Check out what participants are saying about RTD 2024.
"We had an absolutely fantastic time at Ride the Drive this year!! Congratulations to you and the whole team for pulling off such a huge event so smoothly. It was a beautiful day and we talked with a lot of new people at Law Park." ~ Zia B., Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization
"I just wanted to tell the Madison Parks team how much we appreciated Ride the Drive this year! It seems like a ton of people got out to enjoy the roads in a new way. All of us at Machinery Row team were happy to participate. We have a lot of ideas for how we can get people more engaged next year too. Just wanted to say thanks for all your efforts to make this happen!" ~ Lauren B., Machinery Row Bicycles
"I was a volunteer for Ride the Drive on August 11. In past years, I avoided this event because, as a life-long, “hard core” cycling commuter and bike transportation advocate, it seemed like a cream-puff event that seemed not to contribute to getting more people out of cars and onto bikes or bus seats for other than one day a year.
Participating as a traffic director at a park, and later volunteering with the Wisconsin DNR “Learn to Fish” activity, has allowed me to reconsider my view.
Seeing several thousand cyclists of all social and family situations, and talking with a number of people this year, has shown me that Ride the Drive can open people up to the fact that biking significant distances across our city can be a very good way to get around, with kids, pets, spouses and friends. It was a very joyous event.
We need to keep “Ride the Drive” as an annual event, and work in more ways to educate city residents about the great cycling infrastructure we already have, and the need for continuing to make improvements in cycling convenience and safety." ~ Jeff S.
"My volunteer experience was awesome! Thank you so much for all of the Parks Department effort that made Ride the Drive such an awesome event!" ~ Madeline G.
"Thank you for the wonderful ride last weekend! I tell ya, rolling down Willy Street and then Jon Nolan Drive with no car traffic is a mystical experience. I’m sure it takes a ton of effort so, thank you, thank you, thank you! " ~ Robin
"Thanks for putting on this event. Was my first Ride the Drive - have been here less than two years - and it was lovely to ride along the lake w/o constant auto traffic and auto noise. Looking forward to RTD2025!" ~ Blaine C.
"Thank you for sponsoring Ride the Drive and making it happen. I live next to the Monona Terrace and my apartment faces Lake Monona. 364+ days of the year I hear the constant drone of traffic punctuated by people testing the limits of their exhaust systems when they drive under the terrace. The last four hours of Ride the Drive were so incredibly peaceful. I could sit outside, converse with my wife, enjoy the views, and actually hear birds without the constant traffic. Madison Parks could hand out bags of gold to everyone in the city at an annual event and it still wouldn't be as good as Ride the Drive is. Keep it up and thank you!" ~ Peter B.
"Just wanted to say I love Ride The Drive - and I hope that finances allow for it to continue to be an event for years to come." ~ Zach H.
"Thank you for the wonderful ride last weekend! I tell ya, rolling down Willy Street and then Jon Nolan Drive with no car traffic is a mystical experience. I’m sure it takes a ton of effort so, thank you, thank you, thank you!" ~ Robin
"Thanks for putting on Ride the Drive, my wife and I enjoyed biking the car free route with our 3 and 5 year old kids. It’s amazing to how much more enjoyable riding along the lake is without all the car noise. Wish it was more frequent like cyclovia in Colombia (every sunday and holiday has bike free streets). Keep up the good work, this was our first year participating and next year we plan to bring friends." ~ Dave S.
"I really like RTD. I think I have been to every one. Cities around the world, all less wealthy than us, have ciclovias many times a year. Can we copy how they do it? Skip the park events? Manage streets without police coverage? Don't worry about directing people? It would be a special tradition for Madison. Thanks for everything you do." ~ Janet M.
