Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. As we wrap up the year, we want to take some time to reflect, be thankful, and look ahead to what’s coming in the new year. We hope you’re still finding time to ride your bike, whether it be your daily commute, running errands, or even getting some indoor trainer miles in. Winter biking itself is a form of quiet advocacy– it shows that bike infrastructure isn’t seasonal. Bike routes that are clear of snow show respect for people who ride year-round. On the other hand, Winter biking sheds light on areas that could still be improved. Slow residential streets are essential to a well-connected bike network, however they can be some of the most difficult to navigate after it snows.

Some “Thank-You”s

I wanted to kick off this newsletter with some gratitude. We are very thankful for city staff who clear the snow off our bike paths, often times even before the streets are plowed. Madison bike commuters rely on safe and clear paths to connect us from home to work, school, shopping, and more, and we couldn’t have that without them!

We are also grateful for volunteers and bike advocates for letting those in charge know we want to improve bicycling access in Madison. If you showed up to a public meeting, volunteered with us, or wrote to your representative this year, thank you!

Another shout out goes to careful drivers. Those who give plenty of space, slow down for cyclists especially in tough conditions, and check your mirrors before opening doors, we thank you for your consideration and responsibility.

Finally, we want to thank all winter riders for proving that bike transportation isn’t limited to warmer months, and showing that we deserve clear and safe bike infrastructure all year long.

Winter Riding Tips

Last month we hosted the Winter Bike Fashion Show and we asked attendees to share their favorite piece of winter biking gear. Check out the YouTube short to see what people said:

Winter biking doesn’t have to be extreme to be enjoyable. A few small adjustments can make a big difference:

1. Take it slow. Slower speeds are just part of winter biking. Snow, ice, and slush mean giving yourself extra time and riding at a pace that gets you where you need to go safely.
2. Lights matter more than ever. Winter days are short, meaning lights are essential for anyone commuting by bike. Keep your lights steady at night and point them downward out of the eyes of other bikers.
3. The right clothes make all the difference. Layers are key. A merino wool base layer under your jacket or jersey will keep you warm and it won’t absorb odors as much as synthetic materials do. Prioritize keeping your hands and feet warm! Mittens are great on very cold days because they allow your fingers to share warmth.

Winter riders show that biking is transportation, not just a fair-weather activity. Every winter ride counts, so bundle up and get out there.

Looking Ahead

We’re using the winter months to plan, listen, and prepare for another year of pushing for safer, more accessible streets for everyone. While we do that, we wanted to give you a preview of what’s to come in 2026.

In January, we’re hosting a meet-and-greet with the city’s new Transportation Director, Christof Spieler. February brings Winter Bike Day, where we’ll be hosting a morning commuter station and an afternoon happy hour. We’ll also be hosting our annual bike wash event later in the Spring. Looking further ahead to the best week of the year: Madison Bike Week is planned for May 31st to June 7th! In the Fall, we’ll have the 3rd annual Bicycle Film Festival, followed by the Winter Bike Fashion Show towards the end of the year.

You’ll find the dates and details for these events on our calendar, and the later ones will be added as we get closer to them. The list above is not exhaustive, of course, and we encourage you to check back often and keep an eye on our Newsletter to get the latest information as events, meetings, rides, and more are added.

That’s all for this newsletter. Happy Holidays from Madison Bikes! We hope you have a joyful and peaceful week with family and friends.

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!

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. It’s getting dark earlier, meaning it’s extra-important to bring lights on your commute so you can see, and more importantly be seen. Wisconsin state law requires nighttime bicycle riders to have a front light and a rear reflector at a minimum, though adding rear light (solid or flashing) is even better.

Did you know that flashing bike lights are not allowed in some European countries– France, Germany, and the Netherlands included? The argument against them is that they might distract other road users, but in the case of the daytime running lights we use in the US, that’s kind of the point. Personally, I feel safer with a bright, intermittently flashing front and rear light during the day, though I generally don’t have them on when riding on a bike path and I always change them to steady when it gets dark. There’s nothing worse than riding on the path at night with an oncoming cyclist with a bright flashing front light pointed right at you. OK, maybe lifted pickup trucks with aftermarket LED bulbs are actually the worst, but you get the point.

This week we have some event, advocacy, and cycling news to share.

Winder Bike Fashion Show

After a several-year hiatus, Madison Bikes’ Winter Bike Fashion Show is back on November 16th from 1:30 – 4:30pm at the Goodman Center, Ironworks building.

Join us for an afternoon of cold-weather fashion as 12 models strut their winter stuff down the runway. Models will participate in a Q&A about how they continue biking through the coldest months, so come ready with any questions you might have! The event will also feature:

• A humorous reverse strip demonstrating how to gear up for rides from 60˚ F down to -10˚ F.
• An opportunity to practice putting your bike on a Madison Bus bike rack.
• Help kids enjoy safe winter biking or walks to school by bringing winter clothing donations.
• Get your picture taken in your winter biking gear or tell us your best winter biking tips for a short video.
• Mark your commute route on a large map to share with others.

We still have room for more volunteers, so if you’re interested in helping out with setup/teardown or managing one of our event tables, please fill out the form to let us know!

Join the discussion and let us know if you can make it on the FB event here.

A Successful Week Without Driving

Thanks again for joining the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) for the Week Without Driving Community Discussion in Madison last month! It was such a meaningful conversation — we really appreciated you joining us and being so engaged in the discussion. The event recording is now available on YouTube and posted on the 2025 Week Without Driving webpage if you’d like to revisit or share it.

Feel free to reach out if you have any ideas or feedback. Thanks again for being part of the conversation!

Madison Cyclist Recovering after Hit-and-Run

On Oct. 1, a driver made an illegal turn near Camp Randall, hit longtime rider Allen Clauss, and fled. Allen spent weeks in the hospital recovering from multiple broken bones — and still says he can’t wait to ride again. His resilience is inspiring, but no one should have to endure this. We need stronger enforcement, safer street design, and a culture that holds drivers accountable for endangering lives.

Read more from WKOW here.

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading, have a great week, and be safe.

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!

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter! It’s still a fresh, new school year, with kids of all ages pedaling to and from school and other activities. Please be welcoming, patient, and helpful to the newcomers.

Paint the town safe

Madison will get its first safety-focused asphalt mural in September, and you can join the crew sprucing up West Dayton Avenue between North Frances and North Bedford streets with a design called “Rainbow over Zebra Mountain” by bernie & zuzu of Madison. Pavement mural painters from Chalk Riot and local artists will be on hand from Sept. 15 to 19 to guide volunteers in prepping and painting the street surface.

Pavement murals have been shown to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and pedestrian-automobile conflicts. And they look cool! Learn more about the project and sign up to volunteer here.

Say your piece about Regent Street

Madison’s planed Regent Street reconstruction is the subject of a public information meeting at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 15, via Zoom (registration required). According to a Madison Bikes community bike audit event, lots of you are headed down or across Regent Street on a regular basis. Help guide the project by taking a city survey about how you use the street and what you’d like to see it become.

In semi-related news, last week, the Transportation Commission unanimously voted to test removing rush hour lanes from Willy Street. The test results could change the City’s perspective on what’s possible with arteries like Willy St, Monroe St, and Regent St — streets with 15,000 daily cars, rush hour lanes, dense business districts, large residential populations, poor pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, and no bike facilities.

Track your travel … and win

Smart Trips Challenge 2025 is on, encouraging the Madison area to find opportunities to go car-free or -light. Take on some friendly competition while logging trips you make around town by bike, bus, foot or carpool during the month of September and qualify to win some pretty good prizes.

Spotlight on Stoughton Road

From 2017 to 2021, the 4-mile stretch of Stoughton Road between the Beltline and Highway 30, racked up crashes at four times the rate of comparable Wisconsin roads — 1,200 of them, with injuries in nearly 350 of them. The Capital Times recently covered differences between local and state priorities. Residents, including Ald. Sean O’Brien, hope to see more pedestrian- and bike-friendly access. (Read close to catch O’Brien citing his experience on a Madison Bike Week infrastructure tour led by Madison Bikes board member Craig Weinhold!)

Bike Benefits event Sunday at Starkweather Brewing

The second Bike Benefits Spotlight Event of the year will highlight the Starkweather Brewing Company on Sunday, Sept. 14. 

The plan is to do a ride on your own or with friends, then sit down for a conversation with Madison Bikes. Starkweather Brewing Company, 2439 Atwood Ave., is located a few blocks from the Monona Lake Loop, the Capital City Trail and the Starkweather Creek Path, so there are lots of great routes nearby.

At 3 p.m., join the discussion with Madison Bikes board members at the brewery.  The conversation will focus on changes that could improve bicycling in Madison, how those changes can happen, and how you can have an impact.  We will also describe some upcoming events and resources available through Madison Bikes.

Starkweather Brewing will provide $1-off coupons for those participating in the discussion.

The facebook link is here.

Join us!

Upcoming events

Madison’s Transportation Commission meets online at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Midvale Boulevard resurfacing — an opportunity for bike infrastructure upgrades? — is on the agenda, though specific meeting materials won’t be available until later today.

The next public meeting on the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project — with a construction schedule and impact discussion and opportunities to ask questions of city, state and contractor representatives — will be held online at 6:30 p.m. on Sept 22.

The 25th anniversary Bicycle Film Festival is coming to Madison on Oct. 2nd at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave. It’s a night of curated short films depicting cyclists in South Africa, London, China — and Wisconsin, where a group of young riders take on the three-day La Crosse Omnium. Enjoy valet bike parking! More info and tickets here.

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!

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. September is peak bike month as people return to work and 8,000 incoming freshmen drop into our city, many of them with bicycles. Please extra careful, patient, and helpful to the newcomers.

Regent Street (Randall to Park St) reconstruction

The City has just launched its Regent Street reconstruction, with a Public Information Meeting scheduled for Sept 15 and a survey open until Sept 22. Please take the survey! Last year, Madison Bikes community held a bike audit event that was a real eye-opener about just how many bikers use and cross Regent St and frequent the businesses there despite how the street has no bike facilities. It also revealed just how congested and claustrophobic the pedestrian facilities are. Six months ago, business owners announced a pedestrian- and gameday-centric vision for the street. This section of Regent Street is ripe for major improvement!

In semi-related news, last week, the Transportation Commission unanimously voted to test removing rush hour lanes from Willy Street. The test results could change the City’s perspective on what’s possible with arteries like Willy St, Monroe St, and Regent St — streets with 15,000 daily cars, rush hour lanes, dense business districts, large residential populations, poor pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, and no bike facilities.

Lakeshore path – Limnology Bypass

UW is improving the Lakeshore Path where it passes the Limnology Bldg, just west of the Memorial Union. Work begins Sept 2 and lasts until November-ish. During the construction, bikes will detour to the north side, sharing the pedestrian path. Please go slow and be courteous. That path sees 7,500 people a day, making it by far Madison’s busiest path.

Seems simple, right? Take a peek at the years of work behind this!

Big Tent Advocacy

A recent facebook thread asked people to encourage the UW to follow-up on last year’s study of options for paving and lighting Lakeshore Path. The response was animated, and a bit negative, with many saying they wanted no improvements because they liked the gravel path just the way it is. It was a good reminder that bicycle advocacy is a very big tent, and 100 bicyclists likely have 100 different opinions about how to make bicycling better.

We see that also with Midvale Blvd’s resurfacing (survey open until Sept 2). Where some bike advocates see a chance at long-overdue Midvale bike lanes, others are content to write off Midvale and focus on improving other routes.

<soapbox> Differences of opinion are healthy and part of what makes our big tent of bicycling great. But I encourage everyone to always be thinking beyond their own bicycling needs and comfort. Think about people who bike out of necessity, not choice. Think of people who don’t know the back roads and might use google maps for navigation. Think about ways to grow bike ridership. Think about helping people choose biking over driving. Think about routes, lifestyles, seasons, and tolerances other than your own.</soapbox>

The Virtue of Patience

A few weeks ago, we reported that the newly-opened Wilson St cycletrack took seven years to come to fruition. Seven years is how long it took to land on the moon. It’s also how long it took Caeser to conquer Gaul, for Hoover Dam to be built, and for the Beatles to play music together. My first reaction was “Wow, that’s FAST!”

It’s painful how slow and piecemeal bike infrastructure comes together, how strong the headwinds are, how haters point out “it doesn’t connect anywhere!“, and how fickle and easily derailed these projects can be. The Glacial Drumlin connector and North Mendota trails are two high-profile examples of turtle-paced projects. The West Beltline path is another.

Stretching from Whitney Way to High Point Rd, the West Beltline path has been planned since 1997 and has been built in segments over the last 25 years. Its penultimate segment — a short 1000′ link from Zor Shrine Rd to High Point Rd — was just finished and you can now pick it up behind REI. The final segment is planned for 2028. When done, it’ll have taken over 30 years to complete. I think about that and wonder what other projects take nearly half a lifetime to finish? Can anyone imagine any 3-mile road taking 30 years?

This is both a rant and a meditation on what it is to be a bicycle and trail advocate. I look forward to the West Beltline Path ribbon cutting … just three short years from now!

Rapid Fire

September RoundTrip Smart Trips Challenge! Win prizes just by logging your trips (bike, walk, bus, and even carpooling) and playing Bike Bingo

Sunday September 7 from 5 – 6:30pm is the next Bike Advocacy Meetup at Machinery Row Bicycles. (if you’re not too tired after the Ironman)

October 2 Bicycle Film Festival! Last year’s was a gorgeous evening full of community and grooviness. This year promises to be even better.

Interested in plugging into a real-time advocacy feed? Join the Madison Bike Advocacy discord group (this sign up link works until Sept 7).

Nakoma Rd construction is taking longer than expected. Any bets that it’ll be done before winter?

The Tancho Drive Path is kicking off. Path construction is expected in spring 2026.

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading, have a great week, and enjoy the early fall weather.

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!

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. This week we have an exciting transportation challenge, a group ride spotlight, and a Bicycle Film Festival reminder.

Before we dive into bike news, September is coming up, meaning there will be an influx of new street users in Madison. Whether you’re a long-time Madison resident or new to the area, everyone should take extra care when moving around the city over the next month. Drivers should expect to see lots of pedestrians and bikes, especially new students (who may make mistakes– everyone does). Seasoned bicyclists should also take care and be patient with those who are less experienced. Historically, September is the month with the most motor vehicle on bike crashes, and the only ways to reduce that are to design streets with vulnerable users in mind (we’re working on that part) and to be extra careful, especially when driving.

Remembering Sarah Debbink Langenkamp through action

Today marks three years since the tragic crash that took the life of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a devoted mother, diplomat, cyclist, and sister of board member Alicia Bosscher. Sarah’s family has turned their grief into action by championing the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act, a bill that would make biking safer nationwide. Read their story and learn how we can all support safer streets by reaching out to our elected leaders. Read more

RoundTrip’s September Smart Trips Challenge

Did you know you could win awesome prizes just by logging car-replacement trips with biking, walking/rolling, or taking the bus? This September, RoundTrip is putting on the Smart Trips Challenge! Every trip you take that replaces driving alone counts towards the challenge. Weekly and grand prize drawings will be done with prizes ranging from bike-related swag to $150 gift cards. For a chance to win even more prizes, you can also participate in the Bike Bingo challenge, supported by Machinery Row and Madison bikes!

The Smart Trips Challenge seeks to inspire more Dane County residents to swap solo drives for greener options, and to reward those who drive less year-round, whether for work, school, errands, or
entertainment. The challenge is free and open to everyone 18+ in Dane County. To participate, simply register with RoundTrip and log your eligible trips all month for chances to win. The first 50 people to log a trip will receive a $10 Ian’s Pizza gift card!

Group Ride Spotlight: Blonde Duck Bike Club

Looking for a fun, welcoming ride? The Blonde Duck Bike Club hosts beginner-friendly, social group rides every Thursday night from early spring through fall. The group was recently featured in an article in Madison Magazine. Focused on creating an inclusive space for women and queer riders, the club keeps things approachable with a “no drop” promise—no one gets left behind. Expect laughter, conversation, and maybe even a treat along the way. Once a month, they also host an open ride welcoming everyone. Updates and ride information can be found on their Instagram!

Bicycle Film Festival

In case you missed our last post, Bicycle Film Festival is coming back to Madison on October 2nd, 2025! BFF is a curated selection of short bicycle-related films to inspire, move, and excite you about human-powered travel. Last year was a blast, and you won’t want to miss out on the fresh set of short films we have lined up for this year. Get your tickets here https://barrymorelive.com/event/25th-annual-bicycle-film-festival-madison and check out the post linked above for all the details!

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading, have a great week, and be safe!

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!

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. This week we have a call for input on Stoughton Road and some news about Ride the Drive. Read on to learn more.

Stoughton Rd Survey

We’ve talked a lot about Stoughton Rd recently. On July 15th, WisDOT held a public information meeting where redesign plans were presented for much of Stoughton Rd and its intersections from Voges Road, South of the beltline, to just North of Milwaukee Street. There are redesign plans for the corridor itself and for each of the major intersections along the road. Several of the intersections have multiple designs, and the survey intends to gather feedback on your preferences. So if you haven’t taken it yet, please review the materials on the project page and take the survey.

Pedal Parade at Ride the Drive

Ride the Drive is coming up soon on Sunday, August 10th. John Nolen Drive and part of Williamson St will be closed to motor vehicles so pedestrians, bikes, and others will be able to stroll or roll down the entire width of the roads. You won’t want to miss any of the awesome, free activities along the route and at the hubs at McPike, Law, and Olin Parks. During RTD, Madison Bikes and Machinery Row will be hosting a slow-rolling celebration of all things biking:

Let’s celebrate our Madison Bike community with a bit of fun and whimsy! We hope you’ll join us for a bike parade during Ride the Drive! Costumes and bike decorations are encouraged, but not required. We’re hoping to have representation from all types of bikes and bikers, so invite your friends, family, and neighbors! See flyer for more details.

Speaking of Ride the Drive, we’re still looking for volunteers for Madison Bikes’ Ride the Drive festivities. Our tent will be on John Nolen Drive from 10 am until 2 pm where we will be making bike powered smoothies and talking to people about Madison Bikes – who we are, what we do, and upcoming events.  You can sign up to volunteer here!

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading and have a great 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!

Water, water, everywhere. Who wants to visit it on a bike? This week’s newsletter visits the future of one of Madison’s most scenic bike destinations and one of its least bike-friendly thoroughfares. Ride along, will you?

Madison LakeWay public meeting

Tonight — Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. — the Madison Parks Department will host a virtual public meeting on the first phase of development on the Lake Monona shoreline along a rebuilt John Nolen Drive. The meeting will include an overview of proposed lakeshore “amenities,” with updates on progess and next steps, as well as an opportunity to provide feedback. Madison LakeWay, the organization partnering with the city of Madison on plans for more than half a mile of the waterfront, has more information on what to expect.

Speaking of John Nolen Drive construction, if you’re in the mood for some long-term bike route planning, Madison is laying out its plan for detours — including for bike path closures — for several years’ worth of John Nolen construction.

More South Stoughton Road

If you missed the July 15 public information meeting on planning the future of South Stoughton Road / Highway 51, Madison’s Transportation Commission will get an update at their virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 23. As mentioned in previous Madison Bikes newsletters, the current design lacks bicycle and pedestrian access along and across the highway. You can learn more about those issues and how the corridor may change in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s study materials.

Volunteer for Ride the Drive

Volunteers are needed for the Madison Bikes event at Ride the Drive on Sunday, Aug. 10. The Madison Bikes tent will be on John Nolen Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. cranking out bike-powered smoothies talking about Madison Bikes. Sign up to volunteer with Madison Bikes here. And/or sign up to volunteer with Madison Parks for the larger event here.

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!