Citywide project · City bike network
Bike Lanes
About 14 miles open, about 32 more being designed or built
The project as a whole
Under construction now.
Latest
The map
Map key
Bike Lanes
- Raised to curb level (most separated)
- Partly raised, partly on the street
- On the street, behind posts, curbs, or parked cars
- Protected lane, type not chosen yet
- Off-street trails
- Bike boulevards (quiet shared streets)
- Alder district borders
The city's bikeways map. Greens are protected bike lanes, darkest where the lane is raised to curb level. The line pattern shows the stage: solid is open, short stripes are being built, dashed is funded or planned. The city's map does not include plain painted bike lanes. Tap any line to see that spot in Google Street View.
By the numbers
13.8 of 45.8 miles of protected bike lanes on the city's map are open. Counted from the city's bikeways map, last updated December 2025. The rest are funded, in design, or under construction.
The story
A protected bike lane is a bike lane with something solid between bikes and cars, such as a curb, a concrete barrier, parked cars, or plastic posts. Milwaukee builds them as part of Vision Zero, its plan to end traffic deaths and life-changing injuries.
In June 2023 Mayor Cavalier Johnson set a goal of 50 miles of protected bike lanes built or in development by 2026. In June 2025 the city said it had passed 51 miles. That count includes lanes still being designed, not just finished ones. The city's own map shows about 14 miles open so far, with about 32 more funded, in design, or under construction.
The map also includes off-street trails, like the Beerline and Kinnickinnic River trails, and "bike boulevards," which are quiet side streets set up for biking. A planned lane on South Water Street has been held up by a dispute with the Union Pacific railroad.
Timeline
- 2010 · DoneCity bike plan adopted
- 2023 · DoneMayor sets 50-mile goal
- 2023 · DoneFirst lanes: Walnut, Highland, Lapham, North
- 2025 · DoneMichigan, Lisbon, 60th, Howard, Lake Drive
- 2026 · UnderwayBuilding Lisbon and National
- 2026 to 2028 · PlannedHopkins, Center, Sherman, Villard
- Years
- Mayor's goal set June 2023
The money
Built street by street; no network total is published. The city's bikeways page lists no costs.
Designs, renderings, and plans
What it could look like, from the agencies’ own drawings, renderings, and meeting boards. Each link opens their file.
In the news
Recent stories from local news sites, public radio and TV, and advocacy groups (labeled), found through Google News and updated every morning. Headlines link to the outlet.
Who decides, and how to have a say
City of Milwaukee. The Department of Public Works designs each lane, and the Common Council approves the money and the federal and state grants that pay for much of it.
Sources, checked October 31, 2026: City of Milwaukee DPW, Bikeways (50-mile goal); City of Milwaukee bikeways map data (miles, status, years), updated December 18, 2025; CBS 58, June 2025 (51 miles built or under development); Urban Milwaukee, April 8, 2026 (2026 plans, Water Street delay); map: City of Milwaukee DPW bikeways map. Street View imagery © Google.