Madison Reporter

Thousands are expected to participate in Ride the Drive 2025, a free event organized by the City of Madison Parks Division. The event will take place on Sunday, August 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., encouraging community members to walk, bike, skate, or roll along more than two miles of closed streets in downtown Madison.

The route features four activity hubs located at Olin Park (202 E. Lakeside Street), Law Park West (355 John Nolen Drive), Law Park East (410 S. Blair Street), and McPike Park (210 S. Ingersoll Street). Each hub offers games, entertainment, music, food vendors, and various activities for all ages. Bike safety checks and water stations will also be available at these locations.

Participants can start anywhere along the route or visit a Madison Parks Info Booth at any of the park hubs to pick up an event map and the RTD Parks Prize Pass. The Prize Pass encourages attendees to visit each park hub and collect stamps from different vendors. Completed passes can be returned for a chance to win prizes through a random drawing held after the event.

Some highlights include bike obstacle courses at Olin and McPike parks, bike-on/off bus demonstrations at Law Park West, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fishmobile at Law Park East.

A new feature this year is the Pedal Parade. Participants can decorate their bikes or gear up at Law Park East before joining Madison Bikes and Machinery Row Bicycles for a five-mile slow-roll lap that starts at McPike Park before noon.

During Ride the Drive, John Nolen Drive will be closed from Lakeside Street to South Blair/Williamson streets; Williamson Street will be closed from South Blair to South Ingersoll streets. Despite these closures, access remains open to downtown Madison and the Olin Park boat launch via E. Olin Avenue through Turville Point Conservation Park service gates. Major roads such as E. Washington Ave., E. Gorham St., and Johnson St. remain open for travel into downtown.

All downtown businesses will keep regular Sunday hours during the event; further details can be found on the Downtown Madison website: https://www.visitdowntownmadison.com/.

"Ride the Drive is organized by the City of Madison Parks Division in collaboration with numerous City agencies and local organizations and made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners, including the Madison Parks Foundation."

For updates about Ride the Drive or frequently asked questions, visit RidetheDrive.com.