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
The Midvale resurfacing survey was poorly constructed; its options were not even remotely comparable. City Engineering needs to do better when crafting future surveys.
Over a quarter of the written responses offered nothing of substance about the survey questions; many were simply grievances about City projects or the City’s support for bicycling. If these are excluded from the results, options 1 and 3 end up with similar levels of support.
Parking removals along Midvale are an inconvenience to residents, but they are not a hardship. All sixty homes have ample off-street parking and most have room to add more. On-street parking is seldom used today due to the high risk of cars being hit.
Midvale bike lanes have been in City plans for 50 years and there is proven need for them. Painted lanes are not ideal, but they are an economical improvement until the road is fully reconstructed in 10-15 years.
Resurfacing Background
Midvale Blvd north of Mineral Point Rd is going to be resurfaced in 2026. Compared to reconstruction, resurfacing is relatively low cost since it involves only a new layer of asphalt and painting new lane lines. There may be light curb work done, but the overall road geometry is left alone. By resurfacing in 2026, the City hopes to delay a full reconstruction of Midvale for 10-15 years. A full reconstruction will cost much more and includes stormwater, utilities, curb, medians, sidewalks, bike facilities, etc.
Plans to add bike lanes to Midvale Blvd go back to 1975, but north of Mineral Point Rd the curb-to-curb width does not have space for bike lanes and on-street parking and two vehicle lanes in each direction (the road is wider south of Mineral Point Rd and the City long ago painted a shared bike + parking lane there).
In 2023, the City first explored converting Midvale Blvd parking lanes to bike lanes as a Safe Streets For All (SS4A) project. In late 2024, a combined resurfacing + bike lane project was introduced. Information from those past meetings can be found at the Midvale Blvd Resurfacing & Safety Improvement Project page. In summer 2025, the City sent out a public survey asking for feedback on three options for bike facilities:
option 1 paint bike lanes on Midvale Blvd and remove street parking from most of the road.
option 2 move bicyclists to a quiet side street and have them cross multi-lane University Ave and Midvale at un-signalized intersections.
option 3 make no changes to Midvale, but do make minor improvements to Mineral Point Rd crossings at Segoe Rd and Owen Dr.
This survey had serious flaws. Its three “options” were not remotely equivalent. Option 1 was the rare chance to improve the connectedness of the Hilldale area by executing on 50-year old City plans and complying with long-standing City policies, all while having zero effect traffic and drivers. Options 2 & 3, on the other hand, were minor window-dressing projects on well-established bike routes. In fact, option 3’s improvements were so minor that City engineers have admitted they’re going to do them regardless of what happens with Midvale resurfacing.
Additionally, the options were loaded with technical jargon and diagrams rather than visual renderings. This may account for the large number of respondents (at least 11%) who misunderstood what was being proposed. The survey’s creator also seemed to favor option 3, as evidenced by lopsided “pros and cons” listed for each option.
Finally, surveys like this should not be designed like votes. That skews the way people respond to the survey, and it gives the wrong impression to policy-makers looking at the results. E.g., I support the improvements of option 3, but could not say so when taking the survey because I knew that would throw “votes” towards that option.
The survey generated record-setting amounts of public input – around 2500 responses and 1400 written comments. The results were presented at the Sept 20 Transportation Commission (T.C.) meeting. Below is a summary:
Option 3 was the clear winner in the survey, yet the T.C. voted for option 1 because it was the only one that addressed the City’s long-established area plans and transportation policies. I.e., it was the only option that improved bicycling in the area.
City Alders all spoke and voted strongly against option 1 because the loss of street parking would affect about sixty households. The meeting recording is worth watching (Alders and T.C. discussion happens around the two-hour mark). The Alders will now try to overturn the T.C. recommendation at Common Council. In describing her fight to overturn the T.C. vote, Ald Regina Vidaver cites “the overwhelming opposition of the public” to option 1.
Is that true? Was there really overwhelming opposition to option 1, bike lanes? To test this, I and a few volunteers cataloged all 723 written responses from people who listed option 3 as their main choice. Here is the raw spreadsheet for anyone to check the work or do their own analysis. Option 3 was analyzed because it was the option chosen by nearly everyone! It was chosen by bike-lovers and bike-haters. It was chosen by those wanting to preserve street parking and by those concerned for pedestrian safety. It was chosen by people with detailed and well-considered ideas about traffic engineering, as well as those venting about no-turn-on-red signs. So why was option 3 chosen by so many different factions?
Below is a summary of our findings with select quotes.
Analysis of responses to option 3
Note: the groupings below do not add up to 100% because responses could be counted in more than one grouping.
Only 11% of responses mentioned the actual option 3 improvements
I am really excited about the possibility of these improvements
Option 3 provides an even safer route for an existing route many already take, including middle school students, due to the biking lanes already present on Segoe
Owen Drive is a main pedestrian walking route for children living in the Sunset Village neighborhood as they walk to School (at Queen of Peace or Midvale Elementary). Improving that intersection along with the proposed pedestrian safety improvements to Midvale would make a huge positive impact to the walkability/bikability for residents and commuters alike.
This shows 11% of respondents understood the proposed crossing improvements along Mineral Point Rd at Owen and Segoe. Those improvements are so clearly worthwhile that City Engineers at the T.C. acknowledged they’d go ahead regardless of what happens with Midvale resurfacing.
But the fact that 89% of responses made no mention of the improvements suggests that option 3 was mostly a protest option. I.e., it represented the least change, the least cost, the closest to the status quo. For many who chose option 3, its improvements were beside the point.
28% were openly hostile to any bike facilities and/or past City projects.
And half of them also made negative mention of Segoe’s protected lanes, Whitney Way’s parking removal, BRT lane changes, no-right-turn-on-red signs, and other traffic grievances:
Listen, you pencil-necked bureaucrats, you’re at it again, aren’t you?
For God’s sake leave Midvale alone and leave something un-f’d up.
Stop harming people who need to drive vehicles in favor of virtue signaling.
The Segoe redo is a disaster for driving and there are virtually no bikes that use it.
11% mistakenly believed option 1 would remove vehicle lanes or erect concrete protected buffers.
I oppose any options that reduce traffic lanes on Midvale
The Option 1 plan seems to mimic what was created on Segoe Rd from University Ave to Regent Street
if you add bike lanes that block cars from being able to pull over to let emergency vehicles though, YOU will have blood on your hands!
This misinformation was common on social media, and probably resulted from the survey’s lack of visual renderings.
To be clear, option 1 adds a simple painted bike lane and does not remove any traffic lanes. They’re not that different from the lanes on University Avenue in that same area.
22% mentioned street parking.
This is the main opposition point: the removal of street parking needed to add bike lanes. This group is discussed in more detail later on. For a third of these responses, parking was their one and only one concern.
Losing parking on Midvale is not fair to homeowners.
People living on Midvale need to be able to have on street parking, don’t take it away as you did on Whitney Way.
The residents who pay property taxes to the city should take priority over construction projects that will benefit others that do not live there and also decrease those residents’ home values
16% of respondents self-identified as bicyclists.
1% preferred the status quo, 4% would support a bike lane if it were protected (like N. Segoe), and the other 11% felt that since they don’t ride on Midvale, no one else needs to either.
I personally don’t like biking busy streets so that’s why I’m against option
I am a biker and I will always choose a route that is less hazardous than going on Midvale. Even if you make improvements I wouldn’t use them.
as a biker, I never felt Midvale Blvd was a safe option for bike riding.
6% mentioned cost
It is fiscally irresponsible to undertake another expensive project so close to the recently completed Segoe Rd. project.
The city of Madison would be extremely short sighted to undertake such a large project at the taxpayer’s expense while benefitting only a handful of cyclists.
How can this be in a supposed stretched budget? This mayor overspends my tax money
The survey did not discuss costs, other than mentioning that cost savings was a benefit of option 3. The City budget shows $2.75M to resurface Midvale Blvd and implement all pedestrian crossing upgrades and signal improvements. The cost of the three bike options are not broken out, but an educated guess is $150k for option 1, or $50k for options 2 or 3. I.e., all are less than 5% of the project budget.
To put $2.75M into perspective, consider that Rimrock resurfacing is $1.1M for a similar length and width, while Virginia Terrace resurfacing is $2.6M for a road half as long and half as wide. These projects have a lot of cost variability.
25% were “nanny” responses.
These responses believe they’re looking out for the interests of bicyclists by discouraging them from riding on Midvale. These respondents ignored the many reasons why bicyclists might want or need to take Midvale.
Directing bike traffic to nearby, less-traveled streets looks like a better option that will be safer for both bicyclists and motorists.
Keep us safe and keep us off Midvale.
Best move the bikes to neighborhood streets parallel to Midvale.
30% of responses seem to be pure protest votes against the City, against bicycling, or in favor of car-only roads.
This group of responses does not mention street parking, nor do they say anything favorable about safety improvements, alternate bike routes, or crossing improvements. They show little understanding of the resurfacing project nor the options presented by the City engineers. They also show little concern for the problems of the current road (e.g., speed) and for neighbors who live, park, walk, and bike in the area.
This is why people hate you. You and your clipboards, your “community input” meetings where the same three NIMBYs show up to whine.
too.much is spent on idiotic accommodations for bikes.
Construction on Midvale for pedestrians is a waste of money and time
These are valid voices, of course. But are they constructive? Do they deserve the same weight as the other thoughtful comments, especially when many interpret the survey as a democratic vote?
If those 30% of pure protest responses are excluded, the “overwhelming opposition of the public” claim withers and options 1 & 3 are left with similar public support:
Bicyclists use Midvale Blvd in high numbers today, even though it has no official bike facility.
For bicyclists crossing University Avenue, Midvale Blvd is by far the most popular place to cross in the two miles between Whitney Way and Highland Ave.
Of bicyclists traveling north or south of Regent St, slightly more choose Midvale Blvd than the alternate routes on Segoe or Owen.
Segoe and Owen are both excellent bike routes, but they do not serve all riders and all destinations:
Midvale is where the shops, groceries, schools, hardware stores, banks, medical offices, restaurants and library all are. Midvale is part of a 15-minute city.
Midvale is the shortest and most intuitive connection between the Southwest Path, the University Ave / Shorewood Path, and the Regent / Kendall bike boulevard.
Segoe & Owen alternate routes can also be longer, slower, steeper, and require crossing busy Mineral Point Rd, Midvale Blvd, and/or University Avenue without a stoplight. They are also unintuitive to those new to the area, navigating by GPS, or only familiar with major roads.
Below is the biking data from Strava, an activity tracker used by many athletes and commuters. This data is very useful for understanding how popular different routes are, but it is not good for counting the actual number of bicyclists. Click the image for a better view.
The case for on-street parking
Nearly every major road from University Ave to Monroe St has had parking removed or restricted at some point in the past. Here is how Wisconsin State Journal reflected on Regent St rush hour parking removal back in 1960:
This has hurt some merchants and regrettably so, but the council has acted for what it feels to be the greater good.
A policy, to be valid, must be applied impartially. That means Regent St., as well as the many other streets in the city where parking has been restricted.
If the policy isn't applied impartially, then it had better be discarded, and we'd better remove rush hour restrictions from other streets as well...
Every City must weigh the needs of thousands of daily motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and bus-riders against the needs of the adjacent landowners. In business districts that lack off-street parking, the economic aspects often win out and influence road designs, as happened on S. Park Street with BRT. In residential districts, especially those with ample off-street parking, the homeowner resistance usually loses out to City policy and plans.
Madison policy has favored transportation over parking since at least the 1950’s, and that policy is now enshrined in the Complete Green Streets modal hierarchy where street parking is dead last compared to all other needs:
source: Complete Green Streets Modal Hierarchy https://www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/initiatives/complete-green-streets
In the Midvale survey, 161 responses (22%) were in favor of preserving parking, with most comments mentioning the homeowners of the sixty properties south of Regent St:
We have elderly family with mobility issues that will no longer have access to our home.
Removing the Midvale parking will create an inconvenient and dangerous situation for guests and contractors visiting Midvale residences.
Option 1 is unfair to the numerous homeowners on Midvale. Being completely unable to park on the street outside their homes would be a hardship.
The City did numerous counts over two years showing that those homeowners rarely use street parking. How does that fact square with the homeowner pleas to preserve parking?
An examination of the sixty houses shows that nearly all have garages and at least two off-street parking spaces. Most have yard space to add more parking and some have already done that.
All affected homes are less than a block (600′) from off-street parking on quiet side streets.
During public meetings in 2023 and in early 2025, multiple residents explained the low street parking rates were due to the fact that cars get hit when they’re parked on the street.
Crash data from Community Maps confirms that. It shows 17 crashes with parked cars along Midvale in the past 15 years. For comparison, the similarly long stretches of Regent & Bluff had twelve crashes, Mineral Point Rd had four, Owen had five, and Segoe had zero. Midvale appears to have the highest rate of parked car crashes west of the isthmus.
(That brings up the topic of Midvale Blvd speed and safety that was mentioned by at least 13% of respondents. They were near unanimous that the street is becoming unbearable to live near. All wanted the City to do more to control speeds and reckless driving.)
The homeowner protests are real and sincere, but also a bit hollow given how little they use street parking, how much off-street parking they have, and how hazardous it is to park on the road. I wonder how they feel about nearby Mineral Point Rd where there is practically zero usage of street parking. I also wonder about fairness and impartiality: don’t people who live in no-parking areas of Regent St or Commonwealth or Glenway also have contractors, guests, or elderly family with mobility issues? And most importantly, I wonder if this is really an issue of hardship, or is it one of convenience?
I also wonder if the the public would be so defensive of street parking if this project was adding a motor vehicle lane rather than a bike lane… What would the survey results look like then?
The case for compromise
At the T.C., the project was presented with no room for compromise. That’s a shame because there are options.
For example, empirical and anecdotal data suggest that Midvale bike lanes are needed most between Regent St and University Avenue. That’s the business area around Hilldale Mall with many businesses and apartment buildings. One compromise could be to only add bike lanes on that stretch.
Or consider that Midvale Blvd south of Regent St is a big hill. Since northbound downhill bikers travel faster and are more in need of lane space, another compromise might have a bike lane only in the northbound direction.
Several survey responses suggested widening the Midvale sidewalks into paths, like the path along Hammersley Rd. That’s far too costly for the resurfacing project and would also require tree removals and/or yard encroachment. But if there’s enough buy-in from the homeowners, maybe the Alders could drive this idea forward.
I’m personally not a fan of any of the street compromises, but politics involves concessions. At this point, it’s for the Alders to figure out and they should be thinking about all available options.
I do think City policy statements and minor ordinance changes could also address resistance to parking removal. For example, several people mention the need for short use of the street for deliveries, shuffling cars in the driveway, picking up and dropping off, etc. The City should make it clear that temporary “stopping” and “standing” are allowed along the curb provided the vehicles engage their hazard lights. This is what exactly what delivery drivers do today throughout the city, and it works fine. Some people also mention the need for parking for parties or garage sales; the City could adapt street occupancy permits to allow for such events during non-peak hours.
Last word: Shared bike + parking lanes
Any compromise will likely leave gaps where bike lanes disappear and where bikers will need to ride in unofficial 9′ shared bike + parking lanes that are even narrower than the 10′ shared lanes Midvale has today south of Mineral Point Rd. NACTO frowns on shared bike + parking lanes, but Wisconsin seems to like them. The 2004 Bicycle Facility Design Handbook (pg 2-14) specifies 12′ minimum width while the 2003 Bicycle Planning Guidance (pg 39) specifies 14′.
A design point is the right-side painted line. Where it exists, drivers naturally expect bikers to stay to the right of it. But what happens when that’s not possible? The bikers are the ones who finds themselves in sketchy and uncomfortable situations. At those times, it’d almost be better to NOT have that right-side painted line.
This point brings to mind survey response no. 491:
I observe that the few cyclists who do chose to use Midvale Boulevard seem to be intentionally making a point. They either occupy a full traffic lane, or swerve out into traffic around parked cars. They seem to be engaged in dangerous performance art or protest.
I guess one person’s survival skill for navigating bad infrastructure is another person’s performance art!
No tickets are required for the pre-show party at Working Draft Beer Company. Starting at 4pm, it’ll be a great opportunity to chat with folks, enjoy non-alcoholic drinks or a beer, and grab some delicious food from Chef at Large Catering. Nobody wants to go to the movies hungry!
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!
Two weeks from today, on October 2, the 25th anniversary edition of the Bicycle Film Festival will be in Madison! Join us at the Barrymore Theater (and the pre-show party at Working Draft Beer Company). If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, now is a great time to do so: https://barrymorelive.com/event/25th-annual-bicycle-film-festival-madison Need another reason to attend? We’ll have some cool door prizes!
Documentaries, narratives, animations, award-winning directors, and emerging talents – all share equal billing. Take a journey around the globe. BFF Madison features curated stories about:
In South Africa, a young women’s cycling group empowers women to defy norms, find freedom, and dream big through cycling.
Cyclists in London ride through the city distributing food and necessities to those in need, pedaling toward social change.
A spiritual cyclist from India spreads happiness wherever his journey takes him.
In rural China, a migrant worker collects and resells styrofoam boxes using her bike—a story scored by music from Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
See the three-day La Crosse Omnium in La Crosse, Wisconsin from the perspective of youth cyclists.
A World Bicycle Relief documentary highlights the creation of the Buffalo Bicycle, a rugged bike designed to serve marginalized rural communities
One documentary reminds us that the simple joy of wind in your hair while cycling is something everyone can experience. At any age, in any stage of life.
The pre-show party at Working Draft Beer Company starts at 4pm. It’ll be a great opportunity to chat with folks, enjoy non-alcoholic drinks or a beer, and grab some delicious food from Chef at Large Catering. Nobody wants to go to the movies hungry!
We’ll have supervised bike parking right next to the Barrymore, courtesy of Level 5 Donuts and Fortune Favors. What’s supervised bike parking? We set up portable racks and will have someone at the racks at all times. You still need to bring your own lock.
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).