Ride 2 - Autumn Ridge Bridge

Trail in Heistand Park. 4/17/26 dwm

 Madison is considered a bike-friendly community. One reason are the several pedestrian/bicycle bridges across the city that connect neighborhoods safely by rising over busy streets and highways.

 The latest is a bridge across U.S. Highway 30 where it's a 4-lane road with highway speeds. The bridge and the Autumn Ridge path will connect to the Capital City State Trail and the Garver Path that takes people to the Garver Mill and nearby Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

 Those connections aren't complete yet, there are still gaps to the Capital City and Garver trails.

The Autumn Ridge bridge. 4/17/26 dwm photo

The easiest approach to the bridge is going north on Thompson, then turning left on Swanton just before a pair of round-abouts serving exit and entrance ramps. Turn right on Stein and then up the first sidewalk entry, then follow it around and up the hill.

On the north side of the bridge, you can get to East Towne Mall or a nearby big box store.

The second ride of the season was dramatically different than the first. It was already in the 60s when I left and was in the mid-70s at the finish, a good 20-degree difference.

However, there was wind. I didn't notice it much on the first half of the ride when it was at my back, but the return trip felt like it was an uphill climb.

Heading south. 4/17/26 dwm

 The ride to Autumn Ridge went through unfamiliar territory. I've used Fair Oaks Road several times to take me to the east side of the city, but this was the first time I was on Milwaukee Street to Heistand Park. 

 

 The map I looked at the night before seemed to indicate a path through the park took me to the bridge, but I may have missed a turn. 

 

 I crossed under highway 30 between the two round-abouts then up to the bridge on the north side of U.S. 30. Once I crossed over the bridge I took Swanton back to Milwaukee Street where I found the Garver Path. It's a delightful ride through a quiet neighborhood on a trail that follows a stream.

 

Lots of road work. 4/17/26 dwm

From there, I followed the Lake Loop around Lake Monona then through the isthmus until it connected with the Southwest Commuter trail which joins the Military Ridge Trail that took me home.

 

It was my first time this year riding along John Nolen Drive, which is undergoing a major re-build. Currently there is one lane of traffic in each direction on what is usually a four-lane street.

 

Bicyclists have it easier than car and truck traffic on the Drive, because work crews keep the trails and the crossings available to bikes.

 

Finishing the loop around the lake gave me the extra miles I needed, as I pulled into the driveway, the bike computer reached 52 miles. 

 

The first half of the ride, I was averaging 16 miles an hour, but that was lost on the ride back, the average for ride two was 14.9.

 

Let's ride!