Update (Aug. 23): “Dinkytown bicycle bridge reopens, but only for viewing“
Save these links:
Minneapolis bicycle detours website
Minneapolis detour information
Minneapolis bridge collapse website
I'm sure bicycles will come into play in coming days as workers in Minneapolis consider bicycling to solve a congested commute situation caused by the loss of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi.
According to the city's website, Minneapolis already has the second highest rate of bicycle commuters — 2.4% — behind Portland's 3.5%.
If you're thinking of bike commuting, I've put together some links that might be helpful. There are links for bike maps of the Twin Cities, some “bikeable” bridges and buses and trains that carry bike racks.
The City of Minneapolis Bicycle Map (.pdf) has all the shared lanes in the city marked on a street map. Maps of bike trails are also available.
The Metropolitan Council has downloadable bikeway maps (in .pdf format). See Downtown Area Existing and Planned Bikeways Map and Regional Existing Bikeways Map. You'll need to have a street map handy, as these maps don't include street names.
Check the Bicycle Rack and Locker map for places to park your bike.
All Metro Transit buses and Hiawatha Line trains offer bike racks. Check out the Metro Transit website for details about carrying your bike on buses and trains.
Twin Cities LiveJournal has a list of “bikeable” bridges over the Mississippi.
If you need to cross the river in the vicinity of the downed bridge, there are bridges that carry bicycles.
(UPDATE: As of Thursday morning, the City of Minneapolis closed the Stone Arch Bridge and the Bridge #9 Dinkytown Bicycle Connection until further notice. According to the city's bicycle home page:
“Due to the I-35W bridge collapse the City of Minneapolis is encouraging people to bike and walk to destinations to help ease traffic congestion. As you can see many of the local roadways in and around the freeway bridge have been closed.
“In addition the Stone Arch Bridge and Bridge #9 are also closed until further notice. Bicyclists and pedestrians who need to cross the river must do so at either the Washington Avenue bridge at the U of M campus or at the 3rd Ave Bridge in Downtown.”
In “Affected Highways Get a Rapid Makeover,” the StarTribune reports Friday that the Stone Arch Bridge — which is for bikes and pedestrians — was closed to keep it clear for rescue personnel, and the 10th Avenue bridge was closed to check for I-35W debris that might have hit it. Further:
“A second bicycle bridge, connecting the West Bank to Dinkytown, is also closed. And the bike path along West River Parkway is closed from 13th Avenue S. to near the Washington Avenue Bridge over the river. The parkway passed directly under the 35W bridge.”)
More information is available at Minneapolis Bicycles home page. Also check with local blog Ride Boldy.
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