Overall, my bike ride along this trail was pleasant and I am definitely planning to do it again. I'm a leisurely biker, and for me this trial was well marked, popular among other cyclists, and not very busy as far as cars go. There's also a few rest areas in parks a little off the trail. I stopped in Winnequah park to get water and use the restroom, and it was decent. The views and neighborhoods that are along this trail are gorgeous during the summer.
The main reason it lost a star was this detour on the east side of the lake at Walter road. Apparently, the city of Monona doesn't allow bikes on the sidewalk, so for part of the trail you have to detour through a neighborhood. The detour involves many turns weaving around blocks. If you don't mind riding on the side of a busy street for about 5 minutes, I would recommend ignoring the detour signs and just staying on the original road until you meet up with the trail again. A bike lane is marked after about 5 minutes of riding, so you don't have to ride with traffic very far.