Older versions of the Twin Cities Bike Map showed a bridge crossing from Inver Grove Heights to Newport. It was the only bridge crossing the Mississippi River between  Downtown St. Paul and Hastings. The bridge was unique in that it was a privately owned toll bridge that carried cars on the first level and trains on the upper level.  It was in rough shape in the early days of the bike map and got progressively worse over the years. First the trains stopped running because the bridge structure couldn’t support them, then the roadway deck began crumbling and eventually the bridge was shut down.

The crossing wasn’t special in a truly functional way. It was narrow, potholed, rusty and it dropped you off at the gates of a large refinery, but there was a charm attached to crossing this relict and the toll, I think it was around 0.35 for bikes, added more than it subtracted from the experience. Equally important, when it closed down it made Newport, Grey Cloud Island and roads in that area less accessible.

Since then DOT has added a bike crossing to the Wacouta Bridge and in 2010 the old toll bridge rose from the ashes as the Inver Grove Heights Rock Island Swing Bridge Recreational Pier. The new pier juts halfway into the Mississippi River and offers great views of islands, back channels, marinas and river floodplain.

Bicyclists can access the Swing Bridge by taking the South.. St. Paul Regional Trail to 66th St, then heading toward the Mississippi River (East). The trail runs north/south along the Mississippi River from Concord St. in West St. Paul to Old Concord St. in Inver Grove Heights.

Mississippi Market, the food coop on W. 7th st in St. Paul, has always supported bicycling, but they seem to have taken that support to an extra level recently. This photo shows a public workstand, complete with tools and a floor pump for inflating tires. It’s not a bike shop mechanic’s stand, but for the DYI commuter bicyclistwho needs air in the tires or a quick tune-up, it’s a perfect set up. Obviously someone at Mississippi Market understands the needs of bicyclists beyond bike racks and lanes.

Mississippi Market has carried the Twin Cities Bike Map for years along with other guides to aid bicyclists. Thanks Mississippi Market.

This from the Bakken Museum:
Celebrate pedal power! The Bakken Museum is partnering with Bike Walk Twin Cities (BWTC) to improve the health and safety of our communities by decreasing driving. This summer, ride your bike to The Bakken Museum and receive one free admission with one paid admission.

To redeem one free admission with one paid admission, park your bike outside, and check in at the museum’s Visitor Service desk inside. This offer is valid June 1, 2011-September 30, 2011, and may not be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts. Limit 4 free admissions with 4 paid admissions per group, per visit.

The Cedar Lake Trail connector to the Mississippi River has been open for several weeks, but tomorrow it becomes official with all the ribbon cutting and official proclamations. If this sort of thing interests you, the details are below. The trail is an important link that has been long overdue. With this link, it is now possible to slip under the Twin Stadium, past the warehouse district and into town using a number of access points, thus avoiding much of downtown traffic and the bizarre system of bike lanes through downtown.

The final phase of the Cedar Lake Trail is now complete! Come to a grand opening (pdf) on Tuesday, June 14th at 5 pm on West River Parkway near the Cedar Lake Trail access point (just north of the Hennepin Bridge)

We’ve just added a new and exciting map for the Twin Cities metro area. Titled “Northstar, You, Your Bike”, this 9 page brochure/pdf file opens up the world of bikes and commuter rail. Hop on the train, ride to another station and begin exploring. The options are endless. Here are just a few:

• Looking for a casual ride and plenty of relaxation? Try the Rum River Loop from the Anoka Station. The trail starts across the street from the station, follows the Rum River north to Bunker Hills Rd, then crosses the river and drops into Rivers Bend. The round trip is about 12 miles, allowing plenty of time for lounging along the river or buying ice cream and hanging out in downtown Anoka.
• How about an overnight trip that isn’t more than 20 miles each way? Take Northstar to the Big Lake Station, ride to Lake Maria State Park, then spend the night at one of their walk-in campsites or camper cabins. Return the next day and pick up the train.
• Feeling strong? Take the train out to any station and ride all the way back to Minneapolis. The longest distance, from the Big Lake Station, is 55 miles. We’ve got two different routes mapped for you.

We’ve mapped out big loops and small ones, routes that follow country roads and routes that take in local trails. The brochure includes train fares, first arrivals and last departures, destinations, points of interest and local riding conditions. As a matter-of-fact, there is so much information, including our unbeatable maps, that each pdf is too large to download from the site. We’ll send it to your email address using YouSendIt. Check out the jpgs on the product page for samples of the route maps and information available for each station.

This is the perfect antidote to riding the same old loops again this weekend, and you don’t have to drive to get there, either!

Printed brochures are available on standard paper or tear and water resistant paper. Choose the delivery style that best fits your needs: Electronic delivery or hard copy.

From the City of Minneapolis:

Due to bridge rehabilitation work, the Midtown Greenway will have intermittent and partial closures through June.  The work is taking place to improve safety for bicyclists and extend the useful life of bridges.  Between Cedar Avenue and Hennepin Avenue, a mobile operation is blasting off loose concrete (which has been falling onto the trail) and making repairs on the undersides of approximately 30 bridges.

In order to protect the safety of trail users, the Midtown Greenway will be closed and detoured for short stretches at times.  Detour routes following 28^th Street and 29^th Street will be posted in these instances.  Work will take place on weekdays beginning at 7:00am and last until 4:30pm (although it will typically be completed by 3:00pm).  At times when it is safe for bicyclists to go through the work site, crews will direct trail users to the side.  Please respect your safety and the safety of city crews by following posted signs and closures.  The trail will remain open at all other times (including evenings, nights, and weekends).

Further west on the Midtown Greenway, bridges over Lake Calhoun Parkway, the Lake Calhoun-Isles Channel, and Dean Parkway are also undergoing bridge rehabilitation work.  This work is taking place to widen the trail and extend the useful life of the bridges, and will last through mid-summer.  The trail at these bridges will not be closed, but will be narrowed at times.

From the City of  Minneapolis:

On Monday, April 11^th, Nicollet Mall was closed between Grant Street and Washington Avenue.  The closure will continue for approximately four weeks, and will facilitate curb, gutter, and concrete slab replacement on the Mall.

The suggested detour route follows Marquette and 2^nd Avenues.

Happy Riding,

City of Minneapolis Bicycle Program

In 2008 the pedestrian bridge connecting Bryant Ave on the north and south sides of Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis was closed for safety reasons. The bridge is now open. A quick survey shows that it has a new wooden deck, new approaches to the bridge from both sides and a new paint job. According to a press release by the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, structural changes also included reinforcement of the bridge superstructure and enlargement of the concrete piers.

According to reports from neighbors just before the bridge was closed, kids would stand in the middle of the bridge and rock it back and forth for entertainment. In the interest of bicyclist’s safety, I tried to rock the new bridge. It held firm.

Updates to the Twin Cities Bike Map will once again include the bridge as part of bike route options in south Minneapolis.

I will be presenting a new program at the Outdoor Adventure Expo on Friday, April 15 at 4:00. The program will feature metro area trails plus a special segment on combining bikes and the North Star Commuter Rail.

The trails part of the presentation reflects the extensive research I did last year for the latest edition of the Twin Cities Bike Map. That research underscored how rich this area is in bike trails and other bicycle amenities. For Twin Cities residents, it means you don’t have to travel far to ride some great bike trails. For residents outside the metro area, I recommend considering a bicycle vacation in the cities.You will be surprised at just how enjoyable it can be.

Last fall Metro Transit asked me to explore bike route options around the North Star Commuter Rail stations. They see bicyclists as a potential source of “reverse commuters,” who can take the train out to the exurban areas between the metro area and St. Cloud. Metro transit has a brochure and free online pdf showing some of the options. I took it a step further and explored options to Lake Maria State Park, station to station options and scenic loops. We’re developing a downloadable map of the routes and hope to have it posted within the next couple of weeks. Friday’s presentation will give you a sneak preview of the options.

Midwest Mountaineering’s Outdoor Adventure Expo is free. The Expo offers over 100 free outdoor adventure presentations and over 70 exhibitors. Details at OutdoorAdventureExpo.com. I hope to see you there.

Twin Cities Bike Map 10th Edition

It took over a year of research, primarily by bike, and hundreds of hours of work in our new GIS software, but the results are worth every minute of effort.

Here are some highlights from the new Twin Cities Bike Map.

* Expanded urban detail: The 10th edition extends south to cover most of Bloomington and east to the river crossing between South St. Paul and Newport.
* All new research: New and expanded trails in Apple Valley, Shakopee, Rosemount, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Woodbury, Cottage Grove and Hastings. New on road routes everywhere
* New design: Bike Trails, busy bike routes, the LRT and North Star Commuter Rail lines, background colors and more have been re-designed for a cleaner, more readable look.

What hasn’t changed is the attention to accuracy and detail, the tear and water resistant paper and the price.

The maps are on their way to bike dealers and book stores now. Stop by soon and ask to look at the new Twin Cities Bike Map. You can also buy the maps directly from Bikeverywhere.com.