Milwaukee County, WI Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Riding position
- Single file, right lane
- Prohibited
- Weaving, hands-off riding
- Prohibited
- Towing or carrying passengers
- Exception
- Small-wheel bikes on footwalks
- Penalty
- $10 to $200 forfeiture
Summary
Milwaukee County park drives have no marked bike lanes, but county rules require cyclists to ride single file in the right-hand lane and follow set safety rules.
Riders of bicycles shall comply with the rules for the regulation of other vehicles, as stated in section 47.10 of the Code, and in addition thereto shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1)No person shall ride a bicycle upon the lawns, walks or foot trails in the parks or parkways except in areas designated for such use by the director of the department of parks, recreation, and culture.(2)Riders shall proceed in the extreme right-hand lane of the drives at all times, in single file only.(3)Riding crosswise and curving to and fro are strictly prohibited.(4)No rider shall take both hands off the handles or ride recklessly in any other manner.(5)A bicycle shall not be towed by a rope or otherwise, nor shall any rider hold on to any moving vehicle for the purpose of being drawn along.(6)No bicycle shall be pushed upon any park or parkway drive where an adjoining footwalk is available.(7)Infants, children or extra passengers shall not be carried on bicycles in any manner whatsoever.(8)Children riding small bicycles, wheels less than twenty (20) inches in diameter, may use the footwalks.(9)Wherever possible, bicycles shall be parked in places provided for such purpose.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
Milwaukee County doesn't stripe bike lanes in its parks; instead, chapter 47 folds bicycles into the same traffic rules as motor vehicles under the parks' vehicle-regulation section, then adds bike-specific requirements of its own. Riders must stay in the extreme right-hand lane of park drives, proceed single file, and are barred from weaving, riding hands-free, towing, or carrying passengers. Bicycles are also barred from lawns, walks, and foot trails except where the parks department has designated them for bike use, though children on bikes with wheels under twenty inches may use footwalks.
Violations & Fines
Breaking the county's park bicycle rules draws chapter 47's general penalty in section 47.29(1): a forfeiture of $10 to $200 plus court costs, or up to 90 days in jail if the fine goes unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Milwaukee County parks have bike lanes?
Can I carry a passenger on my bike in a county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee County
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