will receive the new 2026 Ride the Drive T shirt (no color chosen yet) and, you will also receive a 2025 shirt (hot pink, very sharp).
Why Volunteer?
• Enjoy flexible shifts. Most positions are just 2 hours, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the event
• Celebrate community. Connect with neighbors and help create a healthier and more vibrant Madison• Volunteer training available July 22nd 6pm to 7pm. Zoom link will be provided.
Thank you for being part of what makes Ride the Drive so special. Your time and energy truly make this event possible.
Visit ridethedrive.com for additional information about the event including maps, vendor information, and more.
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!
