Bicycle facilities: There are several bike lanes and greenways in the city. About 50 bike racks are located in the city center. Bike lockers can be rented at several locations on a seasonal or annual basis. About the city: The Twin Cities are Minneapolis (pop. 370,000) and St. Paul (pop. 280,000). St Paul is the capital city of Minnesota. Public transit: About 10 Metro Transit bus routes are equiped with racks that hold two bikes. Hiawatha Light Rail Transit connecting the city center and the airport has racks for four bikes. Web site:Bicycling in Minneapolis Bicycling organizations: Yellow Bike Coalition promotes alternative transportation by assisting with bike repairs and recycling bicycles (link lost). Sibley Bike Depot offers service and repair seminars, exhibits, events and commuter workshops. Cycling map: A cycling map of Minneapolis is available from the city and can be downloaded from their website. Bike trails:Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway parkway is a 50-mile route around the city with adjoining bike trails. Three trails pass through the heart of the city: Cedar Lake Trail, Kenilworth Trail and the Midtown Greenway.
Nearby trails: Southwest Regional LRT Trail 27 miles. Five of the Hennepin Parks have paved recreation trails. Gateway State Trail in northern St Paul is 18 miles long. Minnetonka Loop is a 40-mile circut in the western suburbs. Luce Line State Trail is 63 miles in length. Bike events:Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour (15/31 miles) and Minneapolis Bike Tour both take place in September Points of interest:Science Museum of Minnesota, Museum of Natural History, Mall of America, Minneapolis Riverfront District Lodging: The Twin Cities offers a wide selection of hotels and B&Bs Camping: Lebanon Hills Regional Park Bike shops: The Twin Cities have several bike stores Weather forecast:Minneapolis Tourism info:Greater Minneapolis Visitors Association | St. Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau Airport:Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is situated about 8 miles south of Minneapolis Getting to the region:AmTrak provides daily rail service Map of city:The Twin Cities
City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Sept, 2005 Sections biked: Cedar Lake Trail, Cedar Lake, Kenworth, Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Minnehaha Parkway Favorite sections: Minnehaha Parkway Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: It's all very well kept, Most bikers know the rules of the road, smooth, well marked, very scenic in some parts What I disliked: I found the bike trail around Lake of the Isles to be very rough so I tend to avoid it. Also, I get irritated with Rollerbladers who don't move over for bikers and look at you like your a prick when you say "on your left" or people just standing on the bike path paying no attention and forcing you to slow down or slam on your brakes. Additional comments: Great place for biking, i've been enjoying it for years and still love every ride. Submitted by: Pat from: St Louis Park Date submitted: Sept 6, 2005
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: August, 2005 Sections biked: The whole city Favorite sections: Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Well maintained, smooth, clearly marked What I disliked: The downtown bicycle lanes are quite unique Additional comments: Submitted by: KJ from: Golden Valley, Minnesota Date submitted: Aug 21, 2005
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: June, 2005 Sections biked: Throughout Minneapolis. Favorite sections: Lake Calhoun Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Lots of beautiful paths, trails, etc. in a highly urban environment. Tops! What I disliked: Additional comments: Submitted by: Carl Wedoff from: Minneapolis, MN Date submitted: June 11, 2005
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Apr, 2005 Sections biked: Bike trails on East River and West River Road, around Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, down Minnehaha Creek, across the Greenway Favorite sections: All of the above! Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Terrific bike paths, soon to link the whole city--you can go for miles. What I disliked: Some marked bike paths on streets just end abruptly with no concerns for bikes. A new section of road on historic Main Street in a park was designed completely without consideration of bikers who routinely come through that area to access the Stone Arch bridge (bike and pedestrian bridge) Additional comments: Have biked in France, Belgium, Nehterlands, Victoria BC, and here and there throughout the US. Minneapolis has some of the best bike paths around. Submitted by: LE from: Minneapolis, MN Date submitted: April 18, 2005
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Apr, 2005 Sections biked: Bike trails on East River and West River Road, around Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, down Minnehaha Creek, across the Greenway Favorite sections: All of the above! Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Terrific bike paths, soon to link the whole city--you can go for miles. What I disliked: Some marked bike paths on streets just end abruptly with no concerns for bikes. A new section of road on historic Main Street in a park was designed completely without consideration of bikers who routinely come through that area to access the Stone Arch bridge (bike and pedestrian bridge) Additional comments: Have biked in France, Belgium, Nehterlands, Victoria BC, and here and there throughout the US. Minneapolis has some of the best bike paths around. Submitted by: LE from: Minneapolis, MN Date submitted: April 18, 2005
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Sept, 2004 Sections biked: Almost all trail in Minneapolis Favorite sections: Road rating: Fair Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: Great way of seeing the city What I disliked: The drivers are not very polite and the traffic can be horrible Additional comments: Submitted by: SF from: Mionnesota Date submitted: Sept 24, 2004
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: August, 2004 Sections biked: River bottom trails along Mississippi River
Downtown Minneapolis Greenway Favorite sections: Lebanon Trails in Edina, Great rollercoaster Mountain Bike riding Road rating: Fair Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: The workout What I disliked: Stupid Drivers that drive in bike lane Additional comments: Submitted by: NAM from: Lakeville Minnesota Date submitted: Aug 1, 2004
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Several times Date last visited: May, 2004 Sections biked: minnehaha pkwy, lake calhoun/harriet Favorite sections: Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Fair Rating: 5 stars What I liked: scenic bike paths and the people What I disliked: bugs Additional comments: Submitted by: shawn from: stillwater,mn Date submitted: May 8, 2004
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Apr, 2004 Sections biked: Summit Ave. Lanes, Downtown St. Paul, U of M East and West, River Road Trails Minneapolis and St. Paul, Fairview Ave. St. Paul Favorite sections: Summit Ave. and the River Road Trails Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: very scenic bike paths everywhere, easy access to everything, on convieniently placed paths What I disliked: Drivers who seem to think that they own every inch of pavement and aren't afraid to tell you that with their bumpers. Additional comments: well all I can compare it to is the suburbs of this city, and there is no comparison, it's great down here, if you want to bike somewhere, bike the Twin Cities Submitted by: Andy from: St. Paul, Minnesota Date submitted: April 16, 2004
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: Apr, 2004 Sections biked: Southeast, Saint Anthony Park, Como, downtown Minneapolis, University (East and West Banks), Midway, Mississippi River Favorite sections: anywhere along the Mississippi River, around the University of Minnesota, Como Park Road rating: Poor Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: People are very generous in giving you the right of road (except downtown Minneapolis), bike paths are very scenic and fairly well maintained. What I disliked: Drivers are almost as inconsistent as bikers when it comes to styles of driving: some are incredibly friendly, almost too friendly, others deliberately speed up to cut you off coming out of parking lots and doing left turns. The condition of the roads is lousy, lots of uneven surfaces, tons of sand and debris on the sides of roads in spring, broken glass Additional comments: The biking culture here is very active and bikers tend to be responsible (or as responsible as bicyclists can be)... this is what I love about biking and encouraged me to change my lifestyle to become a daily way of life. Submitted by: Mark from: Saint Paul, MN Date submitted: April 1, 2004
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: August, 2003 Sections biked: East and West River Roads; downtown Mpls; Summit Ave in St. Paul; Mendota area; Gateway Trail Favorite sections: Gateway Trail (Saint Paul to north of Stillwater); Summit Ave bike lanes Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Fair Bike lane rating: Very good Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: lanes and routes pretty well marked - fair number off road adjacent paths What I disliked: motorists do not stop for bikes (or people) in crosswalks Additional comments: better than average urban/suburban biking Submitted by: rbm from: Saint Paul, MN Date submitted: Aug 12, 2003
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: July, 2003 Sections biked: lake harriet and areas in southwest Minneapolis, Bloomington, and to the Mall of America (where I work) Favorite sections: Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The cities are doing a good job of making biking safer, but they need to educate the public regarding bike laws, and where bicyclists are supposed to ride their bikes What I disliked: asshole motorists Additional comments: Submitted by: PS from: Edina, MN Date submitted: July 26, 2003
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: , Sections biked: The Greenway & Southwest Regional Trail
East and West River Roads
Minnehaha Trail to Fort Snelling
Great River Trail & Mendota Bridge
Gateway Trail
Snelling Av (St. Paul)
Minnehaha Parkway
Battle Creek Park
Shepard Road Favorite sections: Great River Trail to the Mendota Bridge to Fort Snelling to Minnehaha Park to Lake Street Bridge to East River Road to Snelling Av Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Bike path rating: Fair Rating: na What I liked: Good seperation of bikes from traffic for the most part. Lots of routes along the rivers! What I disliked: Occasional person that has nothing better to do than yell at a bicyclist. Additional comments: Pretty bike friendly and interesting. Lots of variety! If riding the roads you do need to be thinkg ahead and stay aware of traffic. Submitted by: Palmer from: St. Paul, MN Date submitted: July 23, 2003
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City name: Bicycling in The Twin Cities Number of times biking: Weekly Date last visited: July, 2003 Sections biked: South Hennepin LRT from Hopkins to Minneapolis Lakes of Calhoun and Harriet and back to the Depot Coffee shop via Cedar Lake tril and Hutchinson Spur. Favorite sections: Lake of the Isles Road rating: Very good Bike route rating: Very good Bike lane rating: Fair Bike path rating: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Scenic bike trail all over the Twin Cities. What I disliked: Traffic that seems hell bent on scoring a hit on a bike. I think some of them are drifting because they are on their cell phones. Additional comments: Stick to trails and roads with well marked bike lanes unless you have a death wish. Submitted by: Gregg BH from: Eden Prairie, MN Date submitted: July 14, 2003
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