Looking down East Washington Avenue from the Capitol Square on Sunday morning, one would have observed a rare sight — bicyclists riding fearlessly in the middle of the street, nary a car in view.

Part of the usually car-clogged thoroughfare was closed to motorized traffic Sunday because of the first-ever “Ride the Drive,” an event co-sponsored by the city of Madison and Trek Bicycle Corporation to promote alternatives to driving, like biking, skating or walking.

“It’s an extraordinary feeling to get on your bike and ride down the middle of East Washington,” said Steve Silverberg, 52, who was riding with his 6-year-old son, Jack. “All of a sudden, it’s freer. The room is there.”

The event consisted of a car-free, six-mile loop — mostly Downtown and along John Nolen Drive — with live music, food, parades and children’s activities along the way.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who was instrumental in creating the event, said this was part of an effort to make Madison one of the best biking cities in the U.S. The city has been recognized as a gold-certified Bike Friendly City, but is working toward platinum, the highest designation and one held by only three cities.

Cieslewicz, who rides an orange, Trek brand commuter road bike (sometimes even to work), said a number of cities have similar events.

Event organizers estimated that thousands of people took part in the event, which occurred, to their delight, on a day with near perfect weather. Temperatures hovered in the mid-60s and blue skies were dotted with feathery clouds.

There were some walkers and runners, but the course was crowded mostly with bicycles: road bikes and hybrid, recumbent and beach cruisers, tandems, triple-tandems, trick bikes, trail-a-bikes, and some draped with streamers.

One of the highlights was the roughly dozen members of the Wisconsin contingent of Wheelmen, or people who ride high wheels, 1880s and '90s style bikes where the front wheel rises four feet above ground while a smaller wheel trails behind.
At times, the event took on the feel of a giant block party.

“You know what this reminds me of?” asked Laurie Koch, 41, of Sun Prairie, who was riding with her two children. “It reminds me of going back to being a kid.”