Madison By Bike
Expiration: Jun 30th 2024
Take a ride where pedaling is good, but stopping is even better. Madison By Bike welcomes you to explore the capital city, a one-of-a-kind place where fresh-picked food meets fresh-air fun and wellness always wins. All riders welcome.
Four rides. Four vibes. Meet the trails:
[CC] Capital City Trail: Lakeshore views to brews.
[CL] Cannonball Loop: Parks to patios in one loop.
[LP] Lakeshore Path: Peninsula walks to terrace talks.
[SWC] Southwest Commuter Path: Boat. Bike. Boat.
No bike? No problem. Use code VISITMADISON23 to get 50% off a single-ride pass with Madison BCycle e-bike rental system!
Download the BCycle app to get started: https://www.bcycle.com/app
See all routes, stops and nearby Madison BCycle stations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=17zFqF7r0TYEaHBPsGwNgp9UZA9QXITI&usp=sharing
Included Venues
See locations on an interactive map.
Alimentari
Power your ride with massive Italian sandwiches. This deli/market combo is great for grabbing a quick bite now and tasty treats to save for later. Here you'll find: A parking lot, bike rack, indoor space to cool down, restrooms, grab-and-go beverages and proximity to Willy Street Park: A great space for a picnic.
Allen Centennial Garden
Soak in the beautiful landscape of this artful living laboratory and public botanical garden, managed by the UW-Madison Horticulture Department. Here you'll find: Benches, patio seating, special events, restrooms at nearby campus buildings and amazing photo opps.
Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center
Learn more about the native Ho-Chunk culture at the sculpture installation outside the brand-new Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center on the UW-Madison campus. Ho-Chunk artist Ken Lewis created the installation as a space for reflection and celebration of the Ho-Chunk people. Here you'll find: Bike racks and benches.
Bandit - Tacos & Coffee
Tacos. Coffee. Tequila. Margaritas. Enjoy all that (and some stellar happy hour pricing) inside Madison's historic train depot. Here you'll find: Patio dining, restrooms, special events, parking and bike racks.
What's Included
- $3 Draft Pacificos & $1 Drip Coffee
Bean & Creamery
Catch a buzz at this campus coffee shop located on the ground floor of UW-Madison’s Dejope Residence Hall. Here you'll find: Coffee, ice cream, smoothies, grab-and-go food, restrooms and bike racks.
Brittingham Boats
Madison Boats connects people with each other and with nature. Their team is ready to help you in and out of your rental boat and give you tips on how to paddle or where to go. First-time and experienced boaters welcome. Here you'll find: Boat rentals of all sizes, special events, restrooms, drinking fountains, patio seating, bike racks, benches, locker rentals and a nearby BCycle station on North Shore Drive.
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What's Included
- Buy One Get One Ice Cream And Drinks
Camp Randall Stadium
Badger fans, this one's for you! Snap a pic and maybe even 'jump around' outside the historic home of UW-Madison football. Here you'll find: Awesome photo opps and a nearby BCycle station at 92 S. Breese Terrace.
Dawley Bike Hub
Located inside the 42-acre Dawley Conservancy, the Dawley Bike Hub is a great spot to take a breather or tune up your set of wheels. Here you'll find: Bike repair station, parking, restrooms, shelter, water fountain and up-close access to nature.
Enrique's Grill
Spice up your ride with a stop for some classic Mexican fare. Pro tip: The tacos, street corn and burritos are fan faves. Here you'll find: Parking and a great spot to recharge.
What's Included
- 10% Off Purchase
Fortune Favors
Find one of Madison's most iconic snacks and other local food goods to help power your journey. Fortune Favors' candied pecans were created as a happy accident and have become a favorite gift for locals to share with friends. Here you'll find: Tasty treats, gifts to take home, a great spot to relax.
What's Included
- 10% Off All Items
Green Life Trading Co.
Green Life Trading Co. makes sustainable travel possible. Stop in to grab essentials for your trip like deodorant, chapstick, sunscreen, and bug repellent or take some home goods with you for later! Here you'll find: Friendly staff who can help you on your sustainable-goods journey.
What's Included
- 5% Off Purchase
McPike Park
Explore 10 acres of green space and Madison's first skatepark in the heart of the Marquette neighborhood. Pro tip: Check out the Eastside Farmers' Market every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. through October 31. Here you'll find: Restrooms and a drinking fountain.
Memorial Union Terrace
It's home to Madison's iconic sunburst chairs. One of the first places University of Wisconsin-Madison students fall in love with the city. Lake Mendota's most happening docking spot. Memorial Union Terrace is one of the top things to see when visiting Madison. Here you'll find: Bike racks, restrooms, ice cream, beer, Lake Mendota views, special events, patio seating, a pier, live music, dining and a BCycle station nearby on Library Mall.
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Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Take a ride right alongside one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest works. The legendary architect designed the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center to link the shore of Lake Monona to the State Capitol. The result is a stunning feat of architecture just steps from the trail. Here you'll find: A bike elevator to help riders avoid busy streets, a BCycle station at Wilson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and incredible photo opps!
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Monty's Blue Plate Diner
This retro-fitted diner on Madison's near east side offers breakfast all day, comfort food and a variety of vegetarian and vegan fare. Here you'll find: Parking, restrooms, outdoor trash cans, patio dining, a BCycle station on Eastwood Drive and Division Street, and bike racks.
What's Included
- 10% Off On Up To $100 Check
Observatory Hill Effigy Mound Group
Observe two remaining Native American effigy mounds built on land now known as Madison. Mounds in the shapes of a bird and a unique form known as a two-tailed water spirit can be seen from the beautiful vantage points of Obervatory Hill. These two mounds were recently listed on the National Register for Historic Places. What are effigy mounds? Earthen sculptures that had deep meaning for the people who built them. Some were burial mounds. Others had a significance that reflected their beliefs and worldviews. NOTE: Please remember these sites are sacred to Ho-Chunk Nation. Do not walk or climb on effigy mounds. Instead, use your time at effigy mounds for personal reflection and think about why that location may have been important to those who built them.
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Olin Park Pavilion
Catch some of the best views of downtown Madison, including the Capitol and Monona Terrace, from the Lake Monona shoreline. Hop off your bike to take a walk, swim, fish, enjoy the playground and more. Pro tip: This is one of the best spots in town to snap a pic of the Madison skyline! Here you'll find: Public restroom, parking lot, boat launch and a beach.
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Orange Tree Imports
Orange Tree Imports is an award-winning gift and gourmet shop that has been locally-owned on Monroe Street for almost 50 years. Here you'll find: Specialty Madison and Wisconsin gifts and bike racks.
What's Included
- Free 4 Oz. Bag Of Jelly Belly© Gummies
Picnic Point
Picnic Point, a nearly mile-long peninsula along Lake Mendota’s south shore, is among Madison’s most iconic natural areas. Hop off your bike and enjoy a one-mile hike from the entrance to the tip of Picnic Point where you'll find the best views. NOTE: Bicycles are not permitted on the peninsula, but a parking lot and BCycle docking station are conveniently available at the entrance. Here you'll find: Parking, bike racks, hiking, amazing views of Lake Mendota, fire circle rentals and bird watching opportunities. Outdoor recreation equipment is available for rent at UW-Madison’s Memorial Union.
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Starkweather Brewing Company
Starkweather Brewing Company is a community-focused gathering place in the heart of Madison’s east side. This welcoming destination features a dynamic, evolving menu of uniquely crafted beer.
What's Included
- Buy One Get One
The Thirsty Goat
Refuel with one of Thirsty Goat's well-loved barbecue dishes or try something unexpected (like cheese curds on a burger, perhaps?). If you choose to imbibe (responsibly), the drink menu is extensive, featuring both beer and cocktails. Here you'll find: Parking, patio seating and plenty of space to gather with friends.
What's Included
- 10% Off Purchase
The Velo UnderRound
Check out a pillar of the Madison biking community. The Velo UnderRound marks the junction of five of Madison's favorite trails: Capital City State Trail, Southwest Commuter Path, Military Ridge State Trail, Badger State Trail, and Cannonball Path. Pro tip: Once you're done completing the Cannonball Loop, head back to the UnderRound to embark on two of the other Madison By Bike trails.
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Turville Point: Sheraton Madison Hotel
Turville Point is a favorite among local hikers and birders. Explore nearly 65 acres, most under tree-lined canopy, and a seven-acre prairie all along the Lake Monona shoreline. NOTE: Bicycles are restricted to entrance roads and parking lots. Here you'll find: A parking lot, photo opps, and a nearby BCycle station outside the Sheraton Hotel.
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University Bay Marsh
Take in the views of this gorgeous, natural wetland that skirts the edge of Lakeshore Path. Pro tip: Visitors often report spotting heron and other wildlife in the marsh. Make sure you have your camera ready!
University of Wisconsin Madison Arboretum Visitor Center
The UW Arboretum is way more than a park with great views (which it is). It's also home to the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world. Here you'll find: Parking, 17 miles of trails, great photo opps and a visitor center with restrooms, water fountains, a public browsing library, a bookstore, and volunteers ready to assist with anything you need.
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Wheel & Sprocket
Your one-stop shop for all things biking. Wheel and Sprocket believes biking is for everyone regardless of age, ability or ambition. Here you'll find: Biking equipment, experienced biking experts, bike fitting, bike repair and bike racks.
Willow Beach
This small, but peaceful, spot along Lake Mendota is a great place to take a pause from your ride and enjoy lake views. Here you'll find: A bench and great photo opps.
Wingra Boats
Madison Boats connects people with each other and with nature. Their team is ready to help you in and out of your rental boat and give you tips on how to paddle or where to go. First-time and experienced boaters welcome. Here you'll find: Boat rentals of all sizes (including swan and duck paddle boats), special events, restrooms, drinking fountains, patio seating, bike racks, benches, locker rentals and a nearby BCycle station at 701 Knickerbocker St.
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What's Included
- Buy One Get One Ice Cream And Drinks
Working Draft Beer Company
Art and beer collide at this community-focused craft brewery located in the heart of Madison's trendy east side.
What's Included
- Buy One Get One
Yahara River
Take a break and soak in the views of the Yahara River. Cross over the river on a bridge that is a favorite among local photographers. Here you'll find: Great photo opps.
Zip-Dang
Zip-Dang prides itself on being purveyors of the un-massproduced and unusual, featuring collections of artisinal gifts and vintage finds. Check out their site for special events and pop-up shops. Here you'll find: Gifts you can't find anywhere else, bike racks and a nearby BCycle station at 701 Knickerbocker St.