Category: Bike News

Weekly update: Keep riding, a few city meetings, and get ready for the fashion show!

Post author By Robbie Webber
Post date November 27, 2017

Although we still have over a week to go, the big news is that we are busy preparing for the Winter Bike Fashion Show on December 9 at the High Noon. Make sure to invite all your friends who are curious about how and why to bike in cold weather. You can even invite those friends who think we are all nuts; they may just have fun or gain a new respect for the cold-weather pedalers. We have a great roster of models lined up!

Besides the fashion show, there are a couple of city meetings and a whole lot of fun cool/cold weather events to keep your blood and legs moving. Or, you can just be a spectator at the Cyclocross Championships on Saturday.

Monday

Bike Fitchburg monthly meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Fitchburg Public Library. If you live or work in Fitchburg or just care about what happens there, here’s a great group to influence policy in our neighboring city.

MEAThead ride, starting at Fords Gym at 7:00 pm at 2114 Winnebago. This is a no-drop ride of Lake Monona with an optional loop through the Arboretum. If this sounds like fun, but you can’t make this one, it is held every Monday from November until March 6.

Tuesday

The Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission will meet at 5:00 pm in room 201 of the City-County Building. On the agenda is a resolution to proceed with development of a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor running east and west. The eastern and western termini area still to be determined. More information is available in the documents for the meeting. While this is not strictly a bicycle issue, BRT can be a complement to improved bicycling in the city as part of a strong multimodal transportation system. But we will have to be careful that the BRT is not built at the expense of bicycle facilities that allow access to important destinations in the same corridor. Also on the agenda is a discussion of the continuing Imagine Madison planning process. You can watch the meeting streaming here.

Also on Tuesday is another edition of the Tuesday Night Ride, a social no-drop ride averaging 10 mph. Leaving from Colectivo on the Square at 6pm sharp. Don’t forget your lights! This week they will stop by Alt Brew, hoping there will be a new Bicycle Benefits Madison, WI deal.

Thursday

The same two issues mentioned on the PBMVC agenda –⁠ the Imagine Madison update and the resolution in favor of the BRT Phase 1 will also be on the agenda of the Long Range Transportation Planning Committee on Thursday, meeting at 5:00 pm in room 108 of the City-County Building.

Saturday

The Cyclocross State Championships at the Trek Headquarters, 801 W Madison St, Waterloo. It’s back for 2017! Once again, Revolution Cycles Club is promoting the WI State Cyclocross Championships. Expect thrills, spills, and chills on a technical course at Trek HQ!

Photo from the 2016 Global Fat Bike Day at CamRock

And if cyclocross isn’t your thing, then how celebrating Global Fat Bike Day at the CamRock Cafe and Sport, 217 W Main St, Cambridge. It will be the same day as the Cambridge Country Christmas, so there are events for the whole family. Details here. Group Ride at 2:00 pm. Lots of beverages (brews and non-alcoholic options) stashed at stop points around the trails. Fun back at CamRock Sport at 5:00 pm with Bonfires, Food, and more. All donations and all money raised for food, beverages, etc. going to the Bike Park. Music starts at 7:00 pm and goes all night. And somewhere in there the Badgers will be playing for the Big Ten title!

Sunday

Finally, to round out the week, come to the Cargo Bike/Café Domestique Shop Social, 1404 Williamson St. There will be warm beverages, a short ride, and the chance to learn more about the hosts. 3:00 pm: Meet for a hot beverage 3:30 pm: Roll out for a Lake Monona Loop. 4:30-6 pm: Demos/activities at Cargo and Café Domestique.

Remember, we have all these events listed on the Madison Bikes calendar. If you would like to have an event listed, send us an email.

Bike News

Guest post: More car parking could keep people off bikes

Post author By Chris McCahill
Post date November 17, 2017

Chris McCahill is an Associate Researcher at the State Smart Transportation Initiative, a joint partnership of UW-Madison and Smart Growth America.

There are some things that most members and allies of Madison Bikes agree on: improving dangerous intersections, adding safe bike routes connecting the city, and building a strong community of support for those who bike. But there’s one important point that’s probably more contentious than any other: parking for cars. Most bike advocates are drivers, too, and often get frustrated by how difficult or expensive parking can be and we worry about how much worse it could get. Unfortunately, seeing things only from this angle could undermine a lot of great work that Madison Bikes does.

A little over a year ago, I led a study of parking use at apartment buildings throughout Madison (published recently by the Transportation Research Board). We found vast differences in how much parking people use, depending on where they live and what kind of apartment they live in. But one thing is constant. From downtown high rises to suburban duplexes, about one-third of the existing parking spaces sit empty every night. It doesn’t take a formal study to see that we’re surrounded by empty parking spaces—not just at home but wherever we work, shop, eat, and play.

198 bike parking spots in front of the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, almost all full

184 car parking spots at Group Health Cooperative, many of which are empty

Extra parking takes up valuable space, it cuts into tax revenues, and it drives up building costs, which we then pay for in rents, wages, and the price of goods and services. More importantly, though, it encourages people to drive even when they could choose not to.

I’ve studied how parking affects people’s travel decisions for about a decade and one pattern is clear. If people have a guaranteed spot at home, they’re more likely to drive. If they have a guaranteed spot at work, they’re more likely to drive. To paraphrase one study, guaranteed parking means guaranteed driving, no matter what other options are available.

Underutilized car parking at Jenny Street Market

All that driving is a problem for the bicycle community and for the city in general. It means more traffic, more collisions, and more competition for road space. It also means people are less likely to think about biking as a viable travel option.

Fortunately, the City no longer dictates how much parking developers need to provide in many parts of Madison. In some rare cases, developers don’t build any at all, but only if they’re certain they can still lease the space (their lenders make sure of that). The more projects they build, often, the less parking they provide. Based on my research, that’s great for the city.

Unfortunately, we—the residents—are often the ones standing in the way. Even bicycle advocates can be‚Äãcome‚Äã nervous when a new project puts more pressure on limited on-street parking. Private parking can feel like the right solution, but adding more parking only guarantees one outcome: more cars. As Madison grows, it will benefit by welcoming those who want to trade four wheels for two and experience the city on foot. The more we invest in parking, the more we commit to the opposite.

Empty residential parking right off the Southwest Path

Bike News

Monday update: Cranksgiving, good news from Middleton, and Winter Bike Fashion Show

Post author By Harald Kliems
Post date November 15, 2017

This week

Good news to report from Middleton. Kierstin writes:

Good work everyone who wrote in and supported the efforts otherwise!

The news from Fitchburg are less good. A budget amendment to build paved shoulders on Whalen Road did not pass, despite support from Bike Fitchburg, Madison Bikes, and many others. According to news reports, the whole hearing was rather heated because budget issues concerning social services.

On Wednesday, the first public involvement meeting about extending the Glacial Drumlin Trail from Cottage Grove to Interstate-90 happened. We don’t have information about how the meeting went, but you can find the presentation slides here.

Saturday saw the rebirth of Cranksgiving in Madison. Cranksgiving, an event originally started in the 1990s by bike messengers in New York City, is a combination of a food drive and an alley cat bike race. Participants received a “manifesto” with a number of Madison supermarkets and items to buy there. At the end of the ride, all the food was donated to the Goodman Center’s Thanksgiving Baskets food drive. Over 70 people participated! Kudos to Billy Calkins for organizing!

Just before the start of Cranksgiving at Revolution Cycle (Photo credit: Billy Calkins)

This week

With Thanksgiving coming up, the week is fairly quiet. Madison Bikes, however, has several things in the pipeline.

On Monday, the Madison Bikes events committee will do the final planning for the Winter Bike Fashion Show on December 9. The deadline to apply as a model was on Sunday, but if you have a strong interest in being a model, shoot a quick email to winterbike@madisonbikes.org before Monday, 3pm!

Also a reminder that you can still apply to become a member of the Board of Directors for Madison Bikes. And if you’re not quite ready yet to join our board, remember that you can show your support for Madison Bikes by becoming a member.

Local mountain bike advocates Capital Offroad Pathfinders are looking for a secretary for their organization. More details here.

And on Friday, you can join the Bombay Cycling Club for their first fat bike ride of the season.
Happy Thanksgiving from me and the rest of Madison Bikes!

Bike News

Guest post: My Fitness Journey

Post author By Deb Hanrahan
Post date November 14, 2017

Whatever your approach to health and fitness, you may find yourself changing things up over time to improve results or simply to maintain interest. After observing an active winter biking community for a while, I attended the Winter Bike Fashion Show, with very cautious interest. It was fun to see so many different kinds of people share varied methods and reasons for winter cycling, and as you’ll see in my story, it provided me that “next thing” to keep me rolling on my fitness journey.

When I tell this story, listeners nearly always ask questions. I hope that by sharing this, I can make it less surprising, or unique. I want you to know, and to share with others, that it’s never too late to become fit.

In the mid-2000’s, my doctor recommended that I begin taking cholesterol-reducing statin drugs due to my high cholesterol count and family history of heart disease. At the time, I carried 250 lbs. on my 5’2″ frame, but my doctor had not yet talked with me about how diet and exercise would reduce my risk. Here I am, about that time, at age 40:

For the first time in my life, I started paying attention to what I ate. I focused on what I could sustain – there was little that I eliminated from my diet, but ALL of the proportions changed in favor of healthier foods.

I was fortunate to have my partner Susan in my life. She had been active throughout her life, and helped me introduce regular physical activity gradually, safely, and sustainably. I still have vivid recollections of my exhaustion after a few short minutes of cardio exercise in those early days. I started weight training too, excited about the prospect of making muscles that would help burn the fat. Here, too, my limited abilities were simultaneously frustrating, and motivating.

I worked hard, with few visible results for months on end. But my cholesterol was improving, and I kept at it. At one point, maybe 18 months into my new lifestyle of exercising more and eating healthier/less, my body started changing, and rapidly. I think maybe my body just finally figured out that I wasn’t starving, and could let the reserves fall off.

By the time we moved to Madison in 2006 I had lost more than 50 lbs. My cholesterol ratio was reduced to high normal, eliminating the need for drug therapies. Susan was excited about Madison’s bike friendliness, but the compact, walkable, bikeable city was just one of many things that brought us here. Very soon after our move, I traded the little-used, poorly-fitting bike I’d had for a comfy, laid-back cruiser:

I still remember our first ride along the Capital City Trail… we got a couple of miles, to Monona Bay, when I told Susan we’d better turn around to make sure I had the energy to make it home.

The weeks went by. I rode.

And walked.

And went to the gym.

And rode.

I rode for fun. I rode for basic transportation. I rode in conditions that I wouldn’t have before.

I rode with people who faced much more significant obstacles than my own.

I bought a new bike better suited for longer, fast, harder riding and kept my cruiser as a spare. I rode confidently on the street, and happily on Dane County’s amazing network of trails.

By 2011, I was riding to work about 13 miles round trip per day, 2-3 days a week, and was riding hundreds of miles per year. When I got a new job downtown in 2014, about the same 2 miles that challenged me when I first arrived in Madison, I rode every day, and started biking in early and late winter as well. I broke the 1000-mile mark in 2015.

Last winter, I bought a mountain bike so I can ride more safely in the snow, and gradually acquired winter gear – better lights, good layers, head and neck coverings, gloves.

Today, I have lost a total of 90 lbs. and have maintained my current weight, while adding muscle, for a few years now. While I am still overweight, I am fit and able to do everything I want to do. Walking and hiking and biking are an essential part of my life. Although I am not naturally inclined to want to be active for hours on end, when circumstances don’t allow me to do those things, I miss them.

Now, I can bike several miles and then hike to the top of a tower…

and then do a little of this…

…and walk for miles and see awesome stuff like this…

…and I will keep doing it, to stay healthy and enjoy as much of THIS as I can.

But this is MY story, not yours, and if you are struggling with fitness I want to encourage you to write your own. If biking isn’t your thing, figure out what is. If moving isn’t your thing… well, I hear you, but you need to find the most sustainable way to do more of it. Trust that the dividends will be worth the effort; adjust your diet and exercise levels and keep at it until you see – and more importantly – feel the results. You don’t have to be thin, but I hope that you will find a way to feel fit and comfortable in your body.

You have the tools. Reach out if I can help you figure out how to engage them.

Bike News

Winter Bike Fashion Show: Be a model!

Post author By Emily Sonnemann
Post date November 14, 2017

We’re looking for Madison Bikers of all ages who brave the elements and bike into early winter, bike in early spring or even bike year round to share their tips and expertise in dressing for the weather! Madison Bikes is excited to host the Winter Bike Fashion Show this December 9th from 1-4pm at the High Noon Saloon. There will be food, camaraderie, and of course a fashion show highlighting real Madisonians and their winter weather gear. If you’ve discovered a great solution to keeping your hands warm and dry, or have found a way to keep your toes from freezing, we’d love to have you join the fashion show as a model. Do you have a great tip for avoiding fogged up glasses or for keeping your bike lock dry and functional? We’d love to have you!

We’re looking for:

year round bikers to show off their biking clothes and bike gear
Shoulder season (late fall or early spring) riders to show off their biking clothes and bike gear
Adults and kids (both kids who ride their own bikes, and kids who are transported by bike)
Gear for winter biking and demo bikes- how do you adapt your bike for winter riding?
We love DIY solutions that make giving winter bike a try easy and inexpensive!

To apply, please complete the following questions and submit to winterbike@madisonbikes.org, ideally with a picture of you in your biking clothes and/or you with your bike by 11/19, noon.

Include a description of your clothing/gear and where/when/why you winter bike.
What’s your number one tip for people riding in winter?
Do you have a winter biking story that may motivate others to ride in winter?
What is your favorite thing about riding in winter?

Don’t hesitate to apply even if you’ve modeled in a previous Winter Bike Fashion Show.

Bike News

Monday update: Winter maintenance, Glacial Drumlin Trail, bike crash analysis

Post author By Grant Foster
Post date November 13, 2017

Two quick Madison Bikes topics: Remember that you can now become a member of Madison Bikes online! More details here. And it’s now less than a month until the Winter Bike Fashion Show on December 9. We’ll send out a call for model applications tomorrow!

Last Week

On Tuesday, the Bike Facility Maintenance Subcommittee of the Pedestrian Bicycle Motor Vehicle Commission (PBMVC) met to review a draft of an updated city-wide Bike Facility Maintenance Policy. This should be presented to PBMVC in November or December. Stay tuned for more details!

Winter maintenance of the kind we don’t want to see

This Week

Monday: The Madison Bikes Board of Directors will kick the week off with our monthly meeting at the Central Library. Did you see that we have a few openings for passionate bike advocates to join us? Also on Monday, join the hearty and fearless MEAThead riders for their weekly ride around Lake Monona starting at 7pm.

Tuesday: On Tuesday, the Fitchburg Common Council will take up a budget amendment (#12) that would reinstate funding for paved shoulders on Whalen Road between Fish Hatchery to Fitchburg Road. Whalen Road is the primary east-west corridor connecting Fitchburg to Verona, and serves as a major commuting route between these two cities, as well as Madison. Read more at Bike Fitchburg.

Wednesday: You’ll have to make some tough choices on Wednesday with four competing meetings to choose from. At 5:00pm, it’s the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board Citizen Advisory Committee meeting with a presentation on Dane County Crashes Involving Bicyclists and Pedestrians and a staff report on a Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress Analysis among other topics. At 5:30, the Madison Bikes Advocacy Committee will meet at Bendyworks to begin its review of the People for Bikes Bicycle Network Analysis. At 7:00pm, you can attend a presentation by the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association’s Traffic Committee on the work they’ve done in trying to improve conditions for people walking and biking in the neighborhood (including the diversion test on Mifflin Bike Boulevard). Also at 7:00, is a public input meeting on the Glacial Drumlin extension from the interstate to Cottage Grove.

Saturday: On Saturday, the Tour de la Familia Latina will be back in force to show that Madison paths are spaces for everyone to enjoy. And then at 1:00pm, you can have fun and help out at the same time by participating in this year’s Cranksgiving event, an alley cat/food drive.

Sunday: Finish the weekend off with an Ibis Cycles Demo sponsored by Bell Joy Ride and Revolution Cycles. A special ladies group ride begins at 1pm.

For details on any of these events, head to the Madison Bikes calendar. If you have an event that you’d like added, send the details to info@madisonbikes.org.

Bike News

You can now become a member of Madison Bikes online!

Post author By Harald Kliems
Post date November 11, 2017

A select few of you–those who attended our annual party at the High Noon Saloon in September–already are members of Madison Bikes. But now everyone can join our organization! Just click here for more information and sign up! Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

Why should I become a member?

By opening up membership we want make our organization stronger. Having you as members will amplify our voice, as well as ensure that our advocacy efforts have broad community support. And your financial contributions will help us keep the lights on and have the resources to make things happen.

What does it cost to be a member?

We want to be an inclusive organization and not prevent anyone from joining because they cannot afford it. Therefore we have a pay-what-you-can membership model: You fill out the membership application and only then do you select how much you want to contribute. Don’t have any idea what a reasonable amount would be? Well, those who attended our annual party, contributed $20 or more.

How long is my membership good for?

All the way through December 2018. We’ll let you know when it’s time to renew.

What do I get out of it?

Sorry, no funny socks, whimsical ties, or t-shirts, at least for now. We’re a small, 100% volunteer-run organization and direct our efforts as much as possible toward making biking better in Madison. What you will receive:

Our weekly calendar highlights of bike advocacy issues and events via email.
You’ll also be invited to our Annual Madison Bikes Membership Party (usually in late summer).
And maybe most importantly: That great feeling that comes from making a positive difference in your community!

Am I already a member?

If you attended our annual party and signed in there: you are. If not, you are almost certainly not a member yet. You can also check your email inbox if you received a “Thanks for Becoming a Member” email from us. If you’re still in doubt, email membership@madisonbikes.org and we’ll figure it out.

I don’t want to become a member but still support Madison Bikes. Is that possible?

Not a problem. You can still donate, volunteer, or sign up for our email updates without being a member.

Bike News

Join the Madison Bikes Board of Directors

Post author By Harald Kliems
Post date November 10, 2017

Want to become more involved in local bicycle advocacy?

Madison Bikes is looking for people who are dedicated, passionate, strong communicators, good compromisers, organized, and able to commit a significant amount of time and energy to promoting biking as a priority in the city of Madison. There are no paid staff and everything we do—from fundraising to advocacy to communications to events—is done by our volunteer board and volunteer committee members.

Our current board of directors

We are currently accepting applications for up to six seats on the Madison Bikes Board of Directors.

Our organization is committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic board committed to equity in our work. We strongly encourage applications from minorities and women.

The Madison Bikes board is an all-volunteer working board. At a minimum, we expect board members to:

Attend our monthly board meetings (6-8pm every third Monday of the month)
Participate in one or more of our committees and attend their monthly meetings
Have passion for our organization’s vision: Making Madison a city where anyone can ride a bicycle conveniently and comfortably to any place in the city and neighboring communities year round.

Other responsibilities can include:

Contributing to our blog
Attendance at various city-held meetings (public input meetings, City Council meetings, local and regional transportation committee meetings)
Contributing to fundraising and organizational development efforts

If you are interesting in joining our board (or have questions), please send an email with the following information to grant@madisonbikes.org. If you would like to nominate someone other than yourself, please forward this to them and ask them to apply.

Full name & email address
Why are you interested in joining the Madison Bikes board?
What would you bring to the board?
Which committee/committees/officer roles interest you?
- President
- Vice-president
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Advocacy Committee
- Events Committee
- Communications Committee
Have you served on any other non-profit boards/committees (including Madison Bikes) or have similar relevant experience?
Do you think you’d bring a perspective or help represent groups that aren’t currently represented by the Madison Bikes board of directors?
Anything else you’d like to share with us?

To be considered for our upcoming board elections, please submit your application by 11/24. Note that we will also accept applications on a rolling basis until all our board positions have been filled.

Our executive board will review all application submissions and follow up with all applicants with next steps.

Bike News

Weekly calendar highlights for November 6, 2017

Post author By Mary Ebeling
Post date November 6, 2017

We need more neighborhoods where people can bike. The Cap Times is sponsoring a discussion on Wednesday about how to build more great neighborhoods

Monday, November 6

The first of this season’s Meathead rides rolls out from Fords Gym (2114 Winnebago St). This no-drop ride leaves at 7 pm and includes the Lake Monona Loop with an optional loop through the Arboretum. These rides are weekly on Mondays through March 6.

At 4:30 pm the City of Madison Finance Committee will meet in room 354 of the City County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Boulevard. The committee will discuss three items of interest. The full agenda can be found on-line. The items that may impact bicyclists are:

Amending the 2017 Bicycle and Pedestrian Capital Budget to transfer $100,000 of existing GO borrowing authority between major programs Bikeways Program and Sidewalk Program.
Amending the 2017 Capital Budget of Engineering Major Streets, Neighborhood Traffic Management and Pedestrian Improvements and Authorizing the City to accept funds from Don Miller for the installation of a pedestrian island on Tokay Boulevard.
Accepting the Judge Doyle City Staff Team Report, Selecting the Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co. as the Operator for the Madison Bicycle Center in the Judge Doyle Project on Block 88 Subject to the Negotiation of a Final Contract, and Directing Further Actions

Tuesday, November 7

The Madison Bikes Communications Committee meets from 5:30pm –⁠ 6:30pm at the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. in the Sunset Lounge. If you are interested in attending, Let Harald know, in case we need to change rooms.

Cap Times panel discussion – How can Madison build more great neighborhoods? This should be of interest to many bicyclists, because transportation choice in general, and a good environment for bicycling is one of the characteristic of a great neighborhood. RSVP at the Facebook invite. It will be held at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E Washington Ave, 6 –⁠ 8 pm.

Madison is one of the most rapidly growing cities in Wisconsin, which puts pressure on city government, neighborhoods and developers to channel that growth to places not only with essential city services but also with crucial amenities like grocery stores. So, what’s the best way for Madison to build great neighborhoods? The Cap Times has assembled an outstanding panel to discuss that question. City government reporter Abigail Becker will moderate the panel, whose members are: Michael Ford, an architecture instructor at Madison College whose work on the intersection of hip-hop culture and architecture has gained nationwide attention; David Mollenhoff, Madison historian and a key player in the 1960s revitalization of the Marquette neighborhood; Tariq Saqqaf, the city of Madison neighborhood resource coordinator; Heather Stouder, the city of Madison planning division director; Sheray Wallace, Meadowood neighborhood activist The event is free. Afterward, city of Madison staff will conduct small-group listening sessions for those who want to stay to gather input for the Imagine Madison project, which seeks community opinions about how and where the city should grow. The panel talk is the latest installment in the 2-year-old Cap Times Talks discussion series.

At 5pm the Bicycle Facility Maintenance Policy workgroup meets at 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Room GR-27. The group has one agenda item- to present and review an updated policy on the maintenance of bicycle facilities. http://www.cityofmadison.com/sites/default/files/city-of-madison/clerk/meeting-schedule/bfmpw_agenda_nov_2017.pdf

Wednesday, November 8

Middleton Budget Hearing –⁠ Funds for Century Avenue Bike Accommodations. At 6:00pm at Middleton City Hall, 7426 Hubbard Ave, Middleton. Kirestin Kloeckner has been very active on this issue, since she bikes this road every day and has had several very scary encounters — including being run off the road. Her request is for people to speak up for a safer road that is the only option for bicyclists in this area of Middleton. Although this is outside the city of Madison, Madison Bikes has written a letter of support because this is an important connection for the region, and for people trying to get into an out of the city.

Kierstin’s request: Please take a moment to either swing by the hearing at 6pm (and make a public comment) or write to the alders and mayor and help us get a bike path along Century Av. in Middleton. We need the vote to approve the planning stage next year and building stage the year after. If we don’t get the word out, this path could be dead in the water.

Saturday and Sunday November 11 – 12

Join Russ Hopkins of Container Collective Bikes at The Cargo Bike Shop for a two-day workshop and build yourself a custom single-speed or multi-speed bike frame out of sustainably grown and harvested bamboo. The Cargo Bike Shop will work with you to turn your new bamboo frame into your perfect complete bike with a variety of build kits — from stock to full-custom. Two-day weekend workshop is 9-5 both days. All the coffee you can drink courtesy of Cafe Domestique. Frame building materials are included, you simply need to show up. No prior experience with bicycles or construction of any kind needed – All construction is done with simple hand tools. More information at: https://www.facebook.com/events/346810392409786/

Sunday, November 12

The Madison Bikes Executive Committee meets at the Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St, from 5:00pm –⁠ 6:30pm

Bike News

New bridge, new pavement, and few meetings this week

Post author By Robbie Webber
Post date October 30, 2017

Photo courtesy of Joel Patenaude

Last week, the bike network got one more connection in the form of a bridge over McKee road near S. High Point Rd. The bridge is part of a path that will run from Valley View Rd south to Verona and meet up with the Military Ridge Trail. Parts of the trail are already built, and this new bridge is a big addition. You can see the plans for the entire planned length as well as updates on construction on the city’s website.

Also last week, a bumpy and cracked section of the Wingra Creek Path that runs from Olin Park under John Nolen Drive and a bit west was repaved. It’s always nice to have smooth, fresh pavement, and we appreciate the city keeping our paths maintained.

Nice, smooth pavement on the Wingra Creek Path

Grant has created a new Facebook group to keep everyone updated on the Atwood St Reconstruction. You can find it here.

There aren’t too many city meetings this week. I guess that’s what happens during the 5th week of the month. Remember you only have two more days until the end of the month, and that means the end of your chance to fill your Madison Bike! Bingo card! Thanks to all the businesses that participated and all the people that biked. I discovered some new places and had a lot of fun.

City meetings this week

Tuesday, the City Council will be accepting the final plans for Crazy Legs Plaza and Wingra Park. Both of these locations are important to bicyclists, because the SW Path passes through Crazy Legs Plaza, and Wingra Park is an important bike connection on the south side of Monroe St. This is part of the Monroe St reconstruction, so you’ve probably heard about the meetings and open houses to discuss these plans. But if you are sure what they are doing, you can find the plans on line or attend the Council meeting at 6:30 p in the City-County Bldg.

Wednesday, the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board will have a presentation on bicycle and pedestrian crashes in Dane County. The meeting is at 6:30 PM at the Madison Water Utility Building, 119 E. Olin Avenue. We’ll try to get an update on this project and see what they found. If anyone attends, maybe you can give us a report.

If you have an event that you’d like added, send the details to info@madisonbikes.org.