Cars driving on a road next to a bike path with cyclists riding along it
Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

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.

Active Transportation Plan for Dane County logo

Web Maps Included in the Plan

In the draft plan, several sections note “embedded web maps to be added," accompanied by a preview image. 

The interactive web maps are provided below for you to explore.

Map #1: MPO Planning Area

Map #2: Pedestrian Gaps and Barriers, with Intersection Density

Note: This map is included twice in the plan—once in the Executive Summary (as Map 2) and again in the main section (as Map 18).

Map #7: Safety-Related Bicyclist Comments

Map #8: Safety-Related Pedestrian Comments

Map #9: Local Priority Areas

Map #10: Existing On- and Off-Street Bike Facilities

Map #11: Existing and Planned Bike Facilities 

Map #12: Existing Regional Routes 

Map #13: Planned Regional Routes

Map #14: Roads Without Sidewalks or With Sidewalks on Only One Side

Map #15: Low-Stress Job Access 

Map #16: Relative Employment Accessibility on the Low-Stress Network

Map #17: Missing Links

Other Maps

Maps referenced in the plan but not formally numbered.

Madison BCycle Stations
Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress and Serious and Fatal Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes (2020–2024)
Sidewalks and Crossing Points

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

Past Plans

Bicycle Transportation Plan for the Madison Metropolitan Area & Dane County (2015)

Bicycle Transportation Plan Executive Summary

Bicycle Transportation Plan Full Report

 

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