The Bike Fed is Coming to the Fox Valley!
The Bike Fed has received grant funding to organize and teach dozens of free bike safety classes throughout Wisconsin this year.
In May 2025, our staff will be in the Fox Valley! All of the events and classes below are totally FREE!
If you would like to help us promote these events in the Fox Valley, we have created promotional materials that can be accessed here.
Many thanks to our partners at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for funding this work.
Questions? Contact Chelsea Müench.
Thursday, May 1st
Biking and Walking Meet and Greet!
5 – 7 pm, Wheel and Sprocket Appleton (3939 W College Ave, Appleton, WI)
Come meet fellow bike enthusiasts for light refreshments and a chance to discuss biking and walking in the Fox Valley. Do you have a favorite bike ride you want to share? Or a dangerous intersection you want to discuss advocacy strategies about? Join us for an evening of comradery. Registration not required but highly appreciated!
Friday, May 2nd
E-Bike Smart Cycling
1 – 4 pm, LOCATION TBD
Have you always wanted to learn how to ride a bike? Do you want to brush up on your two-wheel skills? Are you considering switching from a “regular” bike to an e-bike? This is the class for you! Taught by accredited instructors, participants are encouraged to come with any or no experience with biking or e-bikes. Everyone is welcome as they are!
This course provides cyclists with the confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. We will cover the basics of bike maintenance, rules of the road, on-bike skills, and crash avoidance techniques. Additionally, you will learn information specific to riding e-bikes, including braking, throttle control, e-bike laws, and other things to consider as an e-bike user. The workshop will start in the classroom for discussion about safe riding techniques, then we head to the parking lot to practice some on-bike skills. We will finish the workshop with a ride on local roads.
Registration is required. Bring your own e-bike or register to use a Bike Fed e-bike. Options are limited. Time and location subject to change.
Adult Learn to Ride
5:30 – 7:30 pm, LOCATION TBD
“It’s just like riding a bike!” Except: what if you never learned how to ride a bike? Good news: it’s never too late!
If you have never learned how to ride a bike, or if you struggle with balance, braking, and confidence, this is the class for you! Taught by accredited instructors, participants are encouraged to come with any or no experience with biking. Participants will learn biking basics including balancing, how to use brakes, pedaling, turning, laws, strategies for navigating, and basic maintenance. Everyone is welcome! This is a non-judgmental class designed for adults — we are here to help you learn a new skill!
Bring your own bike or register to use a Bike Fed regular bike or e-bike. Options are limited. Registration is required. Time and location subject to change.
Saturday, May 3rd
Teaching Safe Bicycling
9 am – 12:30 pm
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (4693 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI)
Come learn how to teach the young people in your life how to bike safely. This course is aimed at adults who are interested in hosting a “bike rodeo” to teach bike safety skills to youth. Come for the morning session and then stay for the afternoon rodeo to practice the skills you just learned. Great for troop leaders, parents, “fun aunts and uncles”, coaches, educators, and more!
Registration is required. This class is bilingual in Spanish!
Youth Bike Rodeo
1 – 3 pm, Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (4693 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI)
Kids will gain confidence riding at our bike safety rodeo! This rodeo is for all youth ages 4-18. We’ll have bike & helmet safety checks, a helmet decorating station, and fun skills courses. Participants will be entered into a drawing for bike-themed prizes!
Youth must bring your own bike, and helmets are required. Come and bring your friends! Registration is not required but is appreciated. This class is bilingual in Spanish!
Smart Cycling: Beginner
10 am – 12 pm, Pete’s Garage (142 N Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303)
This course provides cyclists with the confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. We will cover the basics of bike maintenance, choosing a bike, rules of the road, on-bike skills, and crash avoidance techniques. The workshop will start in the classroom for discussion about safe riding techniques, then we head to the parking lot to practice some on-bike skills. We will finish the workshop with a ride on local roads.
Participants should know how to stop, turn, and balance before attending the course. For folks who are brand new to biking, check out our Adult Learn to Ride class on Friday, May 2. E-bikes are welcome at this event, but e-bike users may want to consider Friday’s E-Bike Smart Cycling class instead. Registrants may want to consider also doing the afternoon Intermediate session for more practice.
Registration is required. Bring your own bike or register to use a Bike Fed bike. Options are limited. Time and location subject to change.
Smart Cycling: Intermediate
1 pm – 3:30 pm, Pete’s Garage (142 N Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303)
Grow your cycling skills in this Intermediate class! We will cover topics such as rules of the road, on-bike skills, crash avoidance techniques, riding in inclement weather, night riding, and other topics that participants are interested in. The workshop will start in the classroom for discussion about safe riding techniques, then we head to the parking lot to practice some on-bike skills. We will finish the workshop with a ride on local roads.
Participants should know how to stop, turn, and balance before attending the course. For folks who are brand new to biking, check out our Adult Learn to Ride class on Friday, May 2. E-bikes are welcome at this event, but e-bike users may want to consider Friday’s E-Bike Smart Cycling class instead. The Beginner class is NOT required ahead of this class; choose the level that you feel is most appropriate for you.
Registration is required. Bring your own bike or register to use a Bike Fed bike. Options are limited. Time and location subject to change.
Walk/Roll Workshop
12:30 – 3 pm, Appleton Public Library, Cornerstone Conference Room (200 N Appleton St, Appleton, WI)
This workshop will teach participants about planning and facilitating walk/roll events, such as audits, in their local areas. Workshop participants will learn about different approaches to walk/roll audits and events and strategies for facilitation. Participants will begin the initial planning process for their own walk/roll event. No prior experience is necessary — if you care about safety for pedestrians, want to learn, and want to meet others, this is a great event for you!
Participants will also take part in a walk/roll in downtown Appleton. This walk/roll will be a maximum of 1 mile. Bring comfortable shoes. People with disabilities, seniors, and high school/college youth are encouraged to attend. Reach out to Marybeth with accommodations needs or requests so we can be sure to design an inclusive route.
Promotional Materials
Are you a bike shop or community organization who wants to promote these events? Check out these resources below — and thank you for helping to spread the word!
Teaching Safe Bicycling Flyer – English
Find us in your community!
This year, we received funding to conduct three roadshows across the state, as well as cycling education events in Milwaukee County and Dane County. In fall 2024, we brought our Roadshow to Beloit, and our intern Aidan discussed his reflections here. Look forward to Bike Week events in Milwaukee and Dane Counties June 1-8, as well as a Roadshow in Racine County in late summer 2025. Reach out to Chelsea Müench if you want to help us host an event in Milwaukee, Dane, or Racine counties. Thank you!