Living in the capital and one of the largest cities in Wisconsin can have benefits and drawbacks. One of the chief challenges facing residents is navigating the city’s sometimes congested streets. Thankfully, residents have transportation alternatives because of Madison’s bicycle infrastructure.

Neither Madison nor Wisconsin in general is completely safe for bicyclists. Injury and fatal bicycle accidents can happen suddenly and leave the victim seriously hurt. However, the investments Madison has made in its infrastructure strive to make the city safer and more attractive for riders.

Wisconsin Bicycle Accidents Data

Six hundred and sixty-eight bicycle accidents were reported in Wisconsin in 2022. These crashes were responsible for fourteen deaths. This data paints a sobering picture: about two bicycle crashes happened daily in Wisconsin, and approximately one bicyclist died every month in the state that year.

A few common situations that lead to bicycle wrecks in Madison include the following:

  • Drivers who are distracted and fail to see bicyclists using the road
  • “Dooring,” where a motorist accidentally opens their door in the path of an approaching bicyclist
  • Drivers who speed along roads and through intersections
  • Motorists who fail to follow right-of-way laws

These and other negligent behaviors threaten bicyclists’ safety, so city and state agencies have taken measures to educate the public about bicycling safety. These efforts have included the University of Wisconsin Police Department’s “Be Bright” campaign, which urges cyclists to exercise caution and use lights and clothing to make it easier for motorists to see them at night. 

How Madison Is Making Bicycling Safer

The City of Madison has heavily invested in its bicycling infrastructure to make the city safer and more accessible to bicyclists. Key features of this infrastructure include:

Bike Lanes

A bike lane is a designated lane on a surface street that only bicyclists can use, and Madison has over 100 miles of these lanes on its streets. The basic premise of a bike lane is simple: creating physical space between motorized vehicles and bicyclists reduces the likelihood of the two accidentally colliding.

Shared-Use Paths

A shared-use path is an off-street pathway that is designed for use by bicycles, pedestrians, and non-motorized vehicle traffic. Cars and trucks are not permitted on shared-use paths. While there are fewer than 60 miles of shared-use paths in Madison, they allow bicyclists to reach various parts of the city without placing themselves in danger of colliding with motor vehicles.

Detector Loops at Intersections

Intersections can be dangerous for cyclists to navigate. Riders are subject to the same traffic laws as cars and trucks. However, if traffic signals do not detect a cyclist waiting at a red light, they may have to wait for a heavier vehicle to approach the intersection or disobey the red light.

Madison has addressed this situation by installing improved detector loops at some of its intersections. These devices can sense the presence of a bicyclist and trigger the intersection’s traffic signal to change, allowing bicyclists to proceed safely through the intersection without having to disobey the law or wait an inordinate amount of time.

Madison: A (Near-Perfect) City for Bicyclists

Madison’s efforts at improving its infrastructure for the sake of bicyclists have put the city on the map as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Bike lanes, shared-use paths, and intersection improvements have all helped contribute to a safer city. However, these improvements are tempered by the fact that injury and fatal crashes still happen here.