Minneapolis Bike Share

Minneapolis plans public bicycle sharing program

The City of Minneapolis is working to bring public bicycle sharing to the Twin Cities. Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm and over twenty-five other cities across Europe have proven that web-based subscription programs coupled with locking, self-service kiosks are an effective means to provide a bicycle sharing program that is both easy to use and sustainable.

A bicycle sharing system will:

Reduce dependency on automobiles, particularly for short trips in the center city, reducing traffic congestion, vehicle emissions, and demand for parking.

Enhance our existing public transportation system by adding capacity to use a public bicycle to complete the first or last leg of a trip (i.e., from the train station to the workplace) and enable bus and rail commuters to make short trips from the workplace without a car.

Expand the health and wellness benefits of bicycle transportation to everyone living or working in the center city.

Spur the transformation of city streets to become environments where pedestrians and bicyclists feel safe and comfortable.

The City of Minneapolis asked the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation to solicit proposals and prepare a non-profit business plan to launch bicycle sharing in the Twin Cities. That plan is now complete and a new non-profit corporation named Nice Ride Minnesota has been formed to operate the bike sharing system. Through the Bike/Walk Twin Cities program, $1.74 million of federal innovation project funding has been allocated to purchase bicycles and kiosks. Look for introduction of the Nice Ride Minnesota bike sharing system at public events this fall. Start-up of a full system serving downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota campus and the Uptown neighborhood is slated for Spring 2010.

Twin Cities Bike Share

If you live in Minneapolis you might also be interested in attending one of these upcoming meetings to discuss where the bike share “kiosks” will be located:

Uptown Public Bike Kiosk Workshop
Thursday April 30, 10:30 am-noon, Calhoun Square (Lake and Hennepin) 2nd Fl. Room D204

Optional pre-meeting bike ride to scout potential locations--meet at Dunn Bros. Coffee at 1506 West Lake Street at 8:30 am. Bring your own bike.

University and Surrounding Community Public Bike Kiosk Workshop
Thursday April 30, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm; 300 Transportation and Safety Building, 511 Washington Avenue SE

Optional pre-meeting bike ride to scout potential locations--meet at Dunn Bros. Coffee at 720 Washington Ave SE at 1:30. Bring your own bike.


Downtown Minneapolis Public Bike Kiosk Workshop
Friday May 1, 11:00 am-12:30 pm; City Hall (350 S. 5th St.), Room 319

Optional pre-meeting bike ride to scout potential locations--meet at Dunn Bros. Coffee at 201 3rd Ave South at 9:15 am

General Public Bike Kiosk Workshop (a chance for folks who can't make it to one of the specific workshops or want to comment generally)
Thursday April 30, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm; City Hall (350 S. 5th St.), Room 319 (use north entrance)