Twin Cities Suburbs Look to Improve Bike Facilities

The suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul are growing their bike infrastructure networks, thanks in part to state and federal grants. Writing in the Star Tribune, Greta Kaul notes that some suburban areas, such as Ramsey County, are developing their first-ever bike plans.

According to director of the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly America program Amelia Neptune, “Suburbs were generally built for cars — often many lanes of them traveling at high speeds — so making them bike-friendly requires a culture shift.” In some places, biking is primarily viewed as recreational; consequently, bike infrastructure is concentrated in areas with nature trails and parks, but doesn’t connect to daily needs like grocery stores.

As Kaul explains, the Metropolitan Council distributes much of the funding for bike infrastructure in the region. “The regional sales tax passed by the Legislature is expected to add roughly $24 million a year to the $15 million in bike and pedestrian infrastructure federal funds distributed annually by the Met Council's Transportation Advisory Board.”