Author: Daniel Villegas

Attention, bike riders of Madison! Here are your updates:

Prepare for more cold weather this week out on the trails. Help do your part by reporting ice or snow-covered trails to keep all of our neighbors safe using “Report a Problem.”

“Report a Problem” is a non-emergency tool the City of Madison uses to collect reports of ongoing issues or concerns with city services.

Regular riders lately will have already taken note of the recent snowfall and exercised caution while navigating the bike trails. Our safety is of utmost importance, so it is crucial that we report any ice-covered trails to the city promptly. By doing so, we can ensure that the necessary measures are taken to prioritize the plowing and clearing of these trails as soon as possible.

Remember, icy bike trails can pose a significant risk to riders, potentially leading to accidents and injuries. To report an ice-covered trail, please visit the City of Madison’s Report a Problem page. By reporting the issue, you will be helping to maintain the safety and accessibility of our local biking network.

Stay vigilant, ride carefully, and remember to report any ice-covered bike trails to the city authorities. Together, we can contribute to creating a safer biking environment for everyone in Madison.

Mineral Point path is in danger! Looking for something to do in Madison this week? On Tuesday there is an important opportunity for you to provide public input. The Common Council will make a final decision on the path/sidewalk along Mineral Point Road. This path, on the north side of the street, is part of the East-West BRT project and meant to replace the bus/bike lanes on the corridor.

As a reminder, this already was a compromise solution because the city insisted on keeping two car lanes in each direction. After the Transportation Commission recommended a continuous 8-10 foot path along the whole corridor (with the exception of a stretch along a park where a path will be constructed at a later point), the Board of Public Works watered down the recommendation and instead recommended having several sections where there won’t be a path at all- but only a 5-foot sidewalk. This recommendation is now what is on the table for the council.

As the staff memo says: “In the past 5 years, there have been numerous bicycle crashes. Summer of 2022 was the most recent bicycle fatality resulting from this deficient facility. Most recently there was a bus/bicycle collision in October of 2023 – highlighting the challenges associated with a lane shared by buses, bikes, and right turning vehicles.”

The city has a Vision Zero policy, which says that the only acceptable number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries is zero. And yet, here is a proposal that does not create a safe bike facility, sponsored by the mayor.

You can register to speak at the council meeting by signing up here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register. The item is number 33 on the https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1074577&GUID=8F285D82-6C2B-4981-8570-E6EE764B662C (Legistar 80605).

If you can’t make the meeting, you can alternatively provide written comments to the council by sending an email to all alders at allalders@cityofmadison.com and/or the mayor at mayor@cityofmadison.com.

North-South BRT meeting summary

If you missed our community meeting on the North-South bus rapid transit last week: Fret not! We have a post with the meeting recording, slides, and a full transcript up now: https://www.madisonbikes.org/2023/12/north-south-brt-and-bikes-a-summary-of-our-community-meeting/

In other city news, Metro has achieved a significant milestone in its ridership numbers, marking the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic that over 1 million rides were provided in a single month. During the month of October 2023, Metro recorded a total of 1,075,549 rides. This surge in ridership represents the highest monthly record since February of 2020, and reflects an impressive growth of nearly 20% compared to the same month last year.

One contributing factor to this remarkable achievement is the recent overhaul of Metro’s route system. The newly redesigned routes now provide longer journeys that span from one end of the city to the other. As a result, passengers are making fewer transfers, enhancing the overall travel experience. In the previous system, passengers often had to change buses at transfer points, which counted as two separate rides. With the current system, these same trips are now consolidated into a single ride, making it more convenient for commuters.

The significant rise in ridership numbers demonstrates the resilience of Metro and the trust that the community has placed in its transportation services. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, Metro remains committed to providing safe and efficient travel options for the residents of the city. By continuously improving its routes and adapting to the changing needs of commuters, Metro is dedicated to creating a reliable and sustainable public transportation system for all.

Let’s celebrate this accomplishment and continue to support Metro as it strives to meet the evolving transportation demands of our community.

The Madison Santa Cycle Rampage is back for its third annual biking tradition! You are invited to come celebrate the festive season and support Dane County youth advocacy and education programs. This year’s ride will feature several feeder routes that converge on Breese Stevens Field and then head out on a 4-5 mile slow roll with kids at the lead.

It is highly encourage everyone to dress in festive attire or your favorite holiday-themed costume — you’ll be jingling all the way! More details on the registration site.

Ride safely, and stay warm!

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.