Bicycle Film Festival is coming back to Madison at Barrymore Theatre with a curated screening of short films that celebrate the bicycle on October 1st, 2026.
BFF Madison presents international short film programs that appeal to film connoisseurs, avid cyclists, and everyone in between. Curated documentaries, narratives, animations, award-winning directors, and emerging talents all share equal billing.
It’s Bicycle Film Festival’s 26th year celebrating bicycles through art, film, and music. Over the past 26 years, the BFF has spanned the world to an audience of one million people in over 100 cities worldwide.
In 2001, Brendt Barbur founded the Bicycle Film Festival after being hit by a bus while cycling in New York City. What began as a personal journey became a global celebration of cycling through stories featuring leading voices in art, film, music, and advocacy. 26 years later, the BFF has reached over one million people in more than 100 cities from Paris, Tokyo, Mexico City to Cape Town, Istanbul, and beyond. Hosted in iconic venues like the Sydney Opera House and the Barbican in London, BFF shines a light on cycling culture. We are enthusiastic to bring it back to Madison this year.
Buy your tickets now before prices increase on September 7th!
This week we have a memorial ride, some opportunities for street safety and public involvement in trail connection projects, a commuter station, and an upcoming transportation challenge.
Memorial Ride
Team Wisconsin Cycling is hosting a memorial ride honoring the memory of Haylan Engdahl, who raced with and was part of the Wisconsin cycling community. The ride will start in Root Common Park in Wauwatosa on August 26th, at 6pm.
Last week, a heartbreaking crash killed Haylan and his Milligan University teammate Brayden Rogers, and injured other members of their cycling team, when a driver struck them from behind on Highway 19E in Carter County, Tennessee, while they were on a training ride.
Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with Haylan and Brayden’s families, their teammates, and everyone who loved them. He was one of us. Someone who got on a bike, rode the routes we ride, and trusted, as we all do, that a training ride would end the way it started. That trust shouldn’t be too much to ask. Until our roads are safe enough to guarantee it, we’ll keep showing up, keep riding, and keep pushing for the change that’s long overdue.
Have Your Say on Traffic Safety
There are two chances this week to weigh in on making Madison’s streets safer:
Shape Downtown Streets: Traffic Safety Meeting with D2 Alder Will Ochowicz Join Alder Will Ochowicz of District 2 for an in-person discussion about traffic safety in the downtown area. City transportation and planning staff will be on hand to hear from the public as they begin work on the Downtown Area Plan. Tuesday, August 25, 6:00–8:00 PM — Room 215, Madison Municipal Building
WisDOT Safer Together Community Event WisDOT and transportation partners — including Madison Metro, AAA, Operation Lifesaver, and the Wisconsin Bike Federation — host an afternoon of safety demonstrations and education for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders alike. Expect a State Patrol K-9 meet-and-greet, automated vehicle and drone inspection demos, a Madison Metro ride-along, and kids’ activities. Wednesday, August 26, 4:00–6:00 PM — Rennebohm Park (Rescheduled from an earlier date — accessible via Metro bus; limited street parking.)
Bike Paths to Nowhere
Right now, both of these multi-use trail segments simply dead-end. One stops short at a field south of UW Digestive Health, and the other ends near Lionello Court along CTH MM. These projects would finally extend them, turning isolated stretches of path into real, useful connections. There are opportunities this week to weigh in on the designs of both.
Proposed shared-use path extending the existing University Crossing Bike Path | City of Madison
Old Middleton Road Underpass of WSOR Railroad The City of Madison is proposing a shared-use path extending the existing University Crossing Bike Path toward Old Middleton Road and Craig Ave, including a new underpass beneath the WSOR Railroad. Design is underway this summer, with construction targeted for summer–fall 2027. Wednesday, August 26th, 6:00 PM — Virtual (Zoom) Registration required
County Highway MM Pedestrian/Bicycle Underpass The City of Fitchburg is planning a new underpass beneath CTH MM, extending the existing trail segment along the east side of the highway near Lionello Court. The project includes a new precast concrete box culvert, roadway reconstruction, and a new trail on the west side of MM, with construction targeted for summer 2027. It’s not clear whether this would extend the trail all the way to the Cap City Trail crossing near McCoy Rd, but we can all learn more on Thursday: Thursday, August 27th, 5:30–6:30 PM — Fitchburg Fire Station #3, 2950 S. Syene Road, Fitchburg
Ice Cream Commute
We’re sad to have missed Ride the Drive this year, but Summer isn’t over yet and we want to host a little something to show appreciation for commuters (and all cyclists)! To add to a very jam-packed Wednesday agenda, Madison Bikes will be hosting a Summer commuter station on Wednesday, August 26th, at 4:30pm. We will be hanging out at Bernie’s Beach off of S Shore Dr (along the John Nolen Drive detour), giving away free ice cream while supplies last. If you need one, or just you got a new helmet, we’ll also have free Bike Benefits stickers that get you tons of awesome discounts at local businesses. Stop by on your commute or just go out for a lake loop, and we’ll see you there.
RoundTrip Smart Trips Challenge: September 1-30
RoundTrip Greater Madison’s fourth annual Smart Trips Challenge, September 1-30, celebrates sustainable, affordable, and healthy transportation choices. Replace as many drive-alone trips as you can with carpooling, bicycling, riding the bus, and walking or rolling for chances to win weekly and grand prize drawings.
The Smart Trips Challenge is free and open to everyone ages 18+ in Dane County. To participate, register with RoundTrip and log your eligible trips all month for chances to win. There will be 20+ prize drawings and the first 50 to log a trip receive $10 to Ian’s Pizza.
Prize sponsors include One Social District, Machinery Row Bicycles, Friends Applaud Tavern & Cafe, Monk’s Bar & Grill, Giant Jones Brewing, Marigold Kitchen, Madison Bikes, and Metro Transit. The Smart Trips Challenge is hosted by RoundTrip, a public program of the Greater Madison MPO that supports alternatives to driving alone in Dane County.
Join Madison Bikes in welcoming Christof Spieler to Madison! Now that Christof has had a few months to get to know Madison, and experience the changing of a few seasons, we’d like to invite you to spend some time getting to know our new Director of Transportation. Christof will be making a short presentation and then we will have an opportunity to ask questions and have a short community discussion. Afterwards, those who are interested are invited to head to the Great Dane Pub downtown for an informal social hour to talk about transportation, bikes, or anything else!
February 13th is International Winter Bike to Work Day! Let’s celebrate!
7-9am: Stop by on your commute or just go for a ride to start your day with coffee (courtesy of Cafe Domestique), donuts, and good vibes! Look for the Madison Bikes tent just off the Cap City Trail near Machinery Row.
4-6 pm: Happy hour at Working Draft (1129 E Wilson St.). Come grab a drink and hang out! Don’t forget your bicycle benefits sticker for 10% off.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for making events like this possible: UW Health, MG&E Foundation, Cricket Design Works, RoundTrip Program / Greater Madison MPO, Griessmeyer Law, Slow Roll Cycles, Sokol Advanced EyeCare, Working Draft Beer Company, Summit Credit Union, Saris Equipment, LLC and ZenBusiness
