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Destination Madison, Dane County’s travel and tourism entity, has pushed summer into high gear with the launch of “Madison By Bike,” a cycling trail program that offers a new spin on exploring the greater Madison area.

“Madison By Bike” is a free digital passport program featuring four bike routes with suggested check-ins and stops, encouraging locals and visitors to explore the highlights of Dane County. Participants can earn award prizes and redeem exclusive discounts at local businesses. With more than 30 stops ranging from restaurants to parks to retail, “Madison By Bike” showcases the best of the Greater Madison area in an easy, mobile-friendly way.

“Biking is more than a ride in Madison — it’s our culture, and it’s for everyone,” said Destination Madison President and CEO Ellie Westman Chin. “’Madison By Bike’ makes biking approachable for cyclists of all experience levels.  Whether you’re a longtime local rider or a first-time visitor, the trail connects you to the people and communities that make Dane County so special, and completing the experience makes them feel rewarded.”

Points collected by checking in at stops on the routes can earn people who sign up for an exclusive sticker, a “Madison By Bike” water bottle or bag, and an entry into a drawing to win an electric bicycle and helmet. Participation in the program even provides donations to Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison. In addition to welcoming new and experienced riders to discover these four trails (Capital City Trail, Cannonball Loop, Lakeshore Path and the Southwest Commuter Path) in a new way, the trail encourages stopping, exploring and supporting community partners.

Users can visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page (https://www.visitmadison.com/madison-by-bike/) and sign up for “Madison By Bike” by providing their name, e-mail address and mobile phone number. A link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport in a browser-based app and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it any time. There is never anything to download and no bulky apps take up space on a user’s phone.

Destination Madison is working with Bandwango, a technology company in the travel space designed to support free and paid experiences created by destinations and marketed to visitors and locals.