The Essential Guide to Bicycling in the Central Riverfront Neighborhoods
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 4:19AM
Submitted article by Jane Sandwood, freelance writer
Minneapolis is one of the top five best places to bicycle in the country. There are 97 miles of off-street bikeways and 129 miles of on-street bike lanes. Much of that is right here in the Central Riverfront neighborhoods. Here is what you need to know if you want to take advantage of our bikeable city.
Register Your Bike
You likely already have a bicycle and a helmet. If you don’t have a bike, check out this guide to find one that is right for you. Once you have a bicycle, you should register it with the Minneapolis Police Department. Many of the thousands of bikes that are stolen or lost in the city each year are recovered. If the MPD has your bike on record, it will be returned to you. It is free and easy to register your bike. You can register your bike online or by calling 311. To make registration go more smoothly, make sure you have your bike’s serial number handy.
Protect Your Bike
While Minneapolis’s Finest do an excellent job of recovering stolen or lost bikes, they are not perfect. If you have invested money in your ride, it only makes sense to invest in protecting your bike from theft. In addition to choosing a top-of-the-line lock, it is also recommended to install a GPS tracker on your bike. These are affordable devices that cost around $100 upfront. There may also be monthly fees associated with the tracking service. But, it’s well worth the cost because if your bike is stolen, you can easily find its whereabouts and pass this info along to the authorities.
Join the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee
From the West River Parkway and the Stone Arch Bridge to 3rd Avenue, there are plenty of bikeways in the Central Riverfront neighborhoods. Much of the success of the city’s bicycling community can be attributed to the work of the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee. This group meets on a monthly basis. They exist to promote recreational and commuter bicycling through advocating for infrastructural improvements and serving as a liaison to neighborhoods, businesses, and cyclists.
You can get involved by attending meetings or joining the committee. There are spots opening up soon. With the tips above, you will be well on your way to enjoying one of the best cities in the country for bicycling.
