By Jan Axelson
Northside News
Madison is a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community as recognized by the League of American Bicyclists. But on Madison’s Northside, safe, off-road bike paths are scarce, especially when compared to other areas of the city.
Warner Park has paths that connect nearby neighborhoods. North Sherman Avenue and Northport Drive west of North Sherman have bike lanes. But if you’re biking on the Northside, you’re likely using some low-traffic, residential streets.
A good tool for planning routes is the Low Stress Bike Route Finder webpage from Madison’s Traffic Engineering. Google Maps also has a bicycle option for plotting routes.
Northside bike shops
What the Northside does have is bike shops, with one in each of the three major shopping centers on North Sherman Avenue. While all the shops sell bikes and maintain and repair bikes of all types, each has its own personality and focus.
Cool Bikes North is tucked behind El Sabor de Puebla in the Northside TownCenter at the corner of Northport Drive and North Sherman Avenue. The shop’s focus is city biking, including folding bikes. A special feature is the saddle library. For a small deposit, you can try out different saddles on your bike to find the right fit.
DreamBikes North is in the NorthGate shopping center on the corner of North Sherman Avenue and Aberg Avenue. DreamBikes is a nonprofit that trains youth to repair bikes and work the front counter. The shop has a large selection of used bikes at good prices. On receiving a donated bike, the youth make needed repairs, and the bike is offered for sale, with the funds helping to operate the shop.
Black Saddle Bike Shop is in the Lakewood Plaza Shopping Center at the corner of North Sherman Avenue and Commercial Avenue. This shop’s focus is service, involvement in the community, bikes with steel and titanium frames, and bikepacking equipment for multiday trips. Ask about their relaxed-pace overnight ride to Brigham County Park on June 21-22.
Other ways t o get a bike
BCycle, Madison’s program of short-term rental e-bikes, has stations on the corner of Trailsway and North Sherman Avenue and at the Mallards stadium in Warner Park.
Just outside the Northside on South Fair Oaks Avenue is Wheels for Winners. This nonprofit will provide a free bicycle in return for 10 hours of community service that you choose.
Bike news
June 1–8 is Madison Bike Week, with gatherings, rides and discounts citywide sponsored by the Madison Bikes advocacy group. Check their website for a schedule.
A recent application for a federal grant to plan a Northside bicycle and walking route wasn’t awarded. But the city is in the early stages of updating and improving its All Ages and Abilities Bike Network and Pedestrian Plan. Hopefully, the Northside will benefit from the updated plan.
Websites
Black Saddle Bike Shop, blacksaddlebikeshop.com
Cool Bikes North, coolbikesnorth.com
DreamBikes North, dream-bikes.org
Low Stress Bike Route Finder, cityofmadison.com/traffic-engineering/biking-walking/maps-and-data
Madison BCycle, madison.bcycle.com
Madison Bike Week, madisonbikes.org
Wheels for Winners, wheelsforwinners.org
