The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin

What We Believe:

Making Wisconsin
A Better Place to Bicycle.

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is a statewide, membership-based, non-profit bicycle education and advocacy organization.

We strive to make Wisconsin a better place to bicycle by empowering citizens to build communities where bicyclists are safe to ride the roads and trails.

We educate decision makers, motorists and bicyclists about the transportation planning and safety issues, as well as the environmental, health and economic benefits of bicycling.

We promote bicycling as an integral part of a balanced transportation system, and a prosperous economy.

It is About Freedom

• The freedom to choose to bicycle for transportation, fitness or recreation and to do so safely and without harassment.
• We value bicycling as a fun and healthy activity you can do throughout your life.
• BFW works with health care providers to encourage bicycling as a daily activity for increased fitness.
• BFW publishes an annual guide that lists all the bicycling events throughout Wisconsin.
• We value the mental and physical well being that bicycling provides.
• BFW organizes events throughout the state to encourage bicycle commuting.
• BFW conducts bicycling classes through out Wisconsin, bringing the joy of bicycling to hundreds of people.

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Values Transportation Choices

• We believe that communities with good bicycling facilities are good places to live and work.
• BFW sits on a state committee, which has authorized approximately $25 million dollars in bicycle projects to hundreds of Wisconsin communities over the last four years.
• BFW has helped employers like Miller Brewing, the City of Milwaukee, Alliant Energy, and Wisconsin Electric/Wisconsin Gas to become bicycle-friendly businesses through better bicycle parking, lunch- time seminars, and incentives to pedal to work instead of drive.
• BFW has trained over 200 transportation planners and engineers about bicycle-friendly street design.
• Unfortunately, many communities are not "bicycle friendly"; so driving is the only choice. Communities with multi-lane, high-speed roadways, no bicycle accommodations and destinations far apart are difficult to negotiate by bike. Although paved shoulders are encouraged by modern design standards, too many county roads still lack them. Motorists who don't respect bicyclists' rights to the road add to these problems.

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is the only statewide bicycle advocacy organization working to solve these problems, but we need your help to reach our goals:

• Implement bike friendly policies and projects through state agencies and local communities.
• Defend the rights of bicyclists and sponsor bicycle friendly state legislation.
• Increase motorist education, awareness, respect, and safe interaction with bicyclists.
• Promote bicycling as a healthy, life-long activity through effective bicycle education and encouragement.
• Support local bicycle advocacy, bike clubs, event organizers, law enforcement agencies, and bike dealers.

What We Do:

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (BFW) is a statewide, nonprofit, bicycle advocacy organization with more than 2,700 members. Working to make Wisconsin a better place is what it is all about. Here are some of the things the Bike Fed is involved in:

Legislation
Lawmakers and policymakers play a significant role in determining the quality of bicycling in the state. In 1995 BFW was the driving force behind a significant update of the state's bicycle laws. This law more clearly defined a bicyclist's rights and responsibilities as a vehicle, and made other changes, which have improved the safety and enjoyment of bicycling.

In 2007 BFW is stepping up its state lobbying efforts in order to protect our state trails, reinstate funding for bicycle facilities, and move forward an agenda that will benefit the bicyclists of the state. Our current lobbying activities are listed here.

BFW regularly participates in public hearings and on committees to represent the needs of bicyclists. BFW currently has a representative on the state's Transportation Enhancements Committee and on the Governor's Bicycle Coordinating Council.

BFW will be an educational resource for legislators for the reauthorization process for the federal transportation spending bill. Since 1992 great progress has been made towards funding bicycle related programs and facilities at the federal level and BFW plans to help ensure that even greater improvements occur with the next round of federal legislation.

Publications
BFW prints a quarterly newsletter titled the Wisconsin Bicyclist that lists current activities of the organization and bicycle events around the state.

BFW publishes an annual Ride Guide and Resource Guide listing more than 400 bicycling events throughout Wisconsin.

Education
Education plays a key role in improving conditions for bicycling. Bicyclists, motorists, planners, and engineers, just to name a few, all need current and accurate information about bicycling. Courses are available for children, adults, families, bicycle commuters, and motorists. A current class listing is available here.

BFW also promotes police officer training on bicycling issues. Police officers are the only ones who can enforce laws, both for bicyclists and for motorists. BFW's campaign provides police officers with the information that they need to do this job.

BFW is currently provides bicycle education to adults, children, and motorists. BFW also provides Safe Routes to School programs which encourage children to bicycle to school and provide them with the information and training that they need to do so safely. A BFW run Safe Routes to Schools pilot project is currently underway in Milwaukee.

Bike Commuting
Bike to Work Week celebrations take place in cities all over the state of Wisconsin. The purpose of these events is to encourage people to bicycle to work. BFW provides support to communities interested in organizing bike to work activities. BFW has also worked more closely with businesses in Madison and Milwaukee to actively promote bicycling as a healthy way to get to work. In addition, BFW provide employees with information on biking to work.

Bikes on Buses
The cities of La Crosse, Madison, and Eau Claire have bike racks on buses. Milwaukee County recently voted to add racks to their fleet. BFW is currently working to get racks on busses in other Wisconsin cities. If you would like to get bike racks on the busses in your community, click here and/or contact info@bfw.org.

BFW is a member-supported organization.

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