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E-Mail Weekly Update

Sarah’s Bill, Advocacy Meetup, Safe Streets Madison Update, Walking-Iron Trail

Alicia Bosscher addresses the crowd at Machinery Row. Photo by Lauren Barlow

So much going on right now. This update only scratches the surface, but here goes

Bike Week 2025: June 1-8

In case you missed the e-mail this week, here is the link to the 2025 Madison Bikes Bike Week website. Time flies and Bike Week is only a month away so if you’re planning to host an event, fill out the registration form on the site to get the word out.

Sarah’s Bill

On Wednesday, April 23, Madison Bikes partnered with WI Bike Fed & Machinery Row to host an event about bike advocacy at the federal level. Madison Bikes board member Alicia Bosscher and her father Dirk Debbink gave a first-hand account of pushing for change following the death of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp to traffic violence, the inception of the bill named after her, and its bipartisan progress through Congress.

This is exceptional work, and it was fascinating to hear how it’s actually possible to build bipartisan consensus in this day and age.

Even if you missed the talk, there are ways to get involved, first and foremost by asking your members of Congress to support the bill with this handy online action alert. Please share the link widely! By popular request, here’s the cookie recipe link for the cookies Alicia baked for the meeting.

Southwest Comment Map Closing

The interactive commenting map associated with the Southwest area plan will be closing at the end of April. It’s an easy way to enter your thoughts on specific routes or intersections. Enter your comments ASAP and make your voice heard!

Reserve Ride the Drive Events

Ride the Drive is now accepting reservations for vendors or exhibitors. This year, available sites will be at three hubs, Olin Park, Law Park, and McPike Park. This year, you can also reserve a spot on the roadway to better interact with participants. More information at the Ride the Drive website.

Participants of all ages and abilities participate in Ride the Drive (Madison Parks)

Tour of New Infrastructure at Bike Advocacy Meetup

On May 4th, at 5 p.m., Madison Bikes and Machinery Row will host another Bike Advocacy Meetup. This month’s event will explore and celebrate some recently completed infrastructure. We’ll embark on a 12-mile group ride from Machinery Row to the Sycamore Park Singletrack via the Autumn Ridge Path. The Autumn Ridge overpass provides a much-improved connection between the neighborhoods on either side of Highway 30. The Sycamore Park Singletrack has over a mile of beginner and advanced mountain bike trails. All bikes are welcome on this casual ride. Gravel and mountain bikes will be best equipped for the additional trails at Sycamore Park. We hope you can join us!

Safe Streets Madison Projects Updated

The Transportation Commission approved several new projects at the April 16th meeting. Among the projects approved were speed limit reductions, installation of RRFBs, a contraflow lane on W. Gilman, green bike markings for the bike lane on University from Babcock to Basset, and a Broom St. parking protected lane. The Safe Streets Madison website contains a project spreadsheet that provides a list of all potential projects that can be sorted by status and other fields.

Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan Open House

This event is an opportunity to discuss the draft plan with staff and provide input if you wish. The meeting will be held at the Lussier Family Heritage Center on Wednesday, April 30 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The plan includes bicycle trails and access to parks via bicycle trails.  One trail related item is the Great Sauk-Walking Iron Trail – Rail/Trail Conversion that will run from the new Wisconsin River Recreational Bridge at Sauk City to Mazomanie and eventually, Middleton. Surfacing of the trail is an issue, with snowmobilers preferring gravel and bikers preferring asphalt. See this companion action alert for more detail.

If you are unable to make the open house, send comments about to DeSmidt.Alex@danecounty.gov.  by May 7.

Phase 1 and phase 2 of Walking Iron Trail (Dane County Parks)

This a very busy time for bicycle activities so watch these weekly updates and our community calendar closely. Enjoy the spring riding.

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!

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Bike News Newsletter Weekly Update

Spring Into Action: Advocacy and Adventure

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the Highway 30 bridge opening | Harald Kliems

Welcome to the Madison Bikes newsletter. We have a lot of events coming up, so read on to learn about them!

Advocacy Event @ Machinery Row

This Wednesday from 7-8:30pm at Machinery Row, Madison Bikes is partnering with WI Bike Fed to host Driving Federal Bike Safety Legislation, an event where you can learn how to be more involved in bike advocacy by making your voice heard. If you want to get more involved in bike advocacy but don’t know where to start, this is the event for you. Hear a first-hand account of pushing for change in the wake of tragedy. Madison Bikes board member Alicia Bosscher and her father Dirk Debbink will share the story of the loss of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp to traffic violence, the inception of the bill named her, and it’s progress through congress.

While Madison is already a great place to ride a bike, we still have a long way to go to make transportation outside of a personal vehicle safe and comfortable for everyone. Especially now with the current federal political climate, it’s more important than ever to let our representatives know we won’t back down and accept road and street infrastructure that is not safe for all users, and that they should support funding for alternative transportation options like biking.

Transportation Commission: Safe Streets

On the topic of safe street infrastructure, Transportation Commission is meeting on Wednesday, and the agenda includes discussing a number of new safe streets projects. The Safe Streets Madison program aims to improve the safety and accessibility for all users, including those who walk, bike, drive, and take transit. The program uses data from a High Injury Network that records incidents like crashes around the city to prioritize and plan future projects, including the ones on the agenda for approval this week. You can watch the meeting online on Wednesday at 5pm or find info about submitting feedback here.

Mini-Documentary Screening @ UW Arboretum

If you are interested in art, film, and traveling by bike, we have an exciting event planned for you! On Sunday, April 27th, Madison Bikes and UW European Studies are hosting an event featuring Julia Bourdet, a graphic novelist who traveled across the US by bike and train, while journaling and sketching her voyage. She is making the compiled material into a graphic novel, as well as a mini documentary, which we will be showing at the UW Arboretum at 11am. The event will be held in the Arboretum visitor center. Julia will be joining us virtually from France to discuss her documentary and work. You won’t want to miss this exciting and moving story about human-powered travel, adventure, and climate awareness!

RITUAL MTB Film Tour

On Wednesday night, go to Union South for the RITUAL Mountain Bike Film Tour:

Shimano presents RITUAL Mountain Bike Film Tour powered by Outside is a nationwide celebration of unforgettable film-going experiences like only the big screen can provide. The film tour highlights incredible athletes, creative filmmakers, engaging storylines and stunning cinematography; bringing riders together in 23 of mountain biking’s greatest cities and venues across the country. Doors 6pm, Show 7pm Local Time, tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

https://www.facebook.com/events/622053544104853

Celebrate Trails Day

Saturday is Celebrate Trails Day, an annual nationwide event by Rails To Trails Conservancy. Locally, Bike Fitchburg is hosting a celebration at the Velo Underround from 10 AM to 1 PM:

Join us for Celebrate Trails Day! 2025 with a pit stop at the Velo UnderRound!
Your host is Bike Fitchburg. Enjoy non-alcoholic drinks from national sponsor Athletic Brewing and snacks, pick up bike maps, and learn how we advocate for biking and walking that’s safer, easier, more fun, and more equitable in Fitchburg!
The Velo UnderRound is a two-level interchange among five regional trails, serving Fitchburg, Madison, Verona, and locations throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Water, rest rooms, air pump, and repair stand with tools are nearby at Fitchburg’s Dawley Bike Hub. Epic mountain biking is adjacent at the Dane County Seminole Mountain Bike Park, just south on the Military Ridge Path at Saris Trails, and on the Military Ridge State Trail at Fitchburg’s Quarry Ridge Recreation Area. https://www.facebook.com/events/509841501781179/

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events.

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!

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E-Mail Newsletter Weekly Update

Hello, Autumn Ridge; April is heating up

aerial view of incomplete bike/pedestrian bridge being built over a multi-lane highway
Does the Autumn Ridge Path’s bike overpass still look like this? There’s only one way to find out.

Ride to the ribbon-cutting

One of Madison’s newest bike paths opened to users during the deep, brumal chill of December. So, on April 16, the city is throwing a vernal celebration for the Autumn Ridge Path, a north-south route anchored by a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Highway 30. The path connects neighborhoods divided by the highway, eases access to another bridge over Highway 51 to tie more of the city’s bike infrastructure together, and opens the door to future path extensions to the northeast.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at 4346 Commercial Ave., the new bridge’s landing spot on the north side of Highway 30. Join Madison Bikes and other path-appreciators for a ride to the Autumn Ridge Path and the event, kicking off at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the BCycle station near Machinery Row Bicycles, 601 Williamson St. The leisurely ride — exclusively on bike paths and relatively quiet streets — will pass the BCycle station at Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, around 8:20 a.m., and proceed east and north over the venerable Highway 51 bridge, through Hiestand Park and adjacent greenway, and across the new Autumn Ridge span.

Get a good look at the new route before planning your estival jaunts across the city.

More upcoming April Madison Bikes events

• April 23, Driving Federal Bike Safety Legislation: a meeting at Machinery Row to provide the newly motivated and the long-time advocates and everyone in between with updates on bike-related legislation and ways to take action on behalf of bike safety.

• April 27, Two Wheels, Many Stories: a mini-documentary screening and talk at the UW Arboretum with Julia Bourdet, French artist and author who traveled across the United States by bicycle and train, interviewing climate activists and collecting material for her upcoming graphic novel.

Ride the Drive set for 2025

One more, longer-term save-the-date: Madison has picked Aug. 10 for this year’s Ride the Drive event, planning for biking on more than 2 miles of closed streets connecting three hub parks.

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!

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E-Mail Newsletter Weekly Update

Spring Bike Wash Sunday, High Pt Rd extension, federal bike safety, and a graphic artist

Apologies for the delay in getting this week’s newsletter sent to you.

Last year’s Bike Wash (Photo: Beth Skogen Photography)

Spring Bike Wash this SaturdaySunday!

The weather this week does not look too promising, but on SaturdaySunday things should be perfect for our Spring Bike Wash! From 2-4 pm, come join us and our friends from Freewheel on Clark Court (right next to Brittingham Park) to get that winter gunk off your bike and have the bike checked for safety and minor mechanical issues. You bring the bike; we bring the power washers, chain lube, rags, and mechanically inclined volunteers. Watch the news clip from last year’s event to get you in the mood! If the weather forecast starts looking questionable, please check the event’s Facebook page the day of for last minute updates.

A new street on the Southwest Side

The Transportation Commission is meeting Wednesday. One item of interest on their agenda: An extension of High Point Road at its southern end. The whole area, formerly home to the Marty Century Farm is being redeveloped.

Project location
Option with center turn lane

The proposed street would include unprotected on-street bike lanes and a multi-use path on one side of the street. The road would either be divided by a median or have a center two-way turn lane in the middle. The intersection with Raymond Road would either be a traditional intersection or a roundabout. If you have input on the design, you can email transportationcommission@cityofmadison.com or register to speak at the meeting. https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register

Save the dates: Driving Federal Bike Safety Legislation & Two Wheels, Many Stories

Not this week, but save the date for two more exciting April events that Madison Bikes is co-organizing: On April 23, we’ll host an event on federal bike safety legislation. And on April 27, we’re partnering with the Center for European Studies for an event with graphic artist Julia Bourdet on her journey by bike to interview climate activists across the US. Some more information on both events:

Are you interested in getting involved in bike advocacy, but don’t know where to start? Join us April 23rd at Machinery Row to learn about progress being made on federal bike safety legislation, hear first hand accounts of advocacy work, and take action though a guided communication to your elected officials. Alicia Bosscher, Dirk Debbink, and Mike Ridgeman will share the story of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp’s tragic death to traffic violence, share details about the bill named after Sarah and its progress, and help attendees to write letters to their own representatives. Whether you’re a long time advocate or just getting started with bike advocacy, come by to learn something new and take action!

Please note that the event is from 7 to 8:30 PM, not from 6:30 to 8 PM as the graphic says.

Join Madison Bikes, in partnership with UW European Studies, in a speaker session and mini-documentary screening with Julia Bourdet, a French artist and author who traveled across the United States by bicycle and train, interviewing climate activists and collecting material for her upcoming graphic novel. The presentation will include previews of the upcoming book, which combines real-life observations, fictional storytelling, and journal fragments to create a story about climate and ecological awareness.

In keeping with her commitment to reducing her carbon footprint, Julia Bourdet will be joining us virtually from France to discuss her project and virtual mini documentary screening.

This event is part of Earthfest, (April 21–29) a week dedicated to conservation and sustainability. https://europe.wisc.edu/event/earthfest/

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!

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Bike News E-Mail Weekly Update

Spring Roll Challenge, Repairs and Continuing Meetups

A person in a bright orange puffy jacket bikes up the ramp to the University Bay Drive overpass. They're wearing a white bike helmet, with a mirror attached. In the background is the green railing of the overpass.
One of last week’s seasonal Cyclists of Madison photos. On both Mastodon and Bluesky now (h/t Harald)

I’m glad we’re almost done with March.

This Week

On Tuesday, April 1, vote if you’re eligible. See last week’s post by Robbie for some great info and a lot more enthusiasm than I can muster. Enjoy it while you can!

Starting Tuesday, April 1, participate in the monthlong Spring Roll Challenge for Dane County.

To take part in the Spring Roll Challenge, residents can create a RoundTrip account at www.RoundTripGreaterMadison.org and log trips taken by biking, walking/rolling, riding the bus, and carpooling from April 1-30. Each green trip logged boosts your chances of winning weekly and grand prizes.

Don’t sleep on it too long because “the first 50 participants to log a green trip in April will receive a free slice from Ian’s Pizza and two complimentary Metro Transit rides.” Good deal.

On Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 PM, Greater Madison MPO meets virtually. You can check out the agenda and detailed meeting packet if you like. There’s some interesting stuff in there if you care to dig.

On Sunday, April 6 from 12-4:00 PM, the semi-monthly “Open Shop @ Neighborhood House” hosted by Freewheel is happening. Their web site has all the details, but the gist is: “Bring your bike or work on donated bikes at Freewheel’s Open Shop. Experienced instructors are here to help. All skill levels welcome from beginner to pro. Everyone’s a learner, everyone’s a teacher.” Sweet, and convenient to many on the very near SW Side @ 29 S Mills St.

Later on Sunday, April 6 from 5-6:30 PM, join the first of a new, monthly series of Bike Advocacy Meetups hosted by Machinery Row Bicycles:

Machinery Row Bicycles and Madison Bikes are partnering to host a new Bike Advocacy Meetup group in Madison! For those who attended the Bicycle Book Club, our aim is to carry on that momentum with a monthly gathering. Open and free to all, we will meet the first Sunday of every month from 5-6:30pm at Machinery Row. Our first meetup is April 6! The first few meetings will focus on building community, as well as learning about and conducting a bike audit within the City of Madison.

We believe we can successfully advocate for change when there’s a dedicated community invested in the work and sustained by collective energy.

Come as you are and we hope to see you April 6! Help us spread the word by sharing this announcement with anyone who might be interested.  Follow us on social media for updates or contact lauren@machineryrowbicycles.com to be added to the email list.

Upcoming

Keep the evening of Wednesday, April 23 free for a MB community event, also hosted by Machinery Row, titled “Driving Federal Bike Safety Legislation.”

Also, keep your eyes peeled for both old and new spring events that haven’t yet made it onto our calendar.

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!

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Weekly Update

Spring: Elections and road construction

There aren’t any meetings or events coming up this week, but here’s a little news catch up and some reminders.

Catching up on news

Madison Bikes represents at the National Bike Summit

Three Madison Bikes board members – Jacob Bortell, Alicia Bosscher, and myself – attended the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, March 11-13. This meeting is a combination of workshops, rides to see innovative infrastructure in DC, national speakers, and lobbying on Capitol Hill. It’s a great opportunity for board members to meet others from around the country, hear about programs we might want to replicate, and get information to help us push the city and country forward. Plus, we go up to talk to our Senators and House members about federal policy, funding, and legislation.

The biggest news to come out during our visit – although not good news – was the announcement that the US Department of Transportation plans to cut projects that contain bike infrastructure. We put out an action alert from the League of American Bicyclists, but we are still trying to figure out the details of the administrative memo and what this will mean for Madison. 

The Wisconsin Bike Fed wrote a good summary of our congressional visits and the two federal initiatives we were pushing. 

Renee Callaway retires

Renee Callaway – formerly the city Pedestrian and Bicycle Administrator and later promoted to Assistant Director in Traffic Engineering – retired on March 20. Renee has been working in bicycle planning, outreach, and engineering for 25 years or so. She has worked for the UW, WisDOT, the Madison Area MPO, and the city. We’ve been so lucky to have her working to improve bicycling all these years. You can read more Renee in a City of Madison post highlighting her career.

Now she’s going to enjoy more mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and general exploration. She’s got quite a travel itinerary planned, but she’ll also be around Madison a lot. Happy retirement, Renee, and thanks for all your hard work over the years! 

Elections

Spring is upon us, and that means two things: Spring elections and road construction. They can both be painful, but if you pay attention, good things (or bad) may come of the pain.

April 1 is the spring election for local and non-partisan statewide offices. We all know that “non-partisan” is in name only for statewide offices, but since we are a local group, let’s concentrate on the local elections that will most impact bicycling, housing, transportation in general, and other close-to-home issues. 

Every alder in Madison will be elected this year. In the future, half the Council will be elected each year in April. Because spring elections tend to be much lower turnout than fall elections, your vote counts even more. In 2023, one alder race was a tie, and the winner was selected by drawing a name from a hat. One more vote would have made the difference!

If you want to know more about the people that will be deciding what the city looks like, how it feels, how we can move around, and where we are going to spend money, check out this great resource that Madison Bikes board member Craig Weinhold put together. It has every candidate, their websites, the answers to questionnaires from local groups (including the one that Madison Bikes did jointly with others), and organizational and media endorsements they have received. Madison Bikes does not endorse candidates, but the answers to the questions we submitted for the joint questionnaire will give you some good information. 

The election is April 1, but you can also vote in-person absentee – aka “early vote” – at locations around the city until March 30. To see who is on the ballot, where you vote on April 1, or where to vote early, go to MyVote.wi.gov/.

Road construction

East Wilson St

Work continues on the reconstruction of E Wilson St in downtown. This will include the extension of the two-way cycle track on Wilson St. But things are going to be messy from April 2 until mid-June. E Wilson will be fully closed from King St to S Pinckney St. More information can be found on the city of Madison site.  

Seyne Rd

Work on Seyne Rd where it crosses the Cap City Trail in Fitchburg is scheduled to begin Monday, March 24. As always, there’s some flex in that date, due to coordination with local utilities. There may be disruptions to the trail crossing, and walking one’s bike across may be necessary at times. 

When a Madison Bikes Community member asked the city of Fitchburg about turning onto Seyne Rd, this was the response:
“For parts of the summer, the north/south path along Syene will be closed. I don’t have expected dates for when that will be, as it will depend on the contractor’s work schedule. We’ll be posting on social media and our website with weekly updates on closures and openings as the project progresses. The Capital City trail will remain open throughout construction, but there may be times when bikes need to be walked across the crossing with Syene.”

This is part of a larger project on Seyne Rd. If this is part of your ride or commute, you may want to check out the full project site. 

Get your discounts via Bike Benefits

The warmer weather is bringing out more cyclists, so we wanted to make sure Bicycle Benefits is on everyone’s radar. You can get discounts at participating businesses around town by showing your helmet with a Bike Benefits sticker. Although Madison Bikes doesn’t run the program directly, we’ve sold the stickers in the past and plan to again. 

So how does Bike Benefits work? It’s simple:      

  1. Cyclists purchase (for $5) a small Bicycle Benefits sticker for their bike helmet.
  2. Show it at a participating location in order to get a discount or reward for arriving by bike.

The sticker does not expire, and most users will agree that it’s the best $5 they’ve ever spent.  We hope that cyclists and individuals see the value in seeking out and patronizing locations that prioritize healthy transportation in the community.  It’s affirmative-transportation-action led by the most progressive local businesses.If you know a location that you’d like to see pop up on the roster, pass them the link to sign-up.  If you’d like to help us out as a volunteer ambassador or want more information on the program, send Ian Klepetar a message at ian@bicyclebenefits.org

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!

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E-Mail Weekly Update

Pflaum, Stoughton Rd projects; bikepacking events; city job; Military Ridge detour

Door zone bike lanes on Pflaum Road?

Door zone bike lanes on an all ages and abilities street?

On Wednesday, the Transportation Commission has early feedback on the Pflaum Road project on the agenda. The agenda item doesn’t have a presentation attached yet, but there was a public meeting last week that showed a proposed layout.

Current conditions on Pflaum: No bike infrastructure at all

According to the city’s Complete Green Streets policy, Pflaum Road is on the All-Ages-and-Abilities bike network, that is, a street where policy is “to prioritize high-comfort bikeways.” However, the city is proposing to add a “door zone,” unprotected bike lane, squeezed in between car parking on one side and car traffic on the other.

You can provide comment to the Transportation Commission by emailing transportationcommission@cityofmadison.com, or you can register to speak at the meeting: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register

Another item on the commission’s agenda: Reviewing the 2024 Annual Transportation Operations Report. There are lots of interesting facts and figures about transportation in Madison in the report. Among them, on page 14, is an overview of the bicycle improvements that were completed last year:

Stoughton Road North public hearing

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing about their Stoughton Road North project on MondayTuesday. This section of the project goes from Highway 30 to Anderson Road/Highway CV. A separate project covers the section south of there.

Most notably for people on bikes, WisDOT is showing a new shared use path along Stoughton Road from Highway 30 to Kinsman, and then from Hoepker north. This leaves a large gap along the airport — apparently there are some sort of FAA regulations that don’t allow a new path to be built there.

The public hearing will be at Madison College – Truax Building, Conference Room D1630, from 4 to 7 pm. You can also provide written testimony by emailing jeff.berens@dot.wi.gov

Two bike touring events this week!

On SaturdaySunday (!), join us for our bike packing and bike touring 101 and social! The event is geared both toward folks who are curious about or new to bike packing and touring, as well as more experienced folks. We’ll have a presentation about fundamentals, and then several community members will share their experiences doing different styles of bike touring, followed by a social. We’ll be at the Goodman Center in the Merryl Lynch Room from 2 to 4 pm. You can bring your own food and drink (but no alcohol).

If you’d rather keep your biking more local, Cool Bikes North is hosting a Bicycle Show ‘n’ Tell on Local Bike Routes on Thursday.

Come by March 20th for this free event from 6-8pm, and hear what our selection of local riders and routemakers have to offer for your spring riding inspiration!

@brookecarey21 will talk about @bikegoofing in Spring Green!
@dtcoppola from @cafedomestiquemadison will share his fav route to Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area!

Ask Maia and Jen about touring the Driftless!

And that’s just a taste. It’s gonna be great, and we’d love to know you plan to attend: follow the link to our lil registration form.

Work for the city: Transportation Planner job

The city posted a job for a transportation planner job. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/madisonwi/jobs/4858590-0/transportation-planner

This position helps fulfill the mission of our agency by advancing Madison’s sustainability, safety, and equity goals through innovative transportation planning initiatives. This role leads the implementation and maintenance of the City’s Complete Green Streets policy while supporting other key transportation plans, programs, and policies. By collaborating across departments, engaging with stakeholders, and refining planning processes, this position ensures Madison’s transportation system is equitable, efficient, and sustainable.

Vote vote vote!

A quick reminder to vote in the April 1 elections! In addition to the State Supreme Court, school board, and a constitutional referendum, all seats on the city council are up for election. Madison Bikes and a couple partner orgs sent a questionnaire to all candidates to help educate voters. See their answers here: https://www.madisonbikes.org/madison-spring-elections-2025/

Military Ridge closure in Verona

A lot of highway expansion projects are happening out by Epic in Verona. One of them is leading to a temporary closure of the Military Ridge Trail. WisDOT says that the work will be be done by Memorial Day and will include underpass improvements to mitigate (but not eliminate) flooding. Our board member Craig put together this visual of the closure and its detour:

Syene Rd path closure

Fitchburg is preparing to rebuild the intersection of Syene Rd, McCoy Rd, and the Cap City Trail. We’ll discuss this in more detail in future updates, but for now the path to the south is closed. Enjoy biking on Syene!

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!

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E-Mail Weekly Update

Candidates Weigh In, Breakdown, W Wash-SW Path Plan

Using active transportation to access the Pinney Library on a brisk day.

Welcome to the update. Looks like we may be able to ditch the winter riding gear for a few days. Here’s the latest.

Council Candidates Weigh In

Spring elections (April 1) are fast approaching. All seats for the Madison Common Council are up for election.  Madison Bikes, together with Madison is for People, Madison Area Community Land Trust, Madison Bikes, Affordable Housing Action Alliance (AHAA), and Strong Towns Madison, reached out to all candidates for common council to ask them about their positions on transportation, housing, and sustainability. Answers to the questionnaire can be viewed here  https://www.madisonbikes.org/madison-spring-elections-2025/#top .

Plan for W Washington at SW Path Intersection

At the March 5 meeting, the transportation commission discussed options for the West Wash-SW path intersection. The city is required by Office of the Commissioner of Ra​ilroads to remove the rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) signal currently at the intersection and replace it with a signal that can interact with the railroad signal. This will require installation of a full traffic signal at the intersection. The committee discussed continuing the current lane reduction to 2 lanes vs increasing back to 4 lanes.

The following strategy was approved by the commission:

Remove the RRFB and install a full traffic signal at the intersection. Install a detection system to trigger the traffic signal automatically when bicyclists approach the intersection on the path.

Maintain the current lane reduction test for now. The lane reduction may be temporarily removed during the John Nolen Dr Reconstruction Project if there are safety or operational issues due to detour traffic. After the John Nolan construction is complete, permanently reduce W Washington at this crossing to 2 lanes when funding is available.

Thanks to everyone who submitted comments on this project. They do make a difference.

Shamrock Shuffle

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is adding a 10km bike ride wave to their Shamrock Shuffle event this year. The event takes place on March 15 and you can get $10 off registration with promo code MADBIKES.

Sign up at this link:  https://www.bgcdc.org/shamrockshuffle. To volunteer to be a course marshal or other activity, sign up here:  https://bit.ly/ShamrockHelp

The Big Breakdown

This breakdown is actually a good thing. The Big Breakdown is an event where Bikes for Kids breaks down bikes that are beyond hope to make space for refurbished bikes for 2025. During the event, non-metal parts are removed, parts that can be used to restore other bikes are saved, and the rest of the bike is recycled.

The Big Breakdown happens on Tuesday, March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 354 Coyier Lane in Madison.  There is even Northshore pizza for volunteers. Be sure to bring leather gloves to protect your hands from metal. For questions, call the bike center at (608) 405-0385. More information is available at https://bikesforkidswi.org/2025breakdown/ .

In addition to their efforts to distribute hundreds of bicycles to new owners, Bikes for Kids is to be commended for their efforts to recycle and reuse bicycles. Their community bike disposal service is an asset to the community. Join them on Tuesday to assist them in this worthwhile endeavor.

Winter Biking Discussion in the Daily Cardinal

Winter is winding down but it’s not over yet and the mornings can still be nippy. Check out this discussion with Liz Jesse and Alicia Bosscher and the city’s Pedestrian Bicycle Outreach Specialist, Colleen Hayes, in The Daily Cardinal.  https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2025/03/q-a-why-winter-biking-is-feasible-in-madison . Their tips and perspectives on winter biking in Madison are worth a read, particularly if you are new to winter biking or Madison.

That’s it for this week. Lots of events happening, so be sure to check our community calendar.

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!

Categories
Bike News Newsletter Weekly Update

Transportation Commission; Bikepacking Event

Participants line up near the start line of the Hugh Jass finale race at Blackhawk in Middleton

Welcome to the Madison Bikes newsletter. I hope you enjoyed the two week fat biking season. Well, that’s over and now it’s False Spring 2 meaning days are getting longer and bike rides are getting slightly warmer and more bearable.

Transportation Commission: W Wash and Transportation Improvement Program

Transportation Commission is meeting on Wednesday at 5 pm. The agenda includes a couple of relevant biking projects: one involving the SW Path crossing at W. Washington and the other about the Transportation Improvement Program.

During this week’s meeting, TC will give an update on the SW Path crossing alternatives. If you aren’t in the loop, the Railroad Commission is requiring that the city remove the Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) which was installed in 2017. Back in September 2024, following a series of crashes, this crossing was temporarily narrowed down from 4 total lanes to 2, which decreased crossing time and improved safety for users of the SW Path. Because the RRFB has to be removed, there are two alternative considerations. While both options involve adding a traffic signal to the intersection to stop vehicle traffic for path users to cross, one includes keeping the currently built 4 lanes, while the other involves curb work to permanently narrow it to 2.

The other topic on the agenda is the Transportation Improvement Program. The document lays out the potential road and path projects from 2026-2031, including street reconstructions, resurfacing projects, bikeway and sidewalk additions and improvements, and bridge repair. One notable new path planned for later this year is the bike path along the North side of North Shore Drive (opposite the existing bike path) from the SW Path to Bedford. Infrastructure projects like this path extension take a lot of planning ahead of time, so it’s necessary to plan them well in advance to better anticipate the needs of our growing city. Check out the program slides for more detailed info and all the known projects.

Bike Packing Social Event

Looking ahead to later this month, on March 23rd, Madison Bikes will be hosting a Bike Packing Social community event! We’ll be at the Goodman Community Center at 2 pm to share bike packing stories, gear tips, and get ideas churning for future adventures.

We’ll have brief show-and-tells featuring different gear setups and explanations of what you will need to pull off your own adventure. Presenters will talk about their experiences exploring northern Wisconsin, doing an ultra race around the Netherlands, riding RAGBRAI without having to worry about carrying your gear, and riding through the Alps. After that there will be plenty of time for Q&A, socializing, and planning for getting out there on the next adventure.

If you have Facebook, please let us know you can make it on the event page.

That’s all for this newsletter. Thanks for reading! Hope to see you at the bike packing event or one of our other functions this year.

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!

Categories
Weekly Update

Friday is International Winter Bike Day

Last week was a busy week for bicycling in Madison!

On Sunday, we had our last bicycle book club installment for “Killed by a Traffic Engineer.” If you missed it, you can read or listen to this story from WORT-FM to find out more information.

A group of people seated in a bike shop, ready to listen to a presentation
Book club attendees ready for the week’s presentation (h/t Harald Kleims)

There was a lot of action around the repaving/reworking of a lengthy stretch of Midvale Boulevard. Most of this was driven by the raucous public meeting from the week before. With all of the feedback and attention, the city has decided to postpone the work to spring 2026. For a nice overview and some extra context, check out this great Cap Times article.

Sun Prairie was awarded a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists. You can read the press release from Sun Prairie Moves for the details. Going from Honorable Mention in 2015 to Silver in 2025 is a great accomplishment! Congratulations to everyone involved!

In the Madison Bikes Slack, board member Craig Weinhold noted that last Tuesday the City of Madison held their first all-transportation department meeting in six years. I wonder what could have triggered that? You can watch the entire session on YouTube and maybe find out!

This Week

On Wednesday at 6:30 PM, the Board of Park Commissioners will meet virtually. On the agenda are first details of the proposed sidewalk and path improvements for the John Nolen Drive path so get a sneak peak:

Design drawings sidewalk and bike path improvements at North Shore Drive and JND (City of Madison)

On Friday, celebrate International Winter Bike Day with us!

  • From 7-9 am: We will be at the Monona Terrace on the Cap City Trail serving up free coffee (courtesy of Cafe Domestique) and doughnuts!
  • From 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.

For more details I guess you can look at the Facebook event, but only if you’re still clinging to a FB account. Otherwise, tough luck I guess? I’m not bitter, really!

The City has started work to redesign and rethink Mifflin Plaza. This is the underutilized area at the top of State Street, sometimes used for festivals/concerts. It also serves as an important ped, bike and bus thoroughfare. Some of the options include exploring a pedestrian mall, which would be a big shift. The schedule shows arriving at a final design plan by September. That means that now’s a good opportunity to read up on the design considerations and complete the survey.

Pretty much unrelated to anything, but I watched the 2005 film A Bittersweet Life by Kim Jee-woon and found this surprising moment. Transportation policy strife transcends borders and time!

"Because of the new bus-only lanes, Driving downtown is harder."
Actual subtitles from A Bittersweet Life (2005) directed by Kim Jee-woon.

Coming Up

I’m already looking forward to Thursday, February 20 and a virtual lunch session led by Dr. Yang Tao, Director of Traffic Engineering, “Prioritizing Traffic Safety for All Road Users: D7 Virtual Lunch and Learn with Traffic Engineering.”

Alder Nasra Wehelie [D7] is excited to continue her Lunch and Learn session for this month, featuring Traffic Engineering on Thursday, February 20, from 12 to 1 p.m. Whether you drive, bike, or walk, this virtual Lunch and Learn will offer residents a unique opportunity to gain insights into traffic safety and infrastructure planning.

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!