City of Minneapolis Bicycle Program

The City’s Bicycle Program operates out of the Traffic & Parking Services Division of the Public Works Department. In order to fulfill the Minneapolis 2020 vision, the Bicycle Program helps those who live and work in Minneapolis to use bicycles as a low polluting, cost effective, and healthy way to travel. 40 miles of streets in Minneapolis have dedicated bicycle lanes. The city also boasts 82 miles of off-street bicycle trails. While historically most trails have been owned and operated by the Minneapolis Park Board, the Public Works Department has begun operating a complementary system of trails in the past decade. The premiere example is the 5.7 mile Midtown Greenway, which extends across the width of Minneapolis.

When compared to other large cities in the United States, Minneapolis is the #2 bicycling city in America. Bicyclists can be seen on a regular basis throughout most of Minneapolis, even in winter months. Census data shows that approximately 4,500 Minneapolitans regularly commute to work by bicycle. The City has been conducting bicycle counts in the downtown core for decades, and has more recently begun to expand these counts city-wide.

The City of Minneapolis is dedicated to bicycling in other ways as well. The City has a Master Bicycle Plan Map, which serves as a guide for current and future projects. The Bicycle Program operates a bike rack cost share program, which helps businesses, employers, and government agencies install public bicycle racks on their property. The Traffic & Parking Services division also rents out bike lockers at its municipal parking ramps in the downtown area. Additionally, the City of Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee meets on a monthly basis to guide the work of the City’s Bicycle Program.

The Bicycle Program wishes you a safe journey as you ride the streets and trails of Minneapolis. Please ride defensively and enjoy your travels!