Bicycle Boulevards
A calmer street designed for biking. Bike Boulevards are neighborhood streets where biking is prioritized over cut-through car traffic.
What is it?
A Bike Boulevard is a low-traffic neighborhood street that is designed to be safer, quieter, and more comfortable for people biking. Cars are still allowed, but the street is engineered so that people biking can move through more easily than drivers cutting through.
Bike Boulevards use tools like traffic diverters, speed humps, and clear signage to discourage through-driving while keeping local access.
How to Use It
For people biking
- Ride in the center of the lane — these streets are designed for it.
- Follow Bike Boulevard signs and pavement markings to stay on the route.
- Expect fewer fast or aggressive drivers than on nearby arterials.
For drivers
- Use these streets for local access, not shortcuts.
- Drive slowly and expect to see people biking in the travel lane.
- Follow all turn restrictions and diverters.
Why It Matters
Bike Boulevards create a network of calm, low-stress streets where people of all ages and abilities can bike comfortably. By shifting through-traffic onto major streets and slowing cars on neighborhood roads, Bike Boulevards reduce speeding, lower crash risk, and make biking a realistic option for everyday trips.
They also improve neighborhood safety for everyone — including people walking, kids playing, and residents who live along the street.
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2–8x
Lower Crash Rates
Bicycle boulevards in Berkeley, CA were associated with 2–8× lower cyclist collision rates compared to nearby arterial streets.
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70%
Of Trips
70% of bike trip destinations are on local streets — the same type of street that becomes a Bike Boulevard.
Source: Dill (2020)
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22%
More Biking
Bicycle volumes increased by an average of 22% across Portland bike boulevards after installation (2011–2013).
Where You’ll See It in Madison
Madison’s Bike Boulevard network connects neighborhoods, schools, parks, and major bike routes. Below is a map of all Bike Boulevards in the city.
Bike Boulevards are located:
- In residential areas parallel to busy streets
- On routes connecting to the Capital City Trail, SW Commuter Path, and campus
- Along neighborhood greenways designed for low-stress biking
Look for Bike Boulevard signs, pavement markings, speed humps, and traffic diverters.
Tips for Drivers
- These streets prioritize people biking — drive slowly and expect bikes in the lane.
- Do not use Bike Boulevards as shortcuts around traffic.
- Follow turn restrictions and yield when entering or crossing a Bike Boulevard.