
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!