Can you bike on the sidewalk?

Can you ride a bike on the sidewalk in Madison or Milwaukee Wisconsin or other Cities? Yes under certain circumstances.

Generally, bicyclists are discouraged from riding on sidewalks because they are considered vehicles and have the same rights to the road as motor vehicles. In Wisconsin, municipalities govern whether or not it is lawful to ride a bike on a sidewalk. The State Statute generally prohibits operating a vehicle on a sidewalk but allows local authorities to set their own rules. See below.

346.804 Riding bicycle on sidewalk. When local authorities under s. 346.94 (1) permit bicycles on the sidewalk, every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device rider or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.

346.94 Miscellaneous prohibited or restricted acts.

(1) Driving on sidewalk. Except as authorized in s. 23.33 (4) (f) or when the sidewalk is an all-terrain vehicle route, as defined in s. 23.33 (1) (c) or an off-highway motorcycle route, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (u), the operator of a vehicle may not drive upon any sidewalk area except at a permanent or temporarily established driveway unless permitted to do so by the local authorities.

City of Madison Ordinance 12.74.

12.76 - SPECIAL RULES APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES.(1)

No person shall ride a bicycle on the sidewalk where a building abuts the sidewalk. Bicycle riding on sidewalks is permitted, except as prohibited in this subsection and otherwise regulated in this chapter.

City of Milwaukee Ordinance 102-8

102-8. Bicycle Regulations. 2. RIDING ON PUBLIC WAYS. No bicycle shall be operated upon any public sidewalk, pedestrian paths in the public parks, or upon any public school grounds or public playgrounds. This subsection shall not apply to bicycles when operated on school grounds or playgrounds when officially sanctioned functions are in progress; bicycles operated by police officers in the discharge of their official duties; vehicles p propelled by the feet acting on pedals and having 2 or more wheels with an overall diameter of 14 inches or more when operated by children of the age of 10 years or under; to 102-10 Bicycles and Snowmobiles 11/8/2002 -556- bicycles operated by deaf persons; or to sidewalks or sidewalk areas where the commissioner of public works, authorized by common council under s. 102-14, has posted signs indicating that the riding of bicycles of wheel diameters greater than 14 inches is permitted on the sidewalk or sidewalk area on that portion of the highway. When operating a bicycle on a sidewalk in accordance with this subsection, every driver shall yield the right of-way to any pedestrian and shall exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle driver or pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.