I hope you are enjoying the roller coaster of weather that is Spring in Wisconsin, where we ride in a T-shirt one day, and need ski mittens the next. There are quite a few things going on this week, so we’ll dive right into it.
Botanizing by Bicycle
On Tuesday, March 31st at 6pm, Join Wild Ones-Madison at Harmony Bar & Grill as Jeff Steele shares his experiences botanizing on two wheels along southern Wisconsin’s incredible trail network. Jeff will discuss his favorite natural areas, how to get there via bicycle, what plants and animals one may expect to find, and bicycle camping options along the way.
Those that attend this presentation will learn how to utilize available online resources to develop their own unique route. Jeff will also share sample itineraries for those that would like ideas for their next botany bicycle adventure.
Active Transportation Plan Feedback
If you have not already reviewed Greater Madison MPO’s draft for the Active Transportation Plan, there’s still time. The public comment period has been extended through April 13th, 2026. The plan contains tons of transportation-related data and is intended to inform decision-makers about what those of us who walk, bike, or roll need to travel safely. The draft plan aims to answer how we can better design streets, sidewalks, paths, and intersections. Feedback on the draft plan can be provided to mpo@cityofmadison.com through the April 13 deadline.
The Active Transportation Plan also features an interactive map where users have added points of interest highlighting problem areas or areas with good design that they’d like to see elsewhere. It’s worth a look if you have not seen it.
Open Shop @ Freewheel
If you are interested in learning more about bike repair: Sunday, April 5th from 12-4pm, Freewheel bike shop is hosting an Open Shop. Happening every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, this is your opportunity to learn more about caring for your bike, replacing parts, and fixing common issues.
Participants are welcome to bring their own bike or work on repairing donated bikes. Experienced instructors will be to guide you through the process of all levels of fixes and maintenance. All skill levels are welcome. No mechanic experience needed. Everyone’s a learner, everyone’s a teacher.
Monthly Bike Advocacy Meetup
Reminder that the first Sunday of the month from 5-6:30pm is the Monthly Bike Advocacy Meetup hosted by Machinery Row Bicycles. The meeting serves as a dedicated place to work together on advocacy efforts and build connections in the cycling community. If you are interested in learning more or joining, you can check out the website!
Cool Bikes North Community Event
If you’re a Northsider who bikes, you know our bicycle infrastructure lags behind other parts of Madison. What changes do we want to see, and how do we make them happen?
The North side is dear to my heart as the first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to Madison. Sadly, for North side residents, it can be downright uncomfortable to make trips via bike that should be simple and easy. The North side has a bunch of restaurants, shopping, parks, and other great destinations that its residents and other Madisonians would love to ride to, but the lack of safe bike routes can be prohibitive for some.
The goal of this event is to have an open discussion on how biking could be improved. The public is invited to a free panel discussion and Q&A forum on Tuesday, April 21, from 6–8 pm, at Cool Bikes North. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be live streamed and you can write to info@coolbikesnorth.com to request a link.
Bike Week Event Signup is Live!
We’re already looking ahead to the first week of June (May 30 – June 7) because it’s Madison Bike Week! Tons of events, group rides, free snacks, classes, parties, and more await you during a whole week of bike-related celebration. Awesome events like these exist because businesses, groups, and community members like you volunteer their time and efforts to putting on wonderful events that celebrate our unique biking culture. Anyone can register and put on an event!
If you have an idea for a Bike Week event, please fill out our event registration form! It only takes a few minutes and we have a great list of potential locations that are pre-approved for Bike Week events. Madison Bike Week is only possible because of our amazing community members who are willing to make it happen, so if you are hosting an event this year: THANK YOU!
Did you know we also award small grants? If you want to host an event but lack the funds to do so, this may be a perfect option for you. Almost anything bike related could qualify, so get brainstorming and we’ll see you during 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!
