Insight News

We are writing in response to your June 25 article about the launch of the Nice Ride bicycle sharing program. Bike Walk Twin Cities, a program of Transit for Livable Communities, administers the Minneapolis location of a federal non-motorized transportation pilot program to increase bicycling and walking and decrease driving. One of our strategic funding goals is to address cultural and economic gaps and improve access for underserved communities. We will continue to work with stakeholders and partners—including Nice Ride—to expand the network for bicycling, walking, and access to transit for a wide variety of users.

BWTC projects impact neighborhoods mentioned in your article. Here are a few highlights:

•In Ward 5 in North Minneapolis, bike ways will extend along N. Fremont and Emerson Avenues from North 44th Avenue to Plymouth Avenue, creating a new north-south route for cyclists. Bicycle/pedestrian projects also are under consideration along Glenwood Avenue and are in progress along 7th Street and 10th Avenue North as well as along Plymouth Avenue North and 8th Avenue NE.

•In the Stevens Square, Loring, and Whittier neighborhoods, new bike ways are coming on 1st Avenue South and Blaisdell Avenues.

•In Ward 8, the new Riverlake Greenway bike way will extend from I-35W east along East 40th and 42nd Streets to bike paths along the Mississippi River.

•The City of Minneapolis administers an extensive bicycle parking program, but the demand is still not met. An influx of $200,000 into the program from BWTC will provide additional bike racks throughout the City, including in Ward 5.

•The Bike Walk Ambassadors, funded by BWTC, provide free classes and presentations about how to bike and walk more and drive less. They work closely with communities of color and immigrant communities, especially in five targeted geographic areas including N Penn/ Cedar Lake Trail/ Luce Line Trail corridor.

In addition to the work of Bike Walk Twin Cities, Transit for Livable Communities continues to advocate for expanded transportation choices for all Minnesotans. We are working along the Bottineau corridor as part of the Northside Residents Transportation Working Group and the Northside Transportation Network. We encourage your readers to participate in transportation decision-making in their neighborhoods. We also invite them to call us (651-767-0298) or visit our web sites (www.bikewalktwincities.org, www.tlcminnesota.org) to find out more about Bike Walk Twin Cities projects and Transit for Livable Communities’ on-going work .

Barb Thoman   
Acting Executive Director                       
Transit for Livable Communities   

Joan Pasiuk
Program Director
Bike Walk Twin Cities