Bicycling: Improve and expand bicycle facilities in order to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation.
THIS POLICY SUPPORTS GOALS:
THIS POLICY RELATES TO TOPICS:
Our City’s network of on-street and off-street bikeways, totaling more than 250 miles, provides the opportunity for people from Minneapolis and elsewhere to enjoy the benefits of accessing daily needs, commuting, and recreating by bicycle. The US Census estimates that 5% of Minneapolis residents commute by bicycle. This is among the highest bicycle commute shares in the nation, and it has risen as the City has continued to invest in expanding and improving the bicycle network. If the city is to reach its goal of 15% bicycle mode share by 2025 (Climate Action Plan), this trend will need to continue. Making bicycling attractive to more people will improve health, support our local economy, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions via reduced vehicle trips.
ACTION STEPS
The City will seek to accomplish the following action steps to improve and expand bicycle facilities in order to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation.
- Continue to build and maintain a network of bikeways including greenways and accessible protected bikelanes.
- Develop guidance for selecting bikeway types when planning and designing streets.
- Embrace and implement emerging best practices in bikeway design.
- Implement and expand zoning regulations and incentives that promote bicycling, such as the provision of secured storage for bicycles near building entrances, storage lockers, and changing and shower facilities.
- Minimize the number of vehicle curb cuts that hinder bicyclist safety; be deliberate in the placement of drop-off zones and other curb side uses, and evaluate the bicycling benefits as a part of the decision-making process.
- Expand use of bicycles as part of the public fleet.
- Explore ways to increase accessibility to new bicycle technologies.