Madison’s Transportation Commission met Oct. 22 to discuss Safe Streets Madison projects, relatively small infrastructure upgrades that improve safety and accessibility for people who walk, take transit, bike and drive. Among the bike-focused projects given the commission’s thumbs-up were:
Improvements to bike lanes on Aberg Avenue — adding one between Packers Avenue and Everett Street, and upgrading the stretch from Everett Street to North Sherman Avenue to a buffered bike lane
An all-way stop at the intersection of the Capital City Trail with South Dickinson and East Wilson streets, where parked cars typically make visibility poor for cyclists
Fifty new bike racks to be installed around the city
A flashing beacon at Buckeye Road and Davies Street, near Nuestro Mundo Community School, where drivers have not been yielding to path users and often passing yielding vehicles on the right
If you have a suggestion for future projects or see a problem that would benefit from a Safe Streets solution, email the program at safestreets@cityofmadison.com.
Transportation Alternatives proposals
The Transportation Commission also approved a list of projects for which the city will apply for funding through the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program. Those proposals included:
A new path along West Beltline Frontage Road near the Arboretum
Extending the Garver Path from Milwaukee Street to the Marsh View Path
A new shared-used path along Odana Road between Wedgewood Way and the Southwest Commuter Path connector
Extending the recently finished Autumn Ridge Path westward along Highway 30 to North Stoughton Road
Sun sets on construction season
Falling temps light a fire under crews laying asphalt. Watch for continued disruption, but maybe newly completed work at …
Syene Road and the Capital City Trail …
Nakoma Road …
… and the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path’s bike bypass of the Hasler Laboratory of Limnology.
(All photos by construction super-tracker Craig Weinhold.)
Research: How do you get around Madison?
Students at UW–Madison are conducting a study to better understand how people travel within Madison and the factors that influence how they choose modes of transportation. It’s a quick (5- to 10-minute) and relatively anonymous questionnaire, and responses will be used solely for research and study-design purposes. You can add your data here, and pass the link on to others if you’re willing.
Winter Bike Fashion Show volunteers appreciated
The annual Madison Bikes Winter Bike Fashion Show — Nov. 16, Goodman Community Center — is a great way to think about gearing up to begin year-round riding … or to figure out how to cover the spots that got numb last February. But the Show won’t go on without a little help from the community. If you’re willing to put in a little time to welcome or feed people, provide info, and/or help attendees to some Metro bus rack practice, that’s great! Please do sign up here.
E-moto on Lakeshore path. Photo credit: Craig Weinhold
Winter Bike Fashion Show
Want to extend your riding season from 3 months to 6, 8, 10, or even all 12 months? Come join Madison Bikes on Sunday November 16, 1:30 – 4:30pm at the Goodman Community Center’s Ironworks building (just north of the Cap City trail where it crosses Waubesa Street). Free, fun, frosty, and family-oriented. More information
Weekly news
Transportation Commission on Wednesday Oct 22 (full agenda). Of special note are the proposed Safe Streets projects for 2026. Safe Streets are small-ish infrastructure upgrades, often the result of citizens reporting concerns.
Odana Rd. On Tuesday Oct 21, District 19 Alder John Guequierre hosts a virtual meeting on the future of Odana Rd and its transformation into housing. Think of the area north of Odana Rd between Whitney Way and Gammon Rd – there’s a bright future there!
Perry St. On Wed Oct 22, Madison is hosting a Public Information Meeting for a Perry St connection over/under the beltline. The beltline split Perry St in the 1960’s, with housing on one side and employment on the other. A few decades ago, an effort to reconnect it died a political death. Now there is money and motivation from both Madison and WisDOT.
Area Plans
Madison posted draft Southwest and Southeast Area plans last week. If you or someone you know lives or bikes in these areas, please pay attention. These Area Plans set a 10-year roadmap for area development – transportation, zoning, housing, parks, economic zones, etc. Below are highlights for the biking community.
Area Plans – Southwest
The Southwest Area Plan page has the draft proposal, a storymap, meeting details, and much more. There is an in-person meeting on Thursday, Oct 23 6-7:30pm at Chavez Elementary School, plus two virtual meetings next week.
Some key bike elements:
An All Ages & Abilities (AAA) facility along Seminole Hwy from the Beltline to the Cannonball path.
Proper bike lanes on Whitney Way south of the Beltline to Raymond Rd
Extending the new Hammersley Path west to Elver Park
Elver Park path connections to the west to Valley Ridge Park & High Point (steep grade, woods, X-country ski trails), to the north to High Point Estates, and to the south to the new Midpoint Commons.
Southwest Area Plan bike network (click-for-detail)
Area Plans – Southeast
The Southeast area plan covers an even larger area of the City that has long been neglected. The Southeast Area Plan page has the draft proposal, a storymap, meeting details, and much more. There is an in-person meeting on Tuesday, Oct 21 6-7:30pm at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, plus two virtual meetings next week.
Some key bike elements:
Improved crossings, bike boxes, wayfinding,
Working with WisDOT on the Hwy 51 corridor for both north-south and east-west connections
Buffer the Cottage Grove bike lanes
Explore a new north-south connection near Interstate 39/90 with new overpass/underpass there and across Hwy 12/18.
While I’m heartened with the City’s attitude towards the Hwy 51 / Stoughton Rd project, I think the City needs urgent priority to improve the Pflaum Rd crossing there. That crossing cannot afford to wait 3-8 years for WisDOT. Pflaum Rd is about to be resurfaced to the west of Hwy 51; it would be a crime to not improve the Pflaum Rd crossing of Hwy 51 at the same time.
Southeast Area Plan bike network, northern half (click for detail)Southeast Area Plan bike network, southern half (click for detail)
“E-motos”
“E-moto” is a term that bike and transportation advocates are trying to get into common usage. Bike Illinois has a good webinar on why. TL;DR is that there is currently a wave of e-bike backlash, and so differentiating legal e-bikes from illegal e-motos is important to avoid punitive e-bike laws.
In short, an “E-moto” is any illegal electric vehicle. It could be a really egregious electric motorcycle. But more often than not, it’s a regular-looking, pedal-driven e-bike that has been unlocked by the owner so that it goes faster than 20mph under throttle control.
Most of this post lives in the past with a recap, but there’s a bit of a look into the future. It seems to be a quiet week on the calendar.
Bike-A-Thon
Whitehorse Middle School held their Bike-A-Thon, which was the culmination of a few weeks of safe biking instruction and practice. Here’s a nice piece of media on it.
Southwest Path Lighting
The City performed emergency repairs to the lighting system on the Southwest Path, which had been a bit unreliable over the last few years. The details seem to be poorly reported, with some low-information posts only to social platforms and nothing official that I could find on the City web site, but some more detailed internal communication was made available:
Previously, we had a wireless system to communicate with and manage all the lights along the path so that we can control when the lights are on and off and we can adjust the lighting intensity. However, that system stopped working and the manufacturer is no longer supporting it. To bring the lights back as quickly as possible for safety reasons, especially with the upcoming football games, our crew is responding to the situation immediately and replacing the system with simpler photocells on individual lights so that the lights will be on from dusk to dawn, like what we do for the vast majority of the streetlights in the City. Hope this will not have a significant impact on any nearby residences. We do understand the desire from some neighbors for the City being able to dynamically control over the lights. So, for a longer-term, we will look for a smarter solution to manage the lights in a more sophisticated and more dynamic way.
So there’s a change in how the lights will function for the time being, with the lights on all night, whereas previously they would turn off at 11pm. I think this is a great news and plan to email my alder to let them know. This is particularly important as the days are getting shorter so quickly, something that seems to be taking a lot of path users by surprise.
Budget
The Mayor released their initial 2026 City Operating Budget which details “money for running City departments and services… [and] pays for the day-to-day spending on employees and materials and supplies.” So not as sexy as the Capital Budget but important nonetheless. This will go through several stages of review, subject to Common Council review and revision but it’s a starting point. Expect to see some ongoing discussion over the next months as the council has public hearings.
This may be old news, but it was new to me! Phase 2a of ye-olde Weste Towne Pathe (better known as that stretch between High Point Rd and Zor Shrine Place) is finally completed and open for use. For cyclists, this removes an increasingly-busy crossing at High Point Rd and a congested stretch along D’onofrio Dr. If you’ve been eyeing the dead-end bicycle path loop ramp along High Point @ Beltline for the past decade (since 2017), wondering when it would finally go somewhere, well these are the moments you live for!
All of the items below are usually accompanied by jackets, sweaters, and maybe even hats and coats. But this year we seem to have endless summer. Fun for biking, but a bit concerning in the big picture.
The past week
Bicycle Film Festival recap This past Thursday, we had a great turnout, starting with the pre-party at Working Draft Brewery. The weather was amazing, the bike parking was full, and the films were just fantastic. Thanks the Barrymore, Working Draft, all our sponsors, and all the volunteers that helped make this such an outstanding event. If you missed it…. That’s a shame, but make sure to come next year, because it’s just going to be better.
Week Without Driving wrapped up on Sunday. The event challenges people to go without driving for a week and consider people who can’t or don’t drive. It started in 2021 focusing on disability rights, but each year there are bigger and more events across the country. It’s just another reminder to public officials, planners, and the larger community that not everyone drives, and we need to make our communities and streets friendly and accessible to all.
More on Midvale
Craig Weinhold wrote an analysis of the survey that went out about the Midvale Blvd project. (It’s most relevant to people who have been following the project, but does provide some context for those who need a refresher.) He argues that the city survey was poorly written, because the options presented were not remotely comparable; that many people who took the survey didn’t actually address the options presented; and that parking removal is not a significant burden, because the residences all have abundant off-street parking.
Alder Regina Vidivar, who is also Council President, posted on her blog, “I’ve gotten a lot of feedback about the Transportation Commission’s recommendation to move forward with “Option 1” on Midvale Blvd, which would remove parking from Mineral Point to University Ave to allow an on-street bike resource. Alder Tishler and I have been in close contact with City staff on this project, and at this point, it looks like the project will be delayed for a while. We’ll share more details as they emerge, but please know that there will be no changes to Midvale for the short term.”
It sounds like this may be an ongoing discussion, as well as a test of some of the policies that the Council passed with the Complete and Green Streets Guide.
Wednesday – Transportation Commission
You can find the full TC agenda on line, but here are some highlights. You can submit comments or speak at the meeting, which is online at 5:00 pm.
Pflaum Rd back is back on the agenda. When it first came to TC, the committee pointed out that there were both a middle school and a high school on the section to be repaved, yet no bike facilities were included in the project. Staff came back with some options after having another public meeting with the neighborhood.
The Transportation Engineering presentation for the meeting includes the result of the survey, which shows a clear preference for a two-way, physically separated cycletrack that would mean the removal of parking on both sides. There may be more information added before the Wednesday meeting.
The Mayor’s proposed capital budget for Engineering Bike and Pedestrian Projects is also on the Transportation Commission agenda. The Mayor’s operating budget will be released on Tuesday. The capital budget contains physical projects that are planned for the next five years.
In addition to city funds – usually through borrowing for capital projects – the budget contains anticipated state and federal funding. Obviously, the federal funding is very much in uncertain, as has been discussed in various forums.
Capital bike projects anticipated for 2026 include a continuation of the Capital City Path to the east. This would bring it to the city limits, just under the interstate. After that, it’s a County project to fill the gap to Cottage Grove and the Glacial Drumlin Trail.
In the follow years – 2027-2031 – the following projects are anticupated:
A extension of the West Towne Path from Zor Shrine Place to Gammon Rd
Two overpasses and a path associated with the northern section of the Stoughton Rd project
Paths along E Rusk and Moorland Rd, the West Beltline, and Woodward Dr.
More on these future projects as they come up and we know we have funding.
You can also view the Traffic Engineering capital budget, which contains the Safe Streets Madison program – which contains the Vision Zero projects; small infrastructure projects such as traffic islands, curb extensions, pavement marking, or RRFB signals – and various traffic signal improvements or changes. Many of these changes improve bicycling safety and comfort.
All the city departments capital budgets, as proposed by the Mayor, can be viewed on the city website. The budget will be discussed and passed in the next six weeks.
Winter Bike Fashion Show coming in November
Mark your calendar for the Winter Bike Fashion Show on Sunday, November 16, 1:30-4:30 pm at the Goodman Community Center. And you could be part of it!
This is one of our most popular events, and a great way to carry bicycling enthusiasm into the colder months. If you are winter-bike curious, or want some tips on how to extend your bicycling into colder weather, this is the event for you. Your friends, neighbors, and fellow bicyclists will be modeling how they dress, tips for wet/cold/dark riding, and how they take care of their bikes to ride in all weather.
And if you are already riding in the colder months, you could be a model. As a volunteer model, you’ll come dressed in your own gear, walk the catwalk, and share some of your personal tips for winter riding to encourage others to ride more this season. Application deadline is Monday October 27. Just fill out this form to say you’re up for sharing your tips and tricks.
We are looking for models of all ages, colors, sizes, styles of dress, and types of riding. No experience needed, and you can show off everything from Farm and Fleet specials, St Vinny’s deals, REI, or high tech gear from your favorite bike shop.
You don’t have to be a year-round cyclist to apply, it’s cool if you’re new to riding in the cold. Are you a summer cyclist who’s found a good way to extend your commute into the late fall with a few extra layers? Do you have a teenager who manages to get around town by bike with very little specialized gear? Are you a parent who has figured out how to keep your kids warm for weekend adventures on the bike path? We want to showcase winter biking and winter bikers in all their many forms!
Rides this week
Monday you can join the Mad Town Mondays weekly party ride at 6:00pm at Orton Park
Wednesday is the monthly Madison Queer Bike Ride. Meet at Law Park at 6:00pm
Also Wednesday is the weekly Motorless Motion Taco Ride. Meet at Motorless Motion at 6:00pm
This is the week! The 25th Anniversary (and second time in Madison) edition of the Bicycle Film Festival is happening this Thursday! Tickets are still available as of now, but don’t wait too long. Full details about the festival are available here. We’ll have door prizes and there is a pre-festival social hour at Working Draft, with a special appearance by the Chef At Large food cart. Will we see you on Thursday?
Week Without Driving starts today
Did you know that about 30-40% of residents in Dane County are non-drivers? That is, they can’t or don’t drive at all. Because they’re too young, too old, have a disability that prevents them from driving, can’t afford to drive, don’t have a drivers’ license, or choose not to drive for some reason or the other. Non-drivers face many challenges, such as inadequate transit service, missing sidewalks, unsafe bike conditions, etc. Week Without Driving invites elected officials, transportation professionals, policymakers, and community members to step into the shoes of non-drivers by not driving from Sept 29 to October 5 and reflecting on that experience.
Week Without Driving panel discussion in Madison
In addition, there are also community discussions about the week. You already missed the one in Madison, which took place yesterday (and was wonderful!). But you can still join the discussions in Sun Prairie on Tuesday and Fitchburg on Thursday. Virtual options are included, and the recordings will be made available later. You can also watch a short intro video with Anna Zivarts, the author and activist who came up with Week Without Driving (and apparently considered moving to Madison after she visited in 2024!)
Bike Advocacy Meetup on Sunday
On Sunday, join the monthly Bike Advocacy meetup at Machinery Row. These meetups aim to connect and empower people from the Madison community to collaborate, learn, and strategize ways to make Madison more bike friendly. It’s a welcoming crowd and you don’t need to a bike or bike advocacy nerd to join. 5-6:30 pm at Machinery Row.
Can’t make it in person? There’s an online community on Discord as well: https://discord.gg/QJBt5e5K (link expires in 7 days)
Lake Wingra Community Ride a success
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway at the start of the ride
It was the most beautiful weather imaginable for the inaugural Lake Wingra Community Ride. The ride celebrated the creation of the Lake Wingra Loop, a 6.5 mile route that features natural, historical, and cultural highlights. About 60 community leaders, businesses, elected officials, and people enjoying the route came together and stopped at the various points of interest along the route. There will be likely be another community ride next year, but for now you can experience the route at your pace, whenever you like. Check out the story map here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/52bda717b8a544169a62f691746c77b8
Phil Gaebler (City of Madison Engineering) providing information about stormwater management
Bikers discuss Madison Bikes and advocacy issues at the Starkweather Bike Benefits Event (photo by Laurie Lata)
Welcome to the newsletter. I’m bummed that I missed Parking Day but fortunately we have a report from StrongTowns. I hope many of you were able to see how transformative a small change can be. Enjoy the Week Without Driving.
Bicycle Film Festival is October 2
Only ten days until the Bicycle Film Festival. Here’s how it will go:
Pre-show party at Working Draft with food from Chef at Large Catering at 4 p.m.
Bike Parking – Similar to last year, we anticipate a large number of people arriving by bike. Also similar to last year, we will provide lighted bike parking behind Level 5 Donuts/Fortune Favors next to the Barrymore. Bring your lock.
The show starts at 6:30 in the Barrymore Theatre. Prizes will be given away during the event.
We need volunteers to direct festival goers to the racks behind the Barrymore and to watch over the bikes during the festival. Volunteers will work in pairs for two shifts allowing volunteers to catch half of the program if they wish. This isn’t bad duty. You get free tickets to the event and you will meet lots of bicyclists. The bike parking is essential for the Bicycle Film Festival and your volunteer help would be greatly appreciated. Click here to volunteer.
2025 Week Without Driving
As temperatures cool, we approach the perfect season for bicycle commuting. The timing of the 2025 Week Without Driving couldn’t have been better for Wisconsin. This national challenge begins on Monday, September 29 and invites elected officials, transportation leaders, and community members to go without driving for a week, a day, or even just one trip. Alternatives to driving could include shared rides, transit, walking, or biking. The idea is to increase understanding of the barriers faced by the 30-40% of Dane County residents who do not drive. Many who participate will discover some enjoyable aspects of their commute and recognize gaps in the transportation system that need to be addressed to make these transportation choices safe, convenient, and accessible for all.
Consider attending one of the panel discussions in our area.
Madison — Sunday, September 28, 3:30–5 p.m. UW-Madison Union South
Sun Prairie— Tuesday, September 30, 7–8:30 p.m. Sun Prairie City Hall
Fitchburg — Thursday, October 2, 6:30–8 p.m. Terrace Point Apartments
These panel discussions are inspired by the book, When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency. You can attend these events in-person or virtually.There are more details, including how to get the book, at the website.
As a sponsor of 2025 Week Without Driving, Madison Bikes encourages Dane county residents to participate. Visit the website for more information.
Parking Day Offers New Perspectives
September 19th’s Park(ing) Day installation on Williamson Street was a resounding success. Throughout the day, people stopped by to ask questions, lounge in the temporary public space, and take in a new perspective on how our streets can serve the community. Many passersby offered thanks and encouragement, noting how refreshing it felt to see a parking spot transformed into a place for people. The installation also had a calming effect on nearby traffic, subtly shifting the pace of the street and creating a safer, more welcoming atmosphere. Overall, the event sparked conversation, built connections, and reinforced the idea that small, low-cost experiments can open the door to bigger changes in how we use our public spaces.
We thank Mike Tarby from the local StrongTowns chapter for this report.
Repurposing of parking spaces on Williamson St (photo by Christo Alexander)
John Nolen Drive Informational Meeting
A multi-year construction project for John Nolen Drive starts this fall. The project will include reconstruction and separation of bicycle and pedestrian paths. It should be a big upgrade for those using active transportation to access the isthmus. City of Madison Engineering will host a Zoom meeting to answer questions about the construction schedule and anticipated impacts. Representatives from City of Madison Traffic Engineering, Wisconsin DOT, and the awarded Contractor will be present to answer questions. Pre-registration is required. Register for the meeting here. Learn more about the project at this link.
Winter Bike Fashion Show is Back
This popular event promotes an exchange of ideas to extend your cycling season. Veteran winter bikers will share secrets of their success and comfort. The family-friendly Fashion Show will be held Sunday, November 16 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Goodman Community Center, so put it on your calendar now. Consider attending even if you don’t bike during the winter and are just curious.
More details in next week’s update.
A model at the 2020 Winter Fashion Show displays winter gear (Madison Bikes photo)
Mid Town Road Closure
Mid Town Rd from Marty Rd to S Gammon Rd closed on Wednesday to facilitate a water main installation project. It is uncertain when the road will open again but the project is estimated to end in Mid-November.
Bicyclists traveling to Verona via the Elver Park path are now faced with the option of riding up a 11-12% grade to Raymond Rd. At Raymond Rd, cyclists could join the additional automobile traffic on Raymond, an already high stress route, towards S High Point Rd where there is a bike path/lane. An alternative route from Raymond would be to take Muir Field Rd to McKee Rd. Jeffy Tr to the west might be more convenient for some.
Map of construction and motor vehicle detours around Mid-Town Rd closure (City of Madison)
Cap City Trail Detour in East Madison
Starting on Sept 22, there will be a short detour on the Capital City Trail in Madison to accommodate storm sewer replacement. One side of parking will be removed from E Main Street to accommodate the detour. The duration of the detour is uncertain but the end date for the project has been estimated to be mid-November.
Details of Cap City Detour (City of Madison)
That’s it for this week’s update. It’s a busy time so see the calendar for other activities this week. Don’t forget to purchase your Bicycle Film Festival Tickets while they last. See you there!
This week is stacked with events and stuff to talk about. Loads of mountain bike events, which is appropriate because MTB in the fall is super fun.
Last week the Transportation Commission discussed the planned resurfacing of Midvale Blvd, and a significant part of that was analysis of the results of the now-closed project questionnaire. It’s not too late to familiarize yourself with the options presented and join the discussions. It should come as no surprise to those of you paying attention that continued free parking of private vehicles on public roadways is a big part of the ongoing discussion. There were three options presented in the survey, and analysis from Craig Weinhold suggests that “85% of the supporters of option 3 seem to be protest votes, rather than actual support for option 3.” All of the options will include improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in some form or another. Stay tuned for a detailed post later this week focused exclusively on this expansive topic!
Check out this great video by Nicholas Davies for an on-the-ground walkthrough of the current state of cycling on Midvale.
Up next will be another TC public hearing to address residential parking permits (likely on October 8), eventually followed by a decisive vote in the Common Council.
This Week
On Monday at 6:30 PM, attend the online Regent Street Reconstruction Public Meeting hosted by the City. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change (or not) Regent St to be more bicycle and pedestrian friendly! Registration link here and feedback form/questionnaire here. The feedback form is open for another week so get your voice heard!
On Tuesday at 5 PM, attend a free Family Learn to Ride event at Lussier Community Education Center on the West Side (Gammon Rd). It’s hosted by the Bike Fed (a great organization doing the real work out there) and pre-registration is required, but again, it’s free! Now is a great time to hone those safe cycling skills as kids are heading to school.
On Wednesday from 3-6 PM, attend Erik’s “Mega Demo Tour” to try out a bunch of the latest bikes on some great trails (@ Quarry Ridge — not to be confused with Quarry Park!) that are a quick ride from Madison. If you’re still bombing around on an old MTB like me it’s a great opportunity to get spoiled and try some new tech on real trails.
Also on Wednesday at 6 PM, attend the CORP Trails Movie Night Fundraiser where they’ll be screening the film Wende Cragg Documents the Birth of Mountain Biking. Tickets are $20 in advance and there are some tasty food and beverage options, hosted at the Capitol Brewery Biergarten.
On Friday, celebrate Park(ing) Day! What is Park(ing) Day? A worldwide event where street parking spaces are temporarily turned into something else — a garden, seating, a playground for example. In Madison, there will be [at least] two events:
On Willy St, join the Madison Greenhouse Store and Strong Towns Madison from 11 AM to 8 PM. Stop by 1354 Williamson St to enjoy greenery, games, and human-centered street space — and rethink how car parking spaces can be put to better use.
On Monroe Street, across the street from Trader Joe’s, the Wisconsin chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects will set up an installation from 10 AM to 4:30 PM.
On Saturday from 12-4 PM, attend a demo day hosted by Slow Roll Cycles at CamRock County Park (shelter #3). Check their IG feed for the details. FYI, you will need a Dane County Trail Pass to ride the trails at CamRock.
On Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, check out Fall Jump Jam (@ Quarry Park, not to be confused with Quarry Ridge!), again hosted by CORP (a great organization doing real work out there).
Celebrate the start of fall by joining us for the annual fall jump jam! The jumps are running the best that they ever have and conditions should be prime. Bring food, beverages, and stoke.
Also on Sunday from 12-4 PM, check out the Open Shop @ Neighborhood House hosted by Freewheel (a great organization doing real work out there).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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!
