Whitefish Bay’s New Plan to Keep Families Safer on Foot and Bike

Whitefish Bay is taking meaningful steps to become safer and more welcoming for walkers, bikers, and families alike. Whether you're strolling to school with your kids, biking to Klode Park, or walking to the library, a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Study is setting the groundwork for a safer and more connected community.

On Monday, April 7, the Village Board accepted the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Study, which will give guidance on future short-term and long-term bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements.

The Village of Whitefish Bay partnered with Traffic Analysis & Design, Inc. (TADI) to conduct a comprehensive study aimed at reducing crashes and improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. This effort was funded through a federal TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant and guided by community input over the past year.

The study included:

• Public input sessions and surveys

• Traffic and crash data collection

• On-site school zone observations

• Biking and walking audits

• Policy and enforcement reviews

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What It Means for North Shore Families

Whether you’ve walked to the Silver Spring Farmers Market, dropped off kids at school, or biked the Oak Leaf Trail, these improvements are designed with safety and access in mind:

✅ Short-Term Improvements (Coming Soon)

• Temporary curb extensions to slow traffic at key intersections

• Improved signage and pavement markings near schools and busy streets

• Better intersection visibility

• New bike racks to make biking more convenient

🔍 Long-Term Plans

• Permanent curb extensions and “gateway” treatments that signal safer zones

• Exploring alternative east-west bike routes to ease congestion on Silver Spring Drive

• A potential pedestrian plaza at Marlborough Drive and Kimbark Place

🚴 Other Initiatives

• A Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Program in schools

• Expanded enforcement for speeding and failure to yield

• Street lighting evaluations in school zones

• A neighborhood-wide “Safe Speeds” campaign

📊 How Safe Are We Now?

In comparison to nearby communities over the last decade:

• Whitefish Bay had 68 crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists—less than some neighbors but still an area of concern.

• It ranked 6th in total bike/pedestrian crashes per 10,000 residents—behind Milwaukee, Glendale, Shorewood, and others.

• Notably, Whitefish Bay ranked 8th in serious injury or fatal crashes, showing there’s room for improvement.

🚲 A Safer Future Starts Now

As these recommendations roll out, you can expect to see changes that make biking to school, walking the dog, or riding to the beach a little safer and more enjoyable.

Other local communities are also focused on increasing bike and pedestrian safety, with Shorewood recently adopting a 10-year strategic mobility plan.

If you want to dive into the full Whiteifsh Bay report, you can find it here: Read the Study