Biking & Walking

People biking and walking by the Monona Terrace

The MPO is committed to building a safe, connected, and accessible transportation system for everyone in our region. A key part of our work is helping plan and fund projects that make it easier for people to bike, walk, and roll (a term for using mobility devices, like wheelchairs).

Active Transportation Plan for Dane County

We’re developing an Active Transportation Plan for Dane County to guide the future of biking, walking, and rolling across the region. The plan identifies what people who bike, walk, and roll need to travel safely and comfortably and serves as a tool to help planners and decision-makers design better streets, sidewalks, and paths.

To inform this work, we asked community members to share their experiences through a short survey and an interactive comment map. More than 3,000 people completed the survey, and thousands of map pins highlighted places that work well or need improvement.

View the Draft Plan

Components of the Plan

View the changes made since the initial draft was published, based on public comments and staff analysis.

Comments & Revisions

Appendix A: Public Engagement

Appendix B: Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) Methodology

Appendix C: Trail Modeling

Appendix D: E-Device Guidance (Final Version)

The final plan will be available as a webpage.

Municipal Guidance: Regulating E-Bikes, E-Motos, & Other E-Micromobility Devices

E-bikes, e-motos, and other e-micromobility devices are becoming more common across the region. Our agency recognizes that the growth of these technologies has moved faster than state and federal definitions and regulations. As a result, many communities are unsure how to address safety concerns or determine where and how these devices should be used.

To help address these challenges, the MPO developed guidance for municipalities that provides clear definitions and a shared understanding of different types of e-devices. The guidance is intended to support practical, regionally consistent approaches to regulating their legal use.

Municipal Guidance: E-Bikes, E-Motos, & Other E-Micromobility Devices

Presentation on the Guidance

At the May 2026 MPO Policy Board meeting, Transportation Planner Ben Lyman presented an overview of the guidance, which will also be included as an appendix in the MPO's Active Transportation Plan. The presentation highlights key takeaways, recommended definitions, and what the guidance means for local communities.

Note: The presentation begins at 1:16:35.

Watch the Guidance Presentation

E-Moto

Current Definition: "E-moto" means any type of device with an electric motor greater than 750 Watts, capable of speeds greater than 28 mph without pedal assist, or otherwise beyond the definition of a Class 1, 2, or 3 electric bicycle (e-bike) or e-scooter.

Proposed Definition: "E-moto" means any type of electric device capable of speeds greater than 28 mph without pedal assist.

Micromobility Device

Current Definition: "Micromobility device" includes a broad range of lightweight vehicles that serve as personal mobility devices and have a top assisted speed of 28 mph. These devices are generally designed to accommodate a single rider but may be equipped with after-market child carriers.

Proposed Definition: "Micromobility device" includes a broad range of lightweight electric-powered vehicles, not elsewhere defined under state law, that serve as personal mobility devices and have a top assisted speed of 28 mph.

These new definitions would better accommodate emerging device types, such as e-unicycles and e-skateboards, and remove the 750-watt threshold, which many lower-speed e-devices intended to be classified as e-micromobility devices exceed.

Biking & Walking