What We Do

As the local bicycle education group for Fitchburg, Wisconsin, Bike Fitchburg works with the mayor, council, and city staff to make biking of all kinds and walking easier, safer, and more fun. It also educates people who bike and the general public on bicycle matters and serves as an information clearinghouse. Bike Fitchburg is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization governed by a board of directors. Everyone who lives, works, or rides a bike in Fitchburg is invited to add their voices to ours by visiting our website, liking our Facebook page. and joining our Facebook group.

History

In 2014 and 2015, the Active Living Work Group of the Healthy Kids Collaborative, a joint effort of local municipalities, Dane County, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, were meeting monthly to develop applications for the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly America program. While researching best practices for municipal policies, then-Fitchburg-Alder Steve Arnold discovered that Fitchburg needed both an official city bicycle committee and an outside, non-profit bicycle education group.

In 2014, Matthew Jones and Jennifer Ullman moved to Fitchburg. Matt, League of American Bicyclists League Certified Instructor with degrees in Public Administration and Urban Planning, was eager to contribute to his new community in a substantial way. Jennifer, an avid volunteer since childhood and regularly active in her communities where she lived, supporting the Olympic Movement, working at both Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of USA Weightlifting, was also excited to get involved in the community with bicycling.

Both Matt and Jennifer were uniquely qualified to organize a bicycle advocacy and education non-profit organization for bicycling, and as a result, Fitchburg Bicycle Advocates, now known as Bike Fitchburg, Inc., was founded on May 11, 2015 by Matt and Jennifer. Fitchburg Bicycle Advocates was renamed in May 2016 to Bike Fitchburg.

With the support of volunteer and avid cyclist, Gary Berger, Bike Fitchburg incorporated as Bike Fitchburg, Inc., and was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, non-profit charity under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code on May 29, 2017.

Matt and Jennifer led Bike Fitchburg as President and Vice President, respectively, and Co-Founders since its inception in Fitchburg. Matt and Jennifer relocated out of Fitchburg in December 2019, continued to run the organization during one of the most trying times in world history, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As of February 2021, Matt and Jennifer have stepped aside to allow for new leadership to continue their legacy and help Bike Fitchburg prosper in the local community.

How We Work

Bike Fitchburg consists of an all-volunteer board of directors and board of advisors. Officers and directors meet monthly.

There are currently no membership dues. Some operating funds are raised by our annual, signature ¡Pick Me Up @ the Border! ride. Donations by check to “Bike Fitchburg, Inc.” are gratefully accepted and tax receipts will be provided.

Members of the public who live, work, or ride in the City of Fitchburg are encouraged to “join” Bike Fitchburg by liking our Facebook page, joining our Facebook group, following our Twitter account and Instagram feeds, and submitting their names and e-mail addresses to our mailing list. We use the mailing list and social media to announce new facilities and policies, temporary closures and re-openings, and action alerts about policy and budget matters coming before Fitchburg local government that affect people who bike. Join us!

Our Board of Directors

Darryl Jordan
President
president@bikefitchburg.org

Bill Jetzer
Vice President
vicepresident@bikefitchburg.org

Steve Arnold
Treasurer
treasurer@bikefitchburg.org

Mark Wilkerson
Secretary
secretary@bikefitchburg.org

Tony Hartmann
Past President
pastpresident@bikefitchburg.org

Carol Aspinwall
Director
carol@bikefitchburg.org

Mike Grady
Director
mike@bikefitchburg.org

Kay Lum
Director
kay@bikefitchburg.org

Thad Schumacher
Advisor
thad@bikefitchburg.org

George Yelder
Advisor
george@bikefitchburg.org

Read the Board Members Bios.

Meetings

Officers and directors meet monthly, generally on the fourth Monday of each month. Visitors are always welcome. The location and time changes so to see info on upcoming meetings go here.

Read the Minutes from past meetings.

Bylaws

Download and read our Bylaws.