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Category: Weekly Update

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E-Mail Weekly Update

Midvale Resurfacing, Ride the Drive. Siggelkow, Cap City Meetings

I was AWOL for July, so you’re right, this isn’t Madison. I couldn’t resist showing how this creative repurposing of a few parking spots and addition of bollards transformed this intersection in Missoula.  Two Bike Benefits businesses on the right made it a fun place to hang out.

Welcome to this week’s update. Hopefully the smoke has abated for a while so we can fill our lungs with fresher air again.  Be sure to check out the Midvale Blvd survey, RTD, and other meetings in this post.

Important! Your Input Needed on Midvale Resurfacing

Midvale Blvd was one of 16 roadway segments identified as having the greatest need for bicycle facilities in Madison’s 2000 Bicycle Transportation Plan. These roadways had a low bicycle compatibility rating for which there are no suitable alternative routes within the travel corridor, thereby limiting bicyclists’ mobility. That situation has not improved since 2000.

Midvale Blvd is scheduled to be resurfaced next spring between University Ave and Mineral Point Rd. Currently, Midvale is a high-stress route for bicycling because of traffic volume and speed and the lack of bike lanes. There will not be opportunities to make major changes to the dimensions of the road for a decade or so because the project is a resurfacing and not a rebuild. However, the resurfacing project could include road marking along with other minor changes such as bumping out pedestrian crossings.

The City of Madison Engineering has posted a survey regarding the resurfacing project. The survey includes three alternatives for improving bicycling conditions for bicyclists traveling north/south in the Midvale corridor. One alternative (option 1) includes buffered bicycle lanes and removal of most parking on Midvale.  The other two alternatives (options 2 and 3) would reroute bicyclists to parallel routes. None of the alternatives meet criteria for all ages, all abilities. The alternatives include a list of pros and cons for each.  Please read the options carefully when you complete the survey.  

Relevant issues not included in the pros and cons include:

  • For options 2 and 3, bicyclists would have to rely on a RRFB (yellow flashing beacon) at Blackhawk to cross University Ave. That crossing would be daunting for most.
  • Option 2 only provides bike facilities on a small section of Midvale and Option 3 doesn’t provide any.   
  • Owen Drive has a hill with an 8.5% grade (between Bagley and Hillcrest) south of Regent St that will challenge many without e-bikes.

The deadline for this survey is September 2. There is no time like the present!

Current bike network in the Hilldale area (City of Madison)

Ride the Drive is Here!

Ride The Drive will happen between 10am and 2pm on Sunday, August 10. John Nolen Drive and part of Williamson St will be closed to motor vehicles for the event. This may be your last opportunity for a few years to ride on John Nolen Drive because scheduled improvements will begin soon. During RTD, Madison Bikes and Machinery Row will be hosting a Pedal Parade that rolls out at noon from McPike Park.

This year, some vendors and exhibitors (including Madison Bikes)  will be located on the John Nolan Drive Roadway to better interact with participants. The Madison Bikes tent will be on John Nolen Drive from 10 am until 2 pm where we will be making bike powered smoothies and talking to people about Madison Bikes. We still need volunteers to help make smoothies between 10 and 2 and help provide bicycle related information from noon to 2. Shifts are only two hours so there is still lots of time to participate in the event AND volunteer. You can sign up to volunteer here!

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

Tancho Drive Bike Path Update

Unfortunately, construction of the Tancho Drive Path has been delayed again now due to budget constraints. The path has been rerouted and hopefully construction will start in 2026. Some details are here.

Cap City Trail Extension Meeting Thursday

The City of Madison is in the planning/design stages for the Capital City Path – Glacial Drumlin Trail extension project in coordination with Dane County. The city portion of the project will extend the Capital City Path to the east side of Interstate I-39/90 via an underpass.  This is an important link to fill in the remaining gap in the trail between Madison and Milwaukee. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Aug. 7, 2025, via Zoom. Registration is required.

Public Information Meeting: Siggelkow Road

The second of three public information meetings regarding the ongoing Siggelkow Road Traffic Study will be held on Wednesday August 6, 2025 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the McFarland Municipal Center, located at 5915 Milwaukee St. A virtual option is also available.

To learn more about this project and watch the recording of the first public information meeting held on May 7, visit the project webpage. For questions or comments,  contact the McFarland Community & Economic Development Department at community.development@mcfarland.wi.gov or (608) 838-3154.

Area encompassed by Siggelkow Rd study

That’s it for this week’s update. See you all at Ride the Drive!

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

Stoughton Rd Survey; Pedal Parade Incoming

It’s Madison festival season and bike parking is limited: a great problem to have.

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

Stoughton Rd Survey

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

Pedal Parade at Ride the Drive

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

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

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

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

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

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Bike News Newsletter Weekly Update

Big, public projects

Two bicyclists, headed in opposite directions, ride past each other along the Lake Monona waterfront near Monona Terrace. A red kayak and a white powerboat are visible on the lake, as is the Monona lakeshore in the background.

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

Madison LakeWay public meeting

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

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

More South Stoughton Road

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

Volunteer for Ride the Drive

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

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

Categories
Bike News Newsletter Weekly Update

US 51 Meeting; Tacos; Construction; Volunteer

The bike counter on John Nolen Drive reads 2655 while a parent and child ride by on a long-tail cargo bike
The bike counter’s daily count at 7pm on a Saturday – about 2x the daily average of 1383 at this station.

Welcome to the Madison Bikes Newsletter. This week, we have some meeting news, construction updates, group ride info, and a Madison Bikes volunteer opportunity.

Stoughton Rd Public Information Meeting

On Tuesday, July 15th, there will be another public information meeting for planning the future of Stoughton Rd / US 51. The meeting is one in a series that will dive into the current and potential future issues with the corridor, and what designs and alternatives area residents would like to see to make the best use of the space. There are a myriad of issues with the current design, including a lack of bicycle access along and across US 51, and a glaring lack of pedestrian crossing opportunities. The intersections at Buckeye and Pflaum are notorious for being some of most dangerous intersections in the entire city.

A while back, we shared some conceptual design alternatives from WisDOT on potential changes to the road. While none of the alternatives are perfect, the options that improve the ability for cyclists and pedestrians to safely use and cross the road without going miles out of their way are my preference. What are your thoughts on US 51? If you are interested, you can use the link on the project page to send your comments (look for the “comment now” link), or even better, you can come to the meeting on Tuesday and tell WisDOT you care about safer pedestrian and bike access.

Bikes and Tacos

Did you know that every Wednesday, you can join a casual group ride and get discounted tacos? Well, now you do! Join Motorless Motion for the weekly Taco Ride every Wednesday at 6pm, beginning at their shop on W Washington Ave and ending next door at Bandit Tacos.

A few weeks ago, board member Craig Weinhold helped lead a special Infrastructure edition of the Taco Ride in a collab with Madison Bikes. The ride rolled through town and stopped at notable infrastructure like the exciting, newly completed E Wilson cycletrack (part of the E Wilson reconstruction project). The infrastructure x taco ride was the first of its kind, but hopefully there will be more room for collaboration in the future. And there will always be tacos, so what are you waiting for?

Construction Season Means a Detour for the Detour

Heads up to commuters in SW Madison: this week (July 14-23) Cherokee Dr will be closed to through traffic. Since it was being used as a detour for the Nakoma construction, there will be a new detour on Manitou Way for the week. More info can be found on the City’s Facebook post or the project website.

Volunteers needed for Ride the Drive

Volunteers are needed for Madison Bikes’ Event at Ride the Drive on Sunday, August 10th. This is separate form the volunteers needed by the City of Madison Parks for Ride the Drive. Our tent will be on John Nolen Drive from 10 am until 2 pm where we will be making bike powered smoothies and talking to people about Madison Bikes – who we are, what we do, and upcoming events.  You can sign up to volunteer here!

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

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

Categories
Weekly Update

Slow News Week, Bike Fed Hiring

A road bike rider stops for a break with a pastoral scene behind. The biker is mostly in silhouette and the rows of the field behind form a pleasing pattern.
Summer is a good time for quiet rides

It’s a quiet week out there! The biggest news is that the Wisconsin Bike Fed is immediately hiring for three full-time positions.

  • Dane County Youth Education Program Manager
  • Statewide Education Manager
  • Pedestrian Safety Program Manager – MILWAUKEE County

Help them find the perfect people for these important positions!

This Week

On Wednesday there’s a Transportation Commission meeting at 5pm but there’s nothing in particular to note here. If you don’t believe me, here’s the agenda so you can look for yourself.

Be aware of an ongoing construction project to add sidewalks to sections of long-sidewalkless Nakoma Rd that will impact those who are biking the “Small Lake Loop” (aka Lake Wingra). Or those simply accustomed to riding Manitou Way near the Arboretum. Instead, follow the signed detours on Cherokee Dr. Expect this minor detour to last until mid-August.

On a slow week, it’s worth explicitly calling out our calendar, which consists largely of group/social rides this week. In fact, there’s a well-established one tonight (Monday) so take advantage of those long summer evenings and socialize, if that’s your bag! If you have a regularly scheduled ride that you don’t see listed, this is as good a spot as any to include those details so let us know and we can add or update it.

Coming Up

Volunteers are needed for Madison Bikes’ annual event at Ride the Drive on Sunday, August 10th. Please note that this is separate from the volunteers needed by the City of Madison Parks. Our tent will be on John Nolen Drive from 10 am until 2 pm, where we’ll be making bike-powered smoothies and talking to people about Madison Bikes — who we are, what we do, and upcoming events.

If you’re able to volunteer for Madison Bikes, please use this link to register your interest. Thank you!

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

Heat, construction, and detours

Whew. We seem to have entered the heat of construction/detour season as well as the hot weather. There are a bunch of projects that might disrupt your normal biking patterns, but most seem to be on the near west side.

The city used to have a weekly update on construction and projects, but that seems to have disappeared with Renee Callaway.

There aren’t any bike-related city meetings or agenda items at committee meetings this week, but there’s still plenty of news.

Ride the Drive Needs Volunteers

Here’s your chance to volunteer for a fun event. Ride the Drive is on Sunday, August 10, from 10 am to 2 pm, with streets closed from 8AM to 3PM. This event promises to be a fantastic day of community, cycling, and fun.  

Most shifts are only 2 hours, so you can volunteer AND ride in the event. The roles with the most need are: Intersection Guides, Setup Crew, Information Station Guides, Cleanup Crew. Sign up today at ridethedrive.com and be a part of this wonderful community event!

 How to Sign Up:

  1. Review the volunteer role descriptions and choose a position or positions that work for you.
  2. Click Browse Opportunities and Register Online
  3. Enter the requested contact information, select “Register” and you will receive an email confirmation.
  4. Report to your registered location and time on Sunday, August 10 to receive further instructions and pick up your free, RTD t-shirt!
Next advocacy meetup at Machinery Row

The next Bike Advocacy Meetup is Sunday, July 6 from 5:00-6:30pm at Machinery Row! We’ll spend time writing postcards to city employees and other government officials thanking them for their advocacy and efforts to complete the Autumn Ridge Bike Bridge and the Sycamore Bike Park; handing out Bike Advocacy Bingo cards; and discussing advocacy work and projects we want to focus on in the coming months. We hope you can join us for a fun and informative filled evening!

Discord correction/update:

Last week we mentioned the new Madison bike advocacy Discord server. The link had expired. Here’s a new link (good until Friday): https://discord.gg/abZASVmB

City survey closes July 1

One more reminder that the city survey about walking and biking, and what they can do to make it easier, safer, and more comfortable, closes July 1. This is different than the survey put out by the MPO. 

Construction:

Highland/Campus Dr Path

Starting today, Monday, June 30 until the end of August, the southbound lane of Highland Ave will be closed from the VA Hospital parking lot to University Ave. The on ramp from Highland to Campus Dr will also be closed. However, the Campus Dr Path will remain open, and possibly be a much easier crossing without turning vehicles, half the cross traffic, and generally fewer motor vehicles. However, if you need to transition from the path to Highland – like me – you will have to use the eastside sidewalk to get under the Campus Dr bridge.

The C bus will also be routed down the 2600 block of Stevens St and Farley instead of on Campus Dr, and the E bus will take Regent to Farley, so take care if these streets are part of your route.

More Shorewood Hills detours

From our friends in Shorewood Hills: “Beginning on Monday June 30th, the westbound University Ave bike lane between Shorewood Blvd and Highbury Rd will be closed nightly from 7pm to 7am.  The bike lanes will be open outside of these hours. We anticipate this nightly closure will last a few weeks, with all work requiring the detour expected to be completed by Monday, August 4th.

“Alternate Route: During this timeframe, westbound cyclists are encouraged to use Shorewood Boulevard to Locust Drive to Rose Place to University Avenue which will be marked with signage. We recommend riders allow a few extra minutes of travel time.”

UW Lakeshore Path/Eagle Heights access disruptions

There is yet another water pipe project happening that will disrupt path access, this time on the UW campus. It won’t start until July 7, but I’m including it now so I won’t forget. It’s unclear how long this project will last. The work will be done in small chunks, so it should be fairly easy to detour onto University Bay Dr when a section is closed.

Access to Eagle Heights apartments will be affected, and the drive will need to be closed for the day. However, the primary impact is on the Lakeshore Path. To minimize disruption, the plan is to replace 20 feet of pipe at a time, backfilling each section as we progress to maintain passability.

Despite these efforts, Lakeshore Path traffic will be interrupted. The UW wants to be sure everyone is aware. Please share any concerns or comments regarding the planned reroute of pedestrian traffic. with the UW Transportation Services.

The future of the top of State Street

Although this is not a bike facility per se, many people bike through the intersection of W Mifflin, N Carroll, and State Street every day. The city is going to rebuild this important junction, and they have started having public meetings asking what people want to see. Last week there was an in person and online meeting, which you can watch at the link above. Then send the city your thoughts about what’s important to you. (This is an important bike connector for me, since I usually access the Square via W Mifflin. For years, I rode illegally between the cul-de-sac and the top of State. The city finally made it legal.)

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
E-Mail Weekly Update

Another survey; Bike Benefits Spotlight Ride; Discord; crash witness sought; area plans at TC

A multi-use path parallel to a road in a residential area, in the blazing sun.

How have you been dealing with the heat? Did you go biking anyway? I’ve been out despite the heat, exploring new multi-use trails on the west side. But I took it slow and hydrated a lot. Also watch out for branches and downed trees!

Biking and Walking Survey (no, not that one)

Have you taken the city’s survey on walking and biking in Madison yet? You may think you have, but it’s possible that you were thinking of the Greater Madison MPO survey instead. Arguably, the city’s survey is even more important, as the data from it will be used to create what is effectively a bike network plan. So please take the time and take the survey.

A quick reminder that the City of Madison is updating its Pedestrian Plan and finalizing its All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Bike Network and we want to hear from you! Please complete a short survey to tell us about how and where you walk, bike, and roll in Madison and provide input on draft plan goals. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, and your responses are anonymous. Your input will inform the planning process and recommendations.

The survey will be available until July 1.

Crash witness sought

Someone was hit by a driver while biking on the Yahara River Trail (Ed Jepsen Way) and is looking for a witness. If you’re that person or have any other tips, please email us at info@madisonbikes.org and we’ll pass the information along:

There was a really lovely femme person who talked to me on the phone! Unfortunately, the police did not interview any of the witnesses, nor did they follow up for my friends statement like they said they would and they did not get any report of damages to their bike/other personal belongings. Additionally, the report does not specify that this person ran through a stop sign.

I am looking for folks who witnessed my friend get hit by a red mini van with IL plates on June 11th around 5:00 PM near the bike path on the Yahara River Trail, (near the river) on Main Street.

We’re just trying to gather info for them so that they can file a more accurate report.

Bike Benefits Spotlight Ride: Bandit Tacos

Bike Benefits encourages biking to local businesses through an incentive awarded to patrons who show up on a bike and display their Bike Benefits helmet sticker. Madison Bikes will periodically arrange spotlight rides to Bike Benefits businesses.  If your business is interested in putting on a spotlight ride, contact Madison Bikes.

This week we are spotlighting Bandit Tacos as a Bike Benefits member. Join Motorless Motion for their Wednesday Bandit Tacos ride at 6PM on June 25 at 640 W Washington Ave. Craig Weinhold from Madison Bikes will accompany riders and fill us in on the latest plans for bike infrastructure along the route. His wealth of information always makes infrastructure fun. Discounted tacos are available after the ride, of course. For more information contact Brooke Carey at brooke@motorlessmotionbicycles.com.

Bike advocacy Discord server

There’s a new way to organize and chat about bike advocacy in the Madison area: Borne out of discussions at the Machinery Row bike advocacy meetups, there was a sense “that the Madison community could use a platform enabling more two-way communication and online community building.” As a result, Dan and Lauren created a Discord server. You can check out the server with this invite link (sorry, the previously posted link was expired):

https://discord.gg/abZASVmB

Southwest and Southeast area plans at Transportation Commission

The process to create area plans for the southeast and southwest plan areas continues. These plans set a long-term vision for aspects such as housing, transportation, land use, and community facilities. This Wednesday, the Transportation Commission will get an update about the public input so far. You can submit public comment to the commission by emailing TransportationCommission@cityofmadison.com or registering for comment at the meeting at https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register Here are two slides from the presentation about the plan:

Corrections: Wilson Street video link and Blackhawk Path

Last week’s newsletter had a link to a video from the (almost) open Wilson Street protected bike lane. Unfortunately, shortly after the newsletter went out, the video was taken down. Here’s the new link if you missed it: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/idpjKvixwqI

The newsletter also mentioned that the closure of the Blackhawk Path in Shorewood Hills was over. Several readers pointed out that the barriers are back now. You can find the latest construction updates here: https://www.madsewer.org/project/west-interceptor-shorewood-relief/

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

TAP Projects, E Wilson Cyclepath, Film Festival, Data Bike, Bike Bingo

The Shorewood path is open to the pool. Asphalt and cement work is finished to Marshall Ct, so hopefully the entire path opens soon. (photo: Paul Lata)

Lots of new projects planned and underway. Some are nearly complete. Read on.

TAP Bicycle Projects Prioritized

Kevin Luecke, Madison’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Administrator, presented four TAP(Transportation Alternatives Program) projects for prioritization at the Transportation Commission meeting. TAP projects are 80% funded by the Wisconsin DOT.  The link to the presentation slides that includes a map for each project is here:

The projects will likely be ranked as listed below:

  1. Beltline Frontage road path. Seminole Hwy to Landmark Dr. Shared use path construction along a portion of the W Beltline Frontage Road where there is no sidewalk and a substandard bicycle lane for conditions. This project was previously approved, but funding was not available.
Site of proposed Beltline Frontage Rd path (City of Madison)

2. Garver path extension. Milwaukee St to Marsh View Path. Together with shared use paths to be built by a developer in 2026, this extension would provide a connection through Starkweather Park and to the existing connecting path under WIS 30 to Commercial Ave. There is a potential future connection over Stoughton Road to the Autumn Ridge Path extension. This path would allow residents north of Hwy 30 to connect with paths taking them to Atwood Ave and downtown Madison.

Map of new shared use path linking Marshview path to Atwood Ave

3. Odana Road Side Path. Southwest Path spur to Wedgewood Way.  This project repurposes the parking lane along the Odana Golf Course to connect the SW Path to a new bike boulevard on local streets and a connection to the Beltline path. This project would be of less value if the path along the beltline east of Whitney is built, but the future of that path is uncertain and probably a long way off.

4. Autumn Ridge Path Extension. This path would connect the planned bike route north along Hwy 51 (probably in the distant future) to the new Autumn Ridge path and bridge, and potentially the bridge over Hwy 51 to the Marshview path if it is built.  

These projects will be submitted in late June of 2025. Stay tuned for further developments.

Wilson St. Cyclepath Complete*

The two-way cycle track on Wilson Street is complete (*except for a 0.05 mile construction interruption near Pinkney St.) This project connects important downtown corridors including Broom St. and the Capital CityTrail. Connectivity will be further enhanced when the path on the North side of Northshore Dr. is complete. This project would have looked much different without public input. Thanks to all who provided comments.

The only remaining gap in the Wilson St path (photo: Paul Lata)

Our board member Harald took some video footage: https://youtube.com/shorts/idpjKvixwqI?feature=share (link has been updated)

Bicycle Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary!

Bicycle Film Festival will be returning to Madison on October 2, 2025 for the 25th anniversary of BFF. Ticket sales will go live, but in the meantime, hold yourself over with a virtual BFF Festival:

BFF is celebrating virtually with some of our Greatest Hit films that screened from 2001 until today.

Get a full festival pass to watch all 5 programs:

https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/161654341/bicycle-film-festival-2024-2025-virtual-bff-classics

BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL WORLDWIDE VIRTUAL: BFF CLASSICS featuring 40 past films curated into four short film programs and one filmmaker retrospective program. Join our celebration virtually!

These films from BFF over the years capture the essence of human perseverance, vulnerability, strength, and the pursuit of dreams. The evolution of cycling, as seen through cinema, reflects its broader
cultural significance. From documentaries to narratives and animated stories, cycling culture is shaped by talented filmmakers, each offering a unique perspective on the bicycle’s impact on individual
lives and society as a whole. Every film reveals a different facet of cycling’s rich history, creating an intricate portrait of this beautiful and important global movement.

Program 1 – ADVENTURE SHORTS
Program 2 – URBAN BIKE SHORTS
Program 3 – CINEMATIC SHORTS
Program 4 – ADVENTURE SHORTS II
Program 5 – BRIAN VERNOR RETROSPECTIVE (feature films)

Each program is available to watch worldwide now through July 1, 2025.

 Tickets and Passes:
https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/161654341/bicycle-film-festival-2024-2025-virtual-bff-classics

 Artwork to download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/flr5qzzvc5ztz8zdy31iy/AFYBUhB9d2ov7Yt2Y1j7RIg?rlkey=c471bfljg55jk3uz2dyexaj7o&st=g76tw7kt&dl=0

Stills:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/72eln9xhhfc7fgaju1dwh/APQnhQZWaoTJTR__lxxFj2s?rlkey=ruegoot1hocw6u1ixqtbadl5h&st=h7f7wt7x&dl=0

Vision Zero, Safe Streets and Speed Management

Sometimes it seems that transportation projects come at us fast and furious. That’s a good thing but it can get confusing. The city of Madison has released a nice summary of improvements made to improve safety for all roadway users. This summary includes projects which are underway or recently completed.

Budget Listening Session – Transportation

Pinney Library, June 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

This live meeting will feature an update of the 2026 budget process with Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke and presentations from Metro Transit, the Parking Division, and Traffic Engineering. This is an opportunity to speak directly with City staff about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison’s future. Register to attend the meeting here.

Name the Data Bike

If you haven’t heard, the Greater Madison MPO now has a Data Bike. This e-cargo bike will be used to collect data and images in Greater Madison.  It is equipped with a Hero 13 rear-facing camera to document visual surface conditions; an Insta360 4x camera to capture images for Google Street View; and an iPhone 15 running the SensorLog app to measure surface roughness. Trail surface roughness is measured as the accelerometer’s X, Y, and Z coordinate movements normalized for travel speed. All three devices record geo-located data/photos, enabling them to be mapped and compared easily.

This information will help trail managers and policymakers prioritize maintenance and reconstruction across Dane county. The 360-degree imagery will be available to the public.

Obviously, this bike needs a name and this is your big chance to name it. E-mail your suggestion to mpo@cityofmadison.com.

Madison’s new Data Bike (Greater Madison MPO)

You know about Bicycle Benefits.  What about Bike Bingo?

Dates of Bike Bingo:   June 1- Sept. 1, 2025

How it works:

1. Pick up a $10 Madison Bike Bingo card at a listed location that comes equipped with a special edition holographic Bicycle Benefits program sticker. Put that sticker on your bike helmet (or give it away if you already have one.) The sticker will give you a discount or reward every day of the year when you ride to participating locations and show it.

2. Ride your bike to the locations on the card, use the Bike Benefits discount by showing it on your helmet. Request a stamp. If a place offers an alcohol-related discount, ask that they extend it to a n/a beverage.

3.If you complete a row, you can roll over to one of the “row prize locations” and redeem a prize.

Complete your full card and receive a $25 gift card and a bonus prize compliments of Bicycle Benefits. 

See the this link for locations which have the Bike Bingo cards available. Email info@bicyclebenefits.org for more details, questions, or to get your Bike Benefits Support stamp and full card prize

Get out and enjoy the balmy weather but keep watching these weekly updates and our community calendar.

Madison Bikes 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

A Successful Madison Bike Week

Over 100 riders showed up for the Motorless Motion Bike Week Taco Ride

Welcome to the Madison Bikes newsletter. What a wonderful Bike Week it has been! There was so much effort that went into the planning and coordination for the past week of rides, classes, discounts, snack stations, and more. We are incredibly grateful for all of the community members, businesses, and volunteers who put on or helped with the events that made this week incredible. With a record number of 89 events, including a party with a pig, classical music on the bike path, and an awesome end-of-week party with over 300 attendees, the past week is one we will remember for a long time. To everyone who organized, helped, or attended events: THANK YOU!

With a record number of events came several infrastructure tours that I’d like to share more about. To kick off Bike Week on Sunday the 1st, Madison Bikes board member Craig Weinhold took community members around the East side of Madison to see current and future infrastructure project locations. One of the highlights was seeing the potential future location of the Cap City to Glacial Drumlin connector path. The path, once in existence, will safely connect the East end of the Capital City Trail to the Glacial Drumlin Trailhead in Cottage Grove.

Craig (right) talks to the infrastructure tour group about the future Glacial Drumlin Connector path

The photo above was taken just South of Wagon Trail, near I90, where a portion of the path will begin after the route takes you through existing neighborhood streets. The portion from here through the I90 crossing has been committed to by the city of Madison and is likely to be constructed in 2026. For the next portion, the county is responsible and we are likely to see it in 2026-2027.

Map of existing and future path plans for the Glacial Drumlin Connector, courtesy of Craig

Shifting gears over to the West side of town, on Saturday the 7th, Jerry Schippa took infrastructure enthusiasts on a ride from the Western BRT terminal on S Junction Rd all the way to downtown. The ride stopped at notable points of infrastructure including lots of improvements along Mineral Point Rd that came with the BRT construction. One highlight of the tour was seeing the inside of a traffic signal cabinet.

Jerry Schippa showcases the internals of a traffic control cabinet at University Ave / Ridge St / Marshall Ct

This cabinet contains a sophisticated system that uses sensors and complex algorithms to manage traffic flow for vehicles, buses, bikes, and pedestrians. This technology, rather than being a simple timer for traffic lights, can do things like detect the presence of vehicles through loops embedded in the road and preemptively change signals to prioritize emergency vehicles. Cabinets like this can even be controlled remotely to make quick updates to signaling.

While many are newer, some of the traffic control cabinets around town are over 40 years old. Some of these older cabinets are not able to support the complex signaling required for those who are walking or biking to safely and conveniently use the intersection.

Another interesting traffic signal you might see in Madison is an indicator light showing cyclists that a bicycle has been detected so they are not wondering if the light is going to change for them, or be at the mercy of a motor vehicle coming along and triggering the sensor. While buried detection loops for bicycles are common in Madison, the city currently only has 2 of these visual signals: one at Park/Erin and the other at E. Johnson/First. They are very expensive, and to get more intersections added, the city is considering making them in-house in the future.

Also on Jerry’s ride, we got a peek at a new path section being built from High Point Rd to Zor Shrine Pl (beyind REI). It is the second-to-last section of the long-awaited West Beltline Path.

Along with being a great infrastructure tour guide, Jerry also has a YouTube channel with dozens of videos and shorts about traffic signal operations and other infrastructure content.

New Week, New Path

The newly added path on the North side of N. Shore Dr

The new path along the North side of N. Shore Drive is coming along nicely. It is part of a series of bikeway improvements that are currently in progress. Other current projects include a new path along the NW side of E. Washington between the Yahara Path and N. First St. and a path connection between Winnebago St and Lafollette Ave. All of the above are expected to be complete by mid June.

That’s all for this newsletter. We hope you enjoyed Bike Week and as always, thanks for being a part of the Madison Bikes community.

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

Bike Week, Madison’s new transportation director

This week of bikes

The good news is, Madison Bike Week started yesterday. But there’s more good news: There is almost an entire week of Madison Bike Week left to celebrate.

Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway handing the Madison Bike Week declaration to our President Christo

Beth Skogen Photography – www.bethskogen.com

Weekday morning (and afternoon) rider pit-stops begin in earnest Tuesday, with generous spreads of breakfast, snacks, caffeine and deodorant awaiting hungry, thirsty and … odorant riders around Madison and in Middleton and Fitchburg. Check the calendar. There will be a gathering and refueling spot near you.

Madison’s Southwest Area Plan is the subject of Tuesday and Wednesday opportunities to meet and talk (and snack on the bike path, because that’s how this week works) with members of the city’s Planning Division about streets, bike paths, transit and other aspects of the in-process plan for the area south of the Beltline and west of Fitchburg. Bonus info: Updates on the plan are on the agenda for the Plan Commission meeting tonight (June 2).

The Capital City State Trail is 25 years old, making it exactly 100 years younger than the state park system. Celebrate both milestones with the DNR and Dane County Parks and cupcakes, trivia and prizes from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, on the Capital City State Trail at Lussier Family Heritage Center

Don’t miss the big Madison Bikes Bike Week Party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at Brittingham Park, 829 W. Washington Ave. It’s got it all: grilled food, ice cream, drinks, music, many bike-related organizations offering info and free stuff/services and a crowd of fellow two-wheeled travelers. There are still opportunities to volunteer for the party, too! Please consider picking up a short stint setting up, taking down or working the bingo table while enjoying the fellowship.

There’s so much more! Check out the full Madison Bike Week schedule for meet-ups, rides, infrastructure tours and how-to opportunities that celebrate cycling in and around Madison. Don’t forget to add a 2025 Bike Week T-shirt to your biking wardrobe.

Sunday’s Pride Ride had over 200 participants!

Beth Skogen Photography – www.bethskogen.com

Spieler named transportation director

Madison’s next director of transportation will be Christof Spieler, a Houston-based engineer, author and Rice University lecturer in urban transportation. Over 17 years as a planner with the consulting firm Huitt Zollars, Spieler has tackled projects across the spectrum of urban planning in a long list of American cities — including bus networks in Forth Worth and Boston, an Austin rail station, transit plans for St. Paul, Philadelphia regional commuter rail, highways and parks and mixed-used districts in Houston, Seattle’s plan for transit-oriented development.

“I look forward to bringing the skills and experience I’ve developed to a role where we can make sure cars, pedestrians, bikes, and buses all work together, and to have the opportunity to turn master plans into projects that make peoples’ lives better every day,” says Spieler, who also says he has relied on transit and walking for most of his daily trips in Downtown Houston.

He starts work in Madison on July 21, which is probably just enough time for the Madison Public Library’s copy — it’s on order! — of Spieler’s book, “Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US and Canadian Transit,” to arrive and hit the shelf.

Weigh in on Madison-area mobility planning

Now is your chance to let Spieler’s soon-to-be colleagues at the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization know how you hope to move about Madison and 35 neighboring municipalities. Your input on the MPO’s survey, open through July 1, will help guide their Active Transportation Plan for Dane County, “a blueprint for making it safer, easier and more enjoyable to walk, bike and roll (including using wheelchairs and other mobility devices) throughout the region.”

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!