The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town
The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town
By Jay Walljasper, photos by Zach Vanderkooy, Thu, 04/05/2012
People across the country were surprised last year when Bicycling Magazine named Minneapolis America’s “#1 Bike City,” beating out Portland, Oregon, which had claimed the honor for many years. Shock that a place in the heartland could outperform cities on the coasts was matched by widespread disbelief that cycling was even possible in a state famous for its ferocious winters.
But this skepticism fades with a closer look at the facts. Nearly four percent of Minneapolis residents bike to work according to census data. That’s an increase of 33 percent since 2007, and 500 percent since 1980.
At least one-third of those commuters ride some days during the winter, according to federally funded research conducted by Bike Walk Twin Cities. Even on the coldest days about one-fifth of them are out on their bikes.
*Read the full article herehttp://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/surprising-rise-minneapolis-top-bike-town *.
Okay, Winnipeg!
Time to become Sister Cities of Cycling!
Dang it, we're on a roll...if Minni can beat out their coastal cities, why can't we?!
Thanks for sharing, Beth. This is really inspiring :-)
***** Sande Petkau Program Consultant | Consultante en programmes Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba
T : 204.789.7412 F : 204.789.7878
From: Beth McKechnie beth@greenactioncentre.ca To: AT network at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca Date: 2012-05-30 04:34 PM Subject: [At-network] The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town Sent by: at-network-bounces@lists.umanitoba.ca
The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town By Jay Walljasper, photos by Zach Vanderkooy, Thu, 04/05/2012 People across the country were surprised last year when Bicycling Magazine named Minneapolis America’s “#1 Bike City,” beating out Portland, Oregon, which had claimed the honor for many years. Shock that a place in the heartland could outperform cities on the coasts was matched by widespread disbelief that cycling was even possible in a state famous for its ferocious winters. But this skepticism fades with a closer look at the facts. Nearly four percent of Minneapolis residents bike to work according to census data. That’s an increase of 33 percent since 2007, and 500 percent since 1980. At least one-third of those commuters ride some days during the winter, according to federally funded research conducted by Bike Walk Twin Cities. Even on the coldest days about one-fifth of them are out on their bikes. Read the full article here._______________________________________________ AT-Network mailing list AT-Network@lists.umanitoba.ca http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network
participants (2)
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Beth McKechnie -
Sande Petkau