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Great story on the High Wheeler exhibition opening this week at the Hennepin History Museum. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the Cycling Museum of Minnesota. I will discuss the evolution of bike mapping on Sunday, April 24 from 2 to 3 pm.
The Cycling Museum of Minnesota and the Hennepin History Museum have asked me to talk about mapping Twin Cities Bike routes for the last 30 years. I’ve seen countless changes in the routes and trails, the riders and the technology of map making. I’ll talk about those changes and show sample maps from over 30 years of recording the cycling routes of the Twin Cities.
Please join me at the Hennepin History Museum on Sunday, April 24. The museum is located across the street to the north of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Bike parking available.
The mobile 2016 Milwaukee and SE Wisconsin Bike Map is now available. The updated map has new trail and bike route information, better graphics to show the difference between paved and gravel trails and a cleaner overall look. You won’t find a better bike map anywhere. Download the map to your phone and take it with you wherever you go.
The map will be updated approximately 3 more times during 2016, so stop back periodically to update your map for free. If you purchased the earlier version of the map, you can get this updated version and all updates for 2016 for free.
Northeast Minneapolis has become a bicycling hotspot. The Lowry Ave Bridge offers a great crossing or destination in itself. the bridge is architecturally interesting and the view of Downtown Minneapolis is stunning. The green icon on the light at the intersection is of a bicycle. This crossing, at 5th and Broadway, has both pedestrian and bicycle crossing lights.
The 2016 Twin Cities Mobile Bike Map is now available.The map reflects the most recent trail and road updates. New for 2016, the map now has mountain bike trails and displays road and trail surfaces to help with route finding.
The 2016 Twin Cities Bike Map will be updated approximately 4 times during 2016. Download once, then stop back periodically to get the most current update. Updates are free.
Twin Cities Bike Map 2016
New for 2016!
The Twin Cities Trail Map shows all the paved and mountain bike trails in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. This comprehensive map covers state, regional and urban bike trails and all major mountain bike trails in the metro area.
Quickly discover where the trailheads are, find rest rooms, drinking water and parking lots, learn how long the trails are, where to stop for food and drink and what to expect on the trail.
No need to carry a paper map because this map downloads to your phone or tablet. Zoom out to get an overview of all of the trails, then zoom in for more detail. The map works with the GPS on your phone, so you’ll always know exactly where you are and what is up ahead.
Order the Twin Cities Bike Trails 2016 map today and start planning your next trail outing.
This is pretty cool and it’s happening right here in Minneapolis.
If a disaster strikes, you and your bike could be an invaluable resource for your community.
The first WINTERdrt will be held during the Winter Cycling Congress [@WinterCycle2016] in Minneapolis on February 3, 2016. The event will demonstrate how people with bicycles can serve their community in times of need. Disasters can happen at any moment in any weather. In this winter event, participants will cover up to 30 miles finding checkpoints, performing emergency relief tasks, transporting supplies and gathering information.
Three types of relief will be demonstrated:
Moving Stuff (40lb of sand – carrying the load),
Getting There Fast (covering territory quickly – have you got studs?),
Going Anywhere (fat tire heaven – you can do it)
The WINTERdrt is supported by local disaster management agencies and the generous support of: www.mplsbike.org, www.planetbike.com and www.surlybikes.com.
You can help the City of Minneapolis improve conditions for winter cyclists by volunteering on a pilot study for the City. These are the details as published in a recent newsletter from the City.
The City of Minneapolis is seeking volunteers to participate in the 2015-16 Bicycle and Pedestrian Winter Conditions Study Pilot. As part of a larger bicycle and pedestrian winter maintenance research project, the City is conducting a field study to document the winter conditions of our bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The study will include over 90 locations across Minneapolis. We need volunteers to help us document the snow and ice on our streets, sidewalks and trails. Volunteers will sign up to conduct 5-minute observations at locations of their choosing (pick one on your commute!) throughout the winter.
To learn more and sign up to volunteer, simply complete this form.
The addition of the new north wing to the Mall of America makes the Mall more accessible to bicyclists. It is no longer necessary to cross multiple lanes of traffic or circle the ring road around the Mall to get near an entrance. And the Mall has added a small number of bike racks.
From the 12th Ave bike route go east on American Blvd to Thunderbird Rd. Turn south. The road skirts parking lots and construction. Turn left at the T intersection, then turn right at the first stop sign. if you’ve made it all the way to the stop light, you’ve gone too far.The route to the bike parking is indirect but if you focus on the T shaped transit and taxi stand you will get there. They’re by the top of the T. The racks are stylish and in a well-lit area. A small, but steady, stream of pedestrians travel between the Mall and taxis or charter buses creating a comfortable environment for you and your bike. The racks will accommodate U-locks.
I’ve used the racks a couple of times and always found one or two bikes parked there. The walk from the bike rack to the Mall entrance is short and pleasant. The route into the mall will be available in the mobile Twin Cities Bike Map 2016 (available in January 2016) and will appear on the paper maps when they are reprinted.
The Cannon Valley, 40 miles south of the Twin Cities, offers a wide range of bike riding options. Most first time visitors come for the Cannon Valley Bike Trail, a paved 20 miles trail along the south side of the Cannon River. Views from the trail include panoramic overlooks near Cannon Falls and intimate river bottom near Red Wing. Trail passes cost $4 and all of the money is spent on maintaining and updating the trail. The Cannon Valley Trail also connects to city trails in Cannon Falls and Red Wing.
Road riders will enjoy County Road 1 as it climbs from the Mississippi River Valley in Red Wing to the rural highlands of Goodhue County Once out of the valley, low traffic roads roll up and down along the ridge top then drop through a long and steady descent to Cannon Falls.
Gravel road enthusiasts will find several options for branching off the trail and returning. More ambitious gravel riders will enjoy riding Welch Trail west from Welch Village to Cannon Falls This road twists and rolls from the Cannon Valley to the bluff tops and back down. The last couple of miles follow paved, low traffic Hwy 17 into Cannon Falls. This route will take you through Miesville Ravine Park Reserve, a minimally developed park reserve with picnic shelters and hiking trails.
Finally, you can explore the Mississippi River Bottoms by riding Collischan Road, a gravel road that climbs slightly from US Hwy 61, then drops into the backwaters of the Mississippi River. This road drops to marsh level and is subject to flooding in the spring, but that intimacy with the vast backwaters of the Mississippi River is part of its appeal. Two non-technical National Forest Service trails in the area go deeper into the woods along water ways and high bluffs. You will need a mountain bike and minimal riding skills to navigate the trails.
This is an area that lends itself well to full moon night rides. Time your rides for after the leaves fall so the moonlight can penetrate the woods and light the gravel roads. Riding the gravel roads and Forest Service trails in the autumn moonlight is an experience that you will want to repeat regularly.
All of the routes and trails are available on the mobile Cannon Valley Bike Rides