The Minneapolis Bicycle Story provides a history of bicycle planning and infrastructure development in Minneapolis over several decades. It details how an extensive system of off-street parkways and trails were established beginning in the early 1900s. In the 1970s, the first on-street bike lanes were installed and a system of on-street bike routes was developed downtown in the 1990s. Major opportunities like bridge reconstructions have been leveraged to improve bicycle facilities. Today, Minneapolis has over 85 miles of off-street trails and a growing network of on-street low-stress bikeways through strategies like bike boulevards and protected bike lanes. Coordination between numerous city departments and external organizations has been key to funding and implementing the bicycle network.

1. The Minneapolis Bicycle Story
November 20, 2013
David Peterson
Bicycle & Pedestrian Section
Traffic & Parking Services Division
Minneapolis Public Works Department

2. A bit about Minneapolis
Largest city in Minnesota: 393,000
Regional population: 3.4 million
Area: 58.4 mi2
20 lakes, ponds and wetlands
Annual precipitation: 30.6 in.
Annual snowfall: 50.8 in.
July average high: 83.4 °F
January average low: 7.5 °F
nytimes.com
Bicycle Commuting Mode Share: 4.5%
Pedestrian Commuting Mode Share: 6.9%

3. History of Minneapolis Bicycle
Planning & Engineering: Parkways
Parkways are the Backbone of the
Non-Motorized System
Horace Cleveland
Minneapolis Parks
Board of
Commissioners founded
in 1883. Horace
Cleveland responsible
for the revision of the
City’s park system.
Theodore Wirth was
hired served as
Superintendent from
1906 to 1935,
expanding the parks
acreage from 1,800 to
more than 5,000.
Theodore Wirth
David Smith, minneapolisparkhistory.com

4. History of Minneapolis Bicycle
Planning & Engineering: Parkways
Lake Calhoun Trail Parkway & Trail, 1909
Minnesota Historical Society
Lake Calhoun Parkway, 2009
A fatal bicycle-pedestrian crash in 1972 on the Lake Harriet combined bicycle and pedestrian
trail resulted in widespread separation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Total off-street facilities today (MPRB and Minneapolis Public Works) = 85+ miles

5. History of Minneapolis Bicycle
Planning & Engineering: Bike Lanes
4th Street SE at Oak Street, Minneapolis
September 1974 – First bike lanes are installed in
Minneapolis on 4th Street SE and University Ave SE,
adjacent to the University of Minnesota campus

6. History of Minneapolis Bicycle
Planning & Engineering: Bike Lanes
Hennepin Avenue
1994 – System of Bike Lanes Developed in
Downtown Minneapolis
Marquette Ave S
9th Street S

7. History of Minneapolis Bicycle
Planning & Engineering
Stone Arch Bridge looking south, 1905
Minnesota Historical Society
Stone Arch Bridge Preservation - 1994
Stone Arch Bridge Bicycle & Pedestrian Path
Dudley Edmondson

8. Other Minneapolis Bicycle &
Pedestrian Only Bridges
Bridge #9 (Dinkytown Greenway Bridge)
Washington Avenue Bridge

9. Taking Advantage of Opportunities
35W Bridge Collapse - 2007
Tunnel constructed
underneath new bridge
abcnews.com
mplsbikelove.com

10. Opportunities from
Subsequent Bridge Retrofits
Lanes reduced from 4 to 2; protected lanes added, September 2013
Plymouth
Ave N

11. Opportunities from
Subsequent Bridge Reconstructions
Full reconstruction. Bicycle accommodation both on and off street. Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition
Lowry
Ave N

12. World Class Trail System
Cedar Lake Trail – 1995, 2011
Totals more than 85 miles
Midtown Greenway, three phases 2000-2006 Martin Olav Sabo Bridge, 2007, Dan Anderson
Hiawatha Light Rail Trail - 2004 18th Ave NE Trail - 2011 Dinkytown Greenway – 2013, SW Journal

13. Low-Stress Network – Protected Lanes
Parking protected, minimal buffer, 2009 Buffer widened, 2011
Flexible delineators added, 2012
Green Conflict
Zones added,
2013
1st Ave N

14. Low-Stress Network – Buffered Lanes
Lyndale Ave S Buffered Bike Lane - 2013 1st Avenue S - 2011

15. Low-Stress Network – Bike Boulevards
Street markings
Traffic Calming
Bicycle Wayfinding
Traffic Reduction
19 Miles
by the
end of
2013

16. Low-Stress Network –
Neighborhood Greenways
Full Linear Park Greenway Half & Half Greenway

17. Milwaukee Avenue
Originally planned workers community housing constructed in the 1880s, the street was
named to the National Register for Historic Places in 1974 in a move to thwart demolition.
The street was subsequently closed to motor vehicle traffic.

18. Other Bicycle Infrastructure
Shared Lanes
Traffic Signals
Advisory Bike Lanes
Turning Stop Signs Raised Trail Crossings

19. Bicycle Parking Program
City pays 50% of the cost of purchase/installation for racks in the public right-of-
way. $50,000 annually (general fund), administered by Public Works Parking.
Installed 667 racks in 2012. Fund has been in operation since mid-1990s.
Standard Hitch Style Rack Meter Hitch Rack, Uptown
Custom Racks
for some
neighborhoods
Bike Corral, Seward
Custom Styles
Minneapolis Central Library

20. Other Bicycle Efforts
Minneapolis Bike Map,
2013 (2nd ed.)
Minneapolis Bicycling Account, 2011
Bicycle Crash Analysis, 2013

21. Annual Bicycle & Pedestrian Counts
Every September, trained volunteers count 30 benchmark locations over
two days, along with 300 locations counted once every three years.

22. 2013 Summer Safety Campaign
Displayed May-June at 27 bush
shelters along high-crash corridors

23. Safety Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure
• Increased predictability for all
users (bicyclists tend to use
the designated bicycle areas)
• Build it and they will come:
• Increased numbers of cyclists
makes the system safer (safety
in numbers)

24. Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure
More than 2,000 housing units have been built along the Midtown Greenway corridor since 2000.
1,000 more are in the development pipeline.
New bridge and ramp constructed by
adjacent developer, Mosaic and Flux
Buildings. Minneapolis Bike Love
Flux Building, 2013. Global Site Plans
Development is likely a
combination of the
greenway, market forces,
transit investment,
proximity to the lakes and
downtown, and the mix of
shops and restaurants in
these neighborhoods.

25. Developing a Project Workplan
Maintenance-Related Bike Program
Review maintenance program (autumn prior to resurfacing year)
Match maintenance plan to bike plan routes
Internal staff discussion and recommendation of project list
Share with bicycle advisory committee and revise list
Share with council members
Neighborhood and business outreach, as recommended by CMs
Projects finalized and scheduled
Project construction May-October
To the Record letters signed by CMs

26. Developing a Project Workplan
Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan (2011) Bikeways Master Plan Map

27. Developing a Project Workplan
Coordination with Street Maintenance: Resurfacing
Sharrows installed following new mat, 2013.

28. Developing a Project Workplan
Coordination with Street Maintenance: Seal Coating
4:3 conversion, wide bike lanes added, 2012. Green chip experiment at conflict zone.

29. Developing a Project Workplan
Capital Project Program
Identify the project (small area plans, bicycle or pedestrian master plans, elected
officials) – October/Nov
Basic scoping (PW staff)
Staff prioritization, using criteria (pavement condition index, safety,
community demand, etc.)
Public Works administration consideration and revision
Capital Long Range Improvement Committee consideration
Sent to Mayor’s office for consideration
Council adoption (December)
Mayoral budget inclusion (~July)

30. Winter Maintenance - Successes
Trails are plowed within 24 hours after the end of a
snowfall using a standard pickup with a plow blade. Many
are accessible before most streets.
Special service for the 1st Ave N protected lane. Width is
adequate for a truck with a blade, but hand shoveling is
required, as is snow removal (in the downtown district).
Plowed trail after a major snow
Downtown Improvement District employees
clearing curb ramps
Policy:
Curb-to-curb
clearance.
Prioritization set
by snow
emergency policy

31. Winter Maintenance - Challenges
Annual Snowfall:
~51”
Snow tends to stick
around in MPLS.
Curbside bike lanes frequently become impassable
following plowing.
Adjacent to parking lanes, snow storage pushes
parked vehicles into bike lanes. www.cycletc.com
Some areas require hand shoveling.
This is the primary snow plowing vehicle. It’s not great
for precision, and impossible for narrow spaces.
Needs
• Network
prioritization
• Maintenance
vehicles and
staff
resources to
do the job

32. University of Minnesota
Brine solution for pre-treatment
Antonio Rosell, Community Design Group
Brush vehicle for path clearance
Antonio Rosell, Community Design Group
1) Provide safe access for students, staff and
visitors
2) Employ cost-effective and fruitful methods
3) Keep environment as pollution-free as
possible
Maintenance Goals

33. Funding the Bike Program
General Fund Contributions
Public Works
• Traffic Division – Bicycle & Pedestrian Section
Budget ($575,000)
• Traffic Division – Traffic Operations Signals, Signs,
Painting
• Traffic Division – Bicycle Parking Fund ($50,000)
• Transportation Maintenance & Repair Division –
Repaving, Seal Coating, Pothole Repair, Street
Sweeping, Snow & Ice Control
• Transportation Planning & Engineering Division –
Capital Project Planning and Management for
Streets, Bridges and Pathways
Community Planning & Economic Development
• Sector/Small Area Planning, Zoning Enforcement
Neighborhood & Community Relations
• Community Participation Program
Minneapolis 311
• Fields/answers public questions
Minneapolis Police Department
• Bicycle Recovery Unit
Communications Department
• Press releases and promo video content
• Press conferences
Health & Family Support
• Statewide Health Improvement Project, other
grants
Intergovernmental Relations
• Conveys bike-related policy priorities to State and
other lawmakers
Minneapolis Development Review
• Reviews site plans for bicycle parking requirements
Mayor’s Office
• Budget setting and critical role as cheerleader
Sustainabilty Coordinator’s Office
• Minneapolis Sustainability Goals, Climate Action
Plan, Greenprint

34. Funding the Bike Program
Capital Project Funding
• Generally try to have 1-2 bike projects per year in
the CIP.
• Examples of projects in the pipeline:
– U of M Bike Trail
– LRT Trail Lighting
– Sidepath/protected bikeway projects on: 18th Ave NE, 26th Ave N, 26th
St E, 28th St E
• Capital projects are frequently paired with outside
funding

35. Funding the Bike Program
Outside Funding
Federal Funding
• Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot (NTP): $25 million since 2008
• Many Minneapolis projects were funded in part by federal programs such as Recreational Trails and Transportation
Enhancements.
• National Park Service – $480,000 bike sharing expansion; access to MRNRA
Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Responsible for implementing bikeways on their own streets within Minneapolis
Minnesota Department of Health
• Statewide Health Improvement Program
Hennepin County
• Responsible for implementing bikeways on their own streets within Minneapolis
• Bikeway solicitation program started in 2013
University of Minnesota
• Manages bike parking and the bikeway network on their campus. The Minneapolis Campus has the largest bicycle and
pedestrian activity areas in the state
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN
• Major sponsorship funding for Nice Ride MN bike share program
• Sponsorship of Open Streets Minneapolis events

36. Bicycle Facilities Lessons Learned
• Recreational trails are key to Minneapolis’
bicycling numbers
• Get a bike plan in place (even if it’s just a
facility map alone), and get it referenced in
many different planning/policy documents
• Look for easy opportunities:
– 4-lane roads with low traffic volumes
– streets that have received lots of complaints
about traffic volume or speeds
– widen bike lanes when possible, and add
buffers whenever you can

37. BREAK

38. Minneapolis Policies & Plans
The City has adopted numerous planning and
transportation policies and implementation plans that
seek to improve access and safety for pedestrians,
bicyclists and transit riders. The overall City goals and
Sustainability indicators also play a role.
Minneapolis Comprehensive
Plan (2008)
Access Minneapolis (2009) Bicycle Master Plan (2011)
Climate Action Plan (2013)

39. Project Coordination –
Departmental Involvement
PW-Traffic: Bicycle & Pedestrian Section home; drives
most bicycle infrastructure and planning efforts.
PW-Transportation Planning & Engineering: Capital
projects and long-range planning
PW-Street Maintenance & Repair: resurfacing and
routine maintenance
Other departments (CPED, Health) play an occasional
role.

40. Project Coordination –
Elected Official Involvement
Mayor R.T. Rybak: 12 years of strong
leadership. Sets the budget, makes
special capital requests, acts as principal
cheerleader
City Council: Strong leadership; almost
universal support.

41. Coordinating With Council
Large-scale projects always
involve layout approval. This goes
to the Transportation & Public
Works Committee, and then to
full Council.
Smaller-scale projects involve a To
the Record Letter. This outlines
the project briefly and includes
the signature of the Council
Member(s) and the Traffic
Operations Engineer.
46th Street W reconstruction – Request
for Council Action (RCA)
Johnson St NE seal coat restriping – To
the Record (TTR)

42. Project Coordination –
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Membership
13 Ward Citizen Appointees
3 Park Board Citizen Appointees
5 Outside Agency Appointees
7 City Staff Appointees
The BAC functions as an advisory committee to the Mayor and City Council as well
as the Park Board and serves as a liaison to bicyclists, businesses, neighborhoods,
and other communities and agencies.
The BAC consists of the main committee, and two subcommittees – 3Es (Education,
Encouragement, Enforcement) and Engineering (Engineering, Equity, Evaluation).
Committees meet monthly. Members are on
main committee and one sub-committee.
BAC members tour the SW Light Rail Project route, August 2013
Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition

43. Dealing with Problems
Residents and visitors can all City
services, report problems, check the
status of issues, or get information.
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Section
answers queries for the Bicycle
Transportation Queue.
311 operators are available from 7AM to 7PM
311 issues can be
logged using the
City’s website or
a mobile app for
iPhone and
Android devices.

44. Who’s Pushing for Projects
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Section is tasked
with carrying out the Bicycle Master Plan.
Implementing projects/strategies identified
in the Master Plan is part of the work.
Minneapolis has strong advocacy
organizations, all of which push Council
Members, Public Works and other
departments.

45. What can PW do to build support?
• Clear and unified communication
(remove discrepancies between
divisions or various PW agents)
• Paid staff are key
• Get a strong BAC established
• Don’t be careless or dismissive. Do it
right.

46. Complete Streets Policies
• Minneapolis CS policy in the works
• Commonplace for streets to
receive extra scrutiny now (Bike &
Ped Section and advocates make
certain of this)
– Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plans
are key in this effort

47. Process Lessons Learned
• Know elected supporters
• Strong advocates can be useful, but
people need to know when to use
their sticks
• Help advocates to understand how
municipal processes work
• A strong, well-organized Bicycle
Advisory Committee can do big
things

48. Questions?
David Peterson
Minneapolis Public Works
Bicycle & Pedestrian Section
612-333-1378
david.peterson2@minneapolismn.gov
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles/