It’s still summertime! Away we go on a ride around bicycling in Madison …
Lumping all e-bikes together?
Discerning e-bikes from e-motos may feel easiest based on the speed at which they zip by on a bike path, but that doesn’t help a big chunk of the public and policy-makers tackle the nuance of the growing range of (relatively) small and electric vehicles moving people around on and off infrastructure designed for cars and bikes and pedestrians — but not so much movers that fall between categories.
WMTV managed to dig in and produce a clear and interesting story on the subject — the trouble with telling them apart and regulating their safe use, among other issues — including Madison-area transportation planner Ben Lyman and Madison Bikes board member Harald Kliems.
It’s worth watching and reading and, especially, sharing with people who express interest in and/or frustration with new electric rides.
Downtown traffic safety meeting
Will Ochowicz, who represents District 2 on Madison’s Common Council, will host a discussion of traffic safety in downtown Madison from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 25, in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
“Everyone who lives, works, or cares about downtown is invited to join,” says the invite. “Whether you’re a local commuter, a cyclist, or simply curious about traffic updates, your voice matters! Join us, ask questions, and help shape the future of traffic safety in our city.”
City transportation and planning staff will be present to hear from the public on pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety issues as they begin work on the Downtown Area Plan.
Attendees are asked to register in advance.
Know your routes
A few quick updates on changes to well used bikeways …
• Beginning today, untility work and construction of a shared-use path connecting the Cannonball Path at Fish Hatchery Road to the Wingra Creek Path will close lanes on Fish Hatchery Road between Wingra Drive and Catalpa Road.
• West Lakeside Street — part of the bike detour around John Nolen Drive construction — now frames a nice painted crossing where a section of its off-street path transitions to Gilson Street with a new four-way stop.
• Always rolling camera, Harald also posted a video bike-through before-and-after comparison of the Lakeshore Path’s new bicycle bypass of the Hasler Laboratory of Limnology, 680 N. Park St.
Save the date for a big ride
Ride for You Life Madison‘s 2026 event is on the calendar for Oct. 4.
The ride began in remembrance of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a diplomat with Wisconsin roots who was killed by a driver in 2022 in Bethesda, Maryland, and has continued to honor anyone lost to traffic violence.
Madison’s event will be held in memory of Sasha Rosen, a 17-year-old killed in February while crossing South Park Street.
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!
