We wanted to share some of the reasons that make Madison WI an amazing bicycling town. So on a recent trip we tried to count the ways. Here are some unique aspects that stood out.
1. Communication is Key: Highly visible signs communicating to bikers, drivers and pedestrians alike.
2. Bike Rental: Madison B-Cycle bicycle rental stations are scattered throughout the city. Pay a reasonable daily rate and check in and out bikes all over the city. TIP: The first half hour is free, and stations are so frequent that you can easily reach a check in before that time is up – then imediatly check out another. This also helps distribute the bikes across all stations.
3. The Bike Box: There are numerous bike boxes, painted red, where cars stop at lights behind the cyclist waiting at the light. This keeps the bikes in motorists field of vision at intersections.
4. Bike & Transit Boulevards: Madisons main shopping street, State Street, is open only to busses, bicycles and police authorized vehicles.
5. Multi-Use Trails: Multi use trails criss-cross the entire city, letting you go almost anywhere on foot or bike. Some are separated for biking and pedestrian (left), and where they cross a roadway they are clearly labeled with reflective green paint (right).
6. Strength in Numbers: One of the big reasons that Madison is such a great bicycling town is that there are simply so many people that ride bikes! From bike parking to a constant on street presence, bicycles are everywhere.
My hope is that Chicago looks to its much smaller neighbor to the north as inspiration for what bike travel in an American City can be.
If you plan a trip, make sure to check out the City of Madison’s Bike Website