This week in Madison Bikes news: where the candidates for Governor stand on bike issues, a call for volunteers along the SW Path, plenty of group rides to join, and some news on street design from John Nolen Drive to Regent Street.
Gubernatorial Candidates on Active Transportation
2026 is an important year, with an ongoing race for Governor. You might be wondering where the candidates stand on active transportation issues like bike infrastructure, trail funding, and e-mobility. The Wisconsin Bike Fed sent all candidates from both parties a policy questionnaire and compiled the responses into a two-part summary.
The good news: candidates who responded (Barnes, Crowley, Hong, Rodriguez, and Roys) largely agree on restoring Wisconsin’s Complete Streets law, allowing eminent domain for bike/ped paths, and fully funding the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Where they differ is more nuanced: traffic safety cameras, how to regulate e-motos, and how to plug the long-term funding gap at the DNR.
Read the full breakdown here: Distinguishing Among Candidates in the Busy Race for Governor
The primary election is August 11, 2026 — mark your calendar.
Invasive Plant Cleanup Crew
Invasive species reduce biodiversity by outcompeting native species and taking over ecosystems. This causes a ripple effect that harms ecosystems and makes them less resilient, and can be damaging to services humans rely on like soil fertility and fresh water. You can help, however, in preserving native plans and removing invasive ones here in our city along a core bike facility:
Are you interested in preserving native plants along the SW Path? Would you like to help remove non-native plants like garlic mustard and dames rocket along the SW Path? If yes, please join the SW Path Invasive Plant Removal Team google group.
The group is for people interested in removing invasive non-native plants and maintaining native plants along the SW Path in Madison, WI, from the Beltline to Midvale Boulevard and in the Odana Woods along the SW Path connector. People can post information about work parties, techniques for removing troublesome invasive species, native species to plant, plant identification, webinars, seminars, City of Madison Programs, and any other information about maintaining native plants along the SW Path.
For questions or to join the group, send an email to Mark Shahan at mnshahan@gmail.com.
Group Rides
Summer is in full swing, meaning there are plenty of group rides to join. Cycling fans will be aware that the Tour de France started on Saturday with an exciting team time trial, and those who feel inspired to get out and ride might consider joining one of the following:
Mondays at 6pm, join Cap City Cyclists on their weekly social ride. Wednesdays, join the Capital Brewery E- Bike Club Group Ride (5:30 pm) or the Motorless Motion Taco Ride (6 pm). Or join Machinery Row for their weekly Friday Lunch Bunch E-bike ride (11 am), or their Sunday Century Training Club ride (8am).
Build for the Future We Want
As construction on the John Nolen Drive causeway progresses, the next phase just to the South is already on our minds, and we want to make sure it’s designed safely and appropriately. Board member Craig Weinhold shared this piece of information:
Remember how in late 2024, the City did a lane reduction test on John Nolen Drive between Olin and the causeway? The hypothesis was that there there was little value in having three lanes between Olin Ave and the two-lane causeway. Well, the City’s results were great and proved the hypothesis, but… the City is being told they must stick to three lanes anyway because WisDOT doesn’t like “expected future conditions in 2050.” You hear this can follow this amazing exchange at 1:35:20 into the June 17 Transportation Commission meeting.
A two-lane John Nolen Drive north of Olin Avenue has many benefits: space for a west side path, Wingra Creek underpass improvements, more buffer around the railroad tracks, and less aggressive behavior as drivers enter/leave the causeway. As T.C. and Madison Bikes member Harald Kliems reacted, “We should build the types of streets for the future that we want” and that if we build a bigger street to handle increased volume, then “that’s what we’re going to get.“
Building for a future that’s less dependent on cars is exactly what we need to do, but we’re still facing the reality that cars and parking are being prioritized over vulnerable road users. Last month, Common Council unanimously approved a redesign of Regent Street that excludes dedicated bicycle facilities despite the clear priorities established in the Complete Green Streets policy. Complete Green Streets, a framework for street design that was adopted by the city in 2023, identifies safe accommodations for people biking and walking/rolling as a higher priority than on-street parking, yet the approved design abandons that guidance without a transparent or well-defined variance process. Among several other variances, the proposed design has 14′ traffic lanes (which are wider than an interstate highway!) and keeps lanes for parking on both sides of the street.
The Common Council had several alternative plans available, and despite vocal and widespread opposition to the adopted plan, unanimously voted for it and against the city’s own design policy. The adopted plan will lead to higher traffic speeds, allow for more dangerous driving behavior, and create a more hostile environment for people who are trying to access the businesses and amenities on Regent Street. The City should be strengthening protections for people who walk and bike, not retreating from them.
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.
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