I hope everyone reading this already knows that it is bike week. If this is the first you’ve heard, then we have been doing a really bad job at communication.
Have you marked your calendar with the events you want to attend? When I counted last Thursday, there were 80 events listed, and it’s possible that more have been added at the last minute. There are events all over town:
- Commuter stations all across the city to pick up yummy treats, including the ever-popular Bacon on the Bike Path, Bratcakes on the Bike Path, and a Cheddar-Bacon Waffles event.
- Bike check-ups and repairs
- Discounts at businesses
- Social rides of all kinds – a great place to meet new people or try a different type of biking
- Demonstrations of different types of bikes, like the family show and share to learn about cargo bikes
- A chance to learn about or practice your skills at the pump track near Leopold School
- An infrastructure tour to see all the cool new paths, connections, and signals to improve your ride
- Lectures and learning opportunities
- A chance to pick up freebies, try using the bike racks on the buses, ask questions about BRT and the transit redesign, and learn about the RoundTrip program
- Rides to other events, like the Mallards game
- A big party at Brittingham Park on Friday
- And so, so much more
There is something for every type of bicyclist and every age and ability, so bring your neighbors and friends that might need some incentive to get the bike out.
Media coverage
We’ve also been getting good coverage in the media, which is great, since Bike Week is meant to encourage new people to get out biking or try a new type of ride.
Inaugural E-Bike Expo: Electric bike riders group kick off Madison Bike Week (NBC15)
More speed limit reductions coming after Madison announces new Vision Zero projects (NBC15)
Madison BIke Week 2024 Begins Saturday (Channel3000)
Trinity Lutheran Church holds first Blessing of the Bicycles event (WKOW-27)
City of Madison Celebrates Bike Week (WKOW-27)
And just out Monday morning, the CityCast Madison podcast will have an interview with Madison Bikes board members Harald Kliems and Eleanor Conrad on Monday.
Wednesday: City budget discussion on north side
Also on tap this week is a city budget discussion and public information meeting Wednesday 6:00 pm at Black Hawk Middle School on the north side. These have been going on around the city for about a month, but if this one is convenient for you, it’s worth it to check out the information and opportunity to give input.
Although many of the infrastructure projects we want are either funded by grants or funded via the capital budget – borrowing to be paid back over years – the operating budget has a projected deficit next year of $27 million. If a referendum doesn’t pass in November, things are going to get cut. That might be traffic enforcement, paint for the streets, filling potholes, maintenance of paths, clearing brush, or even plowing in the winter.
The link asks you to register, but that’s mostly so the city can anticipate the crowd and you can receive information in advance of the meeting. You can just drop in without registering.
Thursday: West area plan: Transportation and Sauk Creek Greenway
In person meeting at High Point Church, 7702 Old Sauk Rd, 6:00 pm.
There has been a lot of news and discussion in our circles about the West Area Plan — a plan for what Madison might look like in the next 30 years — including what new transportation infrastructure might be needed. A suggested north-south path through the Sauk Creek Greenway to connect Mineral Point Rd and Old Sauk Rd has been removed from the draft plan. We are concerned that neighbors are now targeting an even more important easy-west connector.
There is quite a bit of information at the link about about this plan, but if you want to read about the Sauk Creek Greenway specifically, Craig Weinhold wrote a detailed blog post on the subject in early May.
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.