Bicycling magazine didn’t name Minneapolis “America’s No. 1 Bike City” for nothing.
When it snows here, people still commute by bike (true story—witnessed in the comfort of my own car, and documented by The Line).
That’s because biking is encouraged, supported, applauded—and made pretty easy with the recent start of our three-year-old Nice Ride MN biking program. More than 1,200 bikes can be rented at 146 bike stations scattered around the city (fees vary based on subscription and time options).
The goal is short-term trips: Bike to work. Pick up some dinner. Run an errand or two.
An added perk is that you can return the bike to any station; it doesn’t have to be where you started. And with so few (none!) stolen bikes the first two years, the big deposit (first $250, then $50) has been waived. (Side-note: No Nice Ride injuries have been reported, either. Dang, we’re good!)
Even bigger news: 130 new bikes are being added this year, to support expansion into St. Paul, so traveling around the State Capitol and downtown just got easier.
Whether touring or living in our cities, the idea is that you can use your bike as your primary mode of transportation while doing just about anything.
Note: It’s the perfect time to get green and learn more about the Twin Cities’ bike support, because The Living Green Expo is this weekend, May 5 & 6 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Admission to the largest no-waste event in our state is just $3 online or $5 at the door, and kids 18 and under get in free. Find food fun and education, bike fashion, a bike rodeo, workshops, and more. Learn all about it at LivingGreenExpo.MN.
Guess it’s time to work on those hand signals! The green bikes are officially here:
