With a little preparation, biking to work can be fun.
One of the most vital parts of bicycle commuting is finding a good route from your home to your campus destination. Commuter Solutions can help you figure out a custom route that’s best for you.
You might also be looking for
Bicycle commuting resources
Bicycle route planning
Custom route planning
If you are just starting, set a goal to ride once a week. Once you learn how fun and easy it is, you can slowly begin to ride more frequently!
Fill out the custom route planning request form to receive customized recommendations.
Commuter Solutions prepped a comprehensive bicycle handout PDF for interested parties. The handout includes bicycle safety tips, commuting resources, and other bike information.
Bicycle routes
UW-Madison and the City of Madison offer a strong network of bicycle and pedestrian routes, and is continuously adding new connections.
Commuting tips
- Check your bicycle and yourself, especially if you haven’t ridden for awhile. Make sure your brakes work and pump up your tires to their recommended air pressure (soft tires make riding a lot harder).
- Consult with one of Madison’s bike shops if you have any questions or concerns.
- Check with your doctor if you have concerns about starting an exercise program.
- Find a good route from your home to your campus destination. Try out different routes to find the one that works best for you. The best route to work by bike may not be the same route that you drive. Ask co-workers who already bike commute for advice or ask our Commuter Solutions team.
- Wear a helmet! Bicycle accidents can happen for many reasons, even when you are on a bike path. No trip is “too short” to wear a helmet.
- Dress appropriately. In nice weather, many bike commuters ride in their work clothes if they don’t have far to travel. Other people choose to carry their work clothes in a backpack or pannier and change at work.
Winter biking tips
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Winter biking videos
Winter bicycle parking
Winter bicycle parking
While not all bike racks are cleared of snow during the winter, bicyclists do still have a number of options for parking on campus. A list of areas that are either partially sheltered or are cleared of snow (as the university grounds crew is able to do so) is available below, organized by east, central and west campus areas.
Additionally, secure bike lockers and bike cages may be available to rent throughout the year on a first come, first served basis.
East campus
- Grainger (north) – sheltered
- Helen C White (courtyard) – sheltered
- Memorial Union (southwest, at corner of Park St. and Langdon St.)
- Memorial Library (east) – sheltered
- Humanities (northwest, at Park St. and Library Mall) – sheltered
- 21 N. Park St (inside street level of Lot 29) – sheltered
Central campus
- Educational Science (north) – sheltered
- Social Sciences (west) – sheltered
- Ingraham (southwest, off Charter St.)
- Medical Science (east, off Charter St.)
- Chemistry (northwest, off University Ave. and Mills St.) – sheltered
- Weeks Hall (courtyard) – sheltered
- Middleton Building (west) – sheltered
- Lot 20 – University Avenue Ramp (street level) – sheltered
- Bock Lab (west) – sheltered
- Microbial Science (south, off Linden Dr.) and also (north) sheltered
- Steenbock (south, lower level) – sheltered
West campus
- Lot 67 – Linden Drive Garage (northwest and southwest street level) – sheltered
- Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Lab (north) – sheltered
- Veterinary Medicine South Bldg (west) – sheltered
- Nielsen Tennis Stadium (southwest, by Lot 76) – sheltered
- Pharmacy (south) – sheltered
- Lot 75 – UW Hospital Ramp (northwest and southwest corners, near main hospital entrance) – sheltered
- WIMR (east) – sheltered
- Lot 63 (AFCH Garage) – sheltered
Other bike resources
Bike racks on buses
Why not combine biking with taking the bus? All Metro buses can transport bicycles. Let's ride and roll!
Bike maintenance
Got a flat tire? There are bicycle air and repair stations across the UW-Madison campus. Check out this map to find one near you.
University Bicycle Resource Center
Learn more about bike maintenance at the UBRC free hands-on classes each month.