Active Transportation (Bicycle & Pedestrian)

According to the US Department of Transportation, almost one-in-four adults report that they do not engage in any physical activity outside of their jobs. One major reason for this is missing or inadequate active transportation facilities such as sidewalks, multi-use paths, and bicycle lanes. The City of Sun Prairie invests in bicycle and pedestrian facilities to promote active transportation and to provide options for those that are unable or choose not to drive. These facilities can be used for recreation or for transportation purposes.

Pedestrian Facilities

The City of Sun Prairie recognizes and values the needs and desires of all residents and their abilities to get to, though, and around the city. As such, an integrated transportation network is critical in meeting the various abilities of present and future generations - sidewalks play a vital role in that network. The primary objective of the policy is to provide a safe and enjoyable pedestrian network by:

• Installing sidewalks on both sides of all new and reconstructed streets.
• Filling in gaps in the network on a case-by-case basis, with priority near schools and other pedestrian designations
• Including new street trees as part of the sidewalk retrofit projects.

The City's sidewalk policy (PDF) can be found. For more information about why the City prioritizes investing sidewalks, view the Why Sidewalks? (PDF) brochure.

Bicycle Facilities

Facilities for cyclists are not one-size-fits-all. There are different kinds of cyclists – some bicycle for recreation, exercise, or pleasure while others bicycle as their primary means of transportation. Cyclists have differing levels of confidence navigating the transportation system and require different amounts of separation from vehicular traffic. A casual cyclist may place increased value on park-like surroundings and off-street trails, while a commuter may value direct routes over vehicle separation. Because of these differing values, Sun Prairie strives to provide both on-street and off-street facilities for cyclists.

View a map of all bicycle routes (PDF) within the City.