Wisconsin Bike Fed

Is it a bicycle recreation? Transportation? A fitness machine? Actually, a bike is all of the above and more. Whichever pursuit is important to a rider, cycling essentials include knowing how to ride safely and to have a safe environment to ride in. Advancing those essentials are what the people associated with the Wisconsin Bike Fed are all about.

The Wisconsin Bike Fed is a statewide organization that advocates for better bicycling for everyone in Wisconsin. The organization started in 1988 as an all-volunteer non-profit. The founder, Bill Hauda, believed Wisconsin bicycling advocacy at the time was limited and fragmented without statewide coordination.

As a member of the League of American Wheelmen (later renamed the League of American Bicyclists), Hauda saw how the League had created a nationwide grassroots organization to support bicycling.

Hauda saw the need for a Wisconsin advocacy organization to bring together local cyclists, clubs, dealers and manufacturers so they could work in harmony to protect and promote the interest of cyclists. With assistance from John Cornelison, then administrator of the League of American Wheelmen, Hauda researched and drafted a constitution and bylaws for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. From there, the organization started to roll.

The organization was later renamed the Wisconsin Bike Fed. Kevin Hardman, the executive director at that time, said, “Wisconsin is one of the best places in the world to be on a bicycle. It was an honor to work with many people to make it a little bit better.”

Today’s Wisconsin Bike Fed

The Bike Fed continues as strong as ever, guided by a board of 15 members from across Wisconsin and a staff of 17 dedicated employees led by Executive Director Kirsten Finn.

Lots of enthusiastic volunteers work with the staff in the effort to look out for cyclists and pedestrians by:

• Uniting with businesses, communities and other advocacy/non-profit groups to advance common goals in support of cycling.
• Advocating for bike- and pedestrian-friendly laws, roadways and designated paths.
• Hosting events like Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) and Santa Cycle Rampage that help build connections and friendships in the cycling community.
• Teaching kids how to and where to ride and walk safely.

The Ride Guide is an annual publication of the Wisconsin Bike Fed. The print and online versions can help readers plan biking adventures and discover bike friendly destinations, businesses, and events. (Find the Guide on the Bike Fed website under the Ride Wisconsin tab.)

Teaching Safe Bicycling

Bicycling safety is a priority at the Bike Fed, which has created a number of programs to teach children, teens and adults to navigate their communities safely on two wheels. The Bike Fed’s website offers safety resources under the “Programs” tab including: family-friendly safe bicycling videos, guidance for volunteers who wish to host Bike Rodeos for Kids in their communities, and free downloadable slides and activity sheets about bike safety.

Once kids better understand safe bicycling, the next step is to guide them to safe places to ride. That’s where the Bike Fed’s Safe Routes to School program comes in. The program has helped 50,000 students in a dozen communities learn about traffic safety, for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Bike Fed’s Safe Routes programs include Balance & Pedal classes for beginners, Bicycle Drivers Ed, and Walking Wisdom.

Benefits of in-school Safe Routes to School programs include:

• Boosting students’ physical activities, leading to improved health.
• Lowering the number of parents driving kids to school, reducing traffic congestion and improved air quality around our schools.
• Helping students develop a sense of responsibility as they understand the importance of following traffic rules.
• Giving children an early start in understanding traffic rules, preparing them to become more responsible motorists later in life.

The Bike Fed’s Safe Routes to School program reaches beyond cycling to pedestrian safety. A pedestrian-focused downloadable curriculum is a free part of the Safe Routes to School program. It includes discussion topics, worksheets, a video and outdoor safety walkthroughs.

Free documents available to download:

• Wisconsin Bike Laws.
• What Every Parent Should Know: Bike Safety.
• Bicycle Safety: A “Wheely” Good Idea Coloring Book.

Adventure Bike Camps offer affordable summer youth programs that combine the Bike Fed’s Bike Driver’s Ed curriculum with additional bicycling tips and fun destinations.

The Bike Fed partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to produce the video series “Built for Safety.” Find the series on YouTube by searching: “Built for Safety Wisconsin Bike Fed.”

Adult Classes, Too

Grownups aren’t left out of the fun! Bike Fed education staff have earned League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor (LCI) status and are well versed in teaching classes that help adults grow their cycling skills and confidence. Never learned how to ride a bike? It’s never too late!

Beginner to advanced classes are available. Learn to safely and comfortably ride your bike in different traffic conditions, terrain and weather.

New to E-biking? The Bike Fed offers guidance on safe operation, maintenance and trail etiquette to enhance the fun and safety of E-biking.

MilWALKee Walks

This education program focuses on walking and rolling safety in Milwaukee County. mkewalks.wisconsinbikefed. org

Connecting the Cyclist Community

Picture this: More than 2,000 bike riders from across the Midwest show up in the same place at the same time to ride bikes… in December… in Wisconsin. Yes, in December in Wisconsin! Oh, and most are wearing Santa suits! That’s the Santa Cycle Rampage!

Every year for almost two decades people show up at the Santa Cycle Rampage events in Milwaukee, as well as Madison, to raise funds for the Bike Fed’s youth and family-based bicycling education and encouragement programs.

The Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) is another community effort of the Bike Fed that helps cyclists connect and build great relationships. This year’s ride was the 10th annual event. RAW offers shorter and longer rides to accommodate different cycling goals. Around 1,000 cyclists hit the roads this year on a ride that started and ended in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. RAW is another fund-raising event to help the Bike Fed continue its work advancing cycling fun and safety.

Community Building — Near You

The Bike Fed website’s Event Calendar under the Events tab is a hub for information about bike rides and events across the state year-round. Whether your interest is competition, group rides or learning more about cycling, you’ll find events that fit in the searchable calendar. wisconsinbikefed. orgevents/

Routes to Where You Want to Go

When you crave taking off on your own or with friends, the Bike Fed is a link to warm and cold weather bike routes. The Bike Fed website connects riders with Travel Wisconsin maps and route conditions for biking and hiking trails across the state. wisconsinbikefed. orgroute_category/location/

Connectors & Connections

The Bike Fed prioritizes identifying connectors — projects — that are important for cyclists, such as bike-friendly trails and bridges, along with connections — people — in advocacy organizations, businesses and governments who can advance our collective cycling goals. The Bike Fed is proud of its wins so far! (On Bike Fed’s website, check Priority Projects under the Advocacy tab.)

The Bike Fed website, as of this writing, lists 50 Wisconsin businesses and six universities that earned the Bicycle Friendly Business designation by the League of American Bicyclists. The League has also designated 22 Wisconsin cities Bicycle Friendly Communities.

In 2025 the Bike Fed earned the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award from the League of American Bicyclists. It recognizes the Bike Fed’s progress in promoting cycling in Wisconsin.

Working to Support Cycling Safety Legislation

Since state laws can help improve both cycling and pedestrian safety, the Bike Fed consistently:

• Advocates for state law changes that enhance cyclist and pedestrian safety through its support of Vulnerable Road User laws. These laws encompass rules that help protect vulnerable road users of all ages.
• Reminds legislators that people ride their bikes for basic transportation, outdoor recreation and invigorating fitness.

The Bike Fed’s website also provides links for visitors to reach out to their legislators to let them know the importance of creating safe environments for all cyclists and pedestrians, young and old.

Bicycling Pumps Money into the Economy

Along with the fun of bicycling, Bike Fed helps advance bicycling’s significant economic benefits. The state Department of Transportation estimates bicycle-related businesses in Wisconsin employ more than 28,000 people. Total output of bicycle-related industries in Wisconsin amounts to an impressive $5.36 billion. (Source: 2024 Economic Impact of Bicycling in Wisconsin.)

Earning Support Every Day

The Wisconsin Bike Fed is proud to earn the support of cyclists across the Midwest in pursuit of its mission to build a better, more bike-friendly Wisconsin. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the Bike Fed cultivates, motivates and unites a robust community of residents as well as business and political leaders to move bicycling forward — through education, legislation and involvement.

Bike Fed’s financial supporters at different levels may be eligible to receive a number benefits, including:

• The weekly Wisconsin cycling e-newsletter, which includes updates from the Bike Fed, legislative action alerts and lots more.
• Invitations and reduced rates for Bike fed events like Ride Across Wisconsin and the “Raise the Bar Fall Fundraiser” (coming up October. 11, 2025).
• Exclusive discounts on select group ride events around the state.
• A Bicycle Benefits helmet sticker for discounts and special offers at hundreds of participating locations through the Bicycle Benefits program.
• Special AAA member rate that includes bicycle coverage/roadside assistance.

The Bike Fed’s website (has a wealth of information about cycling advocacy, programs, news, events and where to ride in Wisconsin.

Learn how you can support cycling and the Wisconsin Bike Fed at wisconsinbikefed. orgsupport-bike-fed/

Whatever prompts you to roll out on your bicycle or take a stroll, whether to simply get there, to build fitness, or to meet friends, the Wisconsin Bike Fed will connect you to useful information and year-round safe cycling and walking fun. Let’s go!