The advisory bike lanes on Wooddale Ave. in Edina.

Several of the changes will also make it easier for bicyclists to travel north-south within Edina and west-east between Edina and Minneapolis. These key roadways include 54th Street, Wooddale Avenue and Valley View Road and are already popular routes. The first advisory bicycle lanes in Edina will appear on Wooddale Avenue and on parts of 54th Street. Advisory bike lanes look like dedicated bike lanes, except a dashed line is used in place of a solid bike lane stripe. A dashed line signals to drivers that they may drive in the bike lane space when a bicyclist is not present:

Advisory bike lanes on 54th Ave. in Edina just west of France Ave.

Many of the new bike racks will be installed downtown Edina at 50^th and France. Those twenty-nine racks will help ease traffic congestion and free up space in parking ramps. The racks will be on France outside Cocina del Barrio and Walgreens and on 50th outside College Nannies & Tutors, D’Amico & Sons, Edina Liquor, Lunds and Lush Cosmetics. They are three feet tall, match the décor of the area and standard U-style bike locks can be used on them.

The 14-member Bike Edina Task Force led the project, which is funded in part by Bike Walk Twin Cities, a program of Transit for Livable Communities. The improvements are considered the first phase in a larger bikeway system outlined in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

Have you seen the new lanes and racks yet? Will you take advantage of these changes and consider biking next time you go shopping at 50^th and France? Would you like to see more suburbs embrace bike-friendly infrastructure?

When you hear the word “bicycling,” do you think of a weekend ride around the lakes or about grabbing your bike to go meet friends for breakfast or to make a run for a few things at the store? An increasing number of local residents are using their bikes for getting around, a.k.a., transportation, but for some, it’s still a leap to think of the bike you ride on weekends as the bike you could ride more often: to work, running errands or simply to get from point A to B.

Around the nation, there are more people using their bikes to commute. A 2011 survey of 55 major U.S. cities found that on average, the number of regular bicycle commuters increased by 70 percent between 2000 and 2009, according to The Atlantic Cites, a blog that explores ideas and issues facing cities and neighborhoods. The survey, which was based on data from the 2000 U.S. Census and the 2005-2009 American Community Survey, found that bike commuting in Minneapolis increased by 58 percent during this time period.

Even with this increase, the city of Minneapolis would like to see more people choosing to bike to work. Minneapolis leads all Midwestern cities in bike commuting, and is among the top U.S. cities for bike commuting, but is still well under Portland’s nation-leading 6 percent. The city has set a goal of 7 percent of all commuters biking to work by 2014, which is double the current estimate of 3.5 percent bike commuters in the city.

Minneapolis’ infrastructure is prepared to handle more bike commuters, thanks to an infusion of new bike routes that have opened in the last few years. If you’re wondering where this surge came from, a lot is due to $25 million of federal transportation funds. Minneapolis and three other communities (Sheboygan, Wis., Columbia, Mo., and Marin County, Calif.) received these funds to see how far they could encourage bicycling and walking as ways of getting around.

According to the city’s annual report on bicycling, there are now 167 miles of bikeways on Minneapolis streets – a 75 percent increase just from 2010. The city now has its first Bicycle Master Plan, and a full-time bicycle and pedestrian coordinator to lead its efforts.

But the commute trip is only one kind of journey that could be made by bike. While the average work commute (13 miles one-way in the 7-county metro) is too far for some people to bike, about 40 percent of all the trips people make are within 3 miles. Bicycling 3 miles takes about 15 minutes and often can be quicker than going by car, and is frequently loads more fun. 

Minneapolis residents such as Masami Kawazato and Aaron Merrill, who live in south Minneapolis, use their bikes to get to work downtown and to run errands. They have not owned a car since 2003. Bicycling has become ingrained into their lives.

“Part of my motivation to bike is my background,” Kawazato explains. “I’m originally from Japan and lived there from birth through 6 years old and then again during high school. There, it’s common to bike commute and run errands like grocery shopping.”

The couple regularly encourages others to try bike commuting, as they do. “Try it at least once,” Kawazato says. “It doesn’t have to be every day right away. You could take the bike every Thursday to start or get a Nice Ride bike when it’s a nice day. For any women interested in biking but concerned about wardrobe, I’ve found that you can bike in just about any kind of clothing.”

If you’re interested in starting to use your bike for commuting or running errands, here are six tips to keep in mind: 

1-Make bike commuting a routine. As Kawazato suggests, start by bike commuting once a week, on a specific day. Once you get accustomed to it, you can try adding additional days to your routine.

2-Add variety to your routes. Although Minneapolis has many miles of well-marked bikeways, don’t feel confined to taking the same route each day. Mix it up a bit, explore new routes, and learn new things about the city.

3. Be safe. Without question, always wear a helmet, and be sure you have at least a working white light on the front of your light and a reflector or blinking red light (better) on the back of your bike. Be predictable in traffic, obey traffic laws, and always signal your turns. By doing so, you aid not only yourself, but also all other bicyclists.

4. Security. Invest in a high-quality U-shaped lock to secure your bike to a bike rack, or sign post, and definitely not to fences, parking meters, street signals, or trees..

5. Attire. Wear comfortable clothing while bicycling, and invest in quality raingear if you bike commute regularly. If your job requires more formal attire, take it with you for changing, or keep a set of work clothing at work.

6. Seek companions. Bike commuting is safer and more fun when you can ride with others. Encourage friends or co-workers to regularly ride with you. Knowing you are riding with others will also be an incentive to stick with your commuting.

If you would like to be part of a national effort that encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation, go to www.nationalbikechallenge.org. It runs through Aug. 31.

Location/Description

The 5^th St. and 22^nd Ave. bicycle boulevards in northeast Minneapolis provide good north-south and east-west routes through a part of town that previously lacked good facilities. The 5^th street route is mostly north-south, going from Marcy Holmes and St. Anthony East neighborhoods to the Logan Park and Holland neighborhoods. At NE 26^th Street, the route follows the alleyway behind apartments facing University and briefly uses the sidewalk to reach a bike trail to St Anthony Parkway on the northern border of Minneapolis. The 22^nd Ave. route is east-west. It cuts across the Bottineau, Holland and Windom Park neighborhoods, connecting Marshall Avenue near the Mississippi River to the Quarry and the Diagonal Trail to the east. Note: Another north-south route, the Presidents Bicycle Boulevard, is planned for the east side of Northeast, running parallel to Central Avenue.

Route Amenities

Bicycle boulevards. Minneapolis has installed several bicycle boulevards in the last couple of years. The general idea with bicycle boulevards is to add traffic-calming and safety features to quiet residential streets to make them better for bicycling and walking. Studies of bicycle boulevards in other cities have shown that women prefer them to riding on busy streets with bike lanes. In fact, bicycle boulevards often run parallel to commercial streets. In the case of Northeast, the 5^th Street bicycle boulevard runs parallel to University Ave. The 5^th street route also passes through the Northeast business district (at Hennepin & Central) and crosses the 13^th and 26^th Avenue business districts.

Bike signal. The region’s first bike traffic signal at 5^th St. and Broadway Ave. NE helps bicyclists cross one of the busier roads in the area. There also are new curb bump outs and crossing signals for people walking.

Bicycle detection stop light. For cyclists taking 5^th St. north through the commercial district of Northeast, there is a bicycle detection signal at the intersection of 5^th and Central/Hennepin, activated by placing your bike tire on the bike symbol.  

Traffic circles. Mini, or “residential”, traffic circles replace stop signs at several intersections in Northeast Minneapolis. Highly-visible, traffic circles make it possible for bikes to proceed without coming to a full stop and also make sure cars slow down while moving through the neighborhood.

Nice Ride stations. There are seven Nice Ride stations close to the 5^th St. and 22^nd Ave. bike boulevards—just in case you forgot your bike (or don’t own one):

* Central & 20^th (between 18^th & Lowry

* Logan Park (Broadway & Monroe)

* University & 12^th (close to 13^th Ave biz district)

* Marshall Ave. & 8^th (near Elsie’s & the Yacht Club)

* Hennepin Ave. & Central Ave. (near Whiteys)

* University Ave. & Bank St. (across from Lunds, near Surdyks)

* 100 Main Street (near Saint Anthony Main)

Bike parking. New bike racks have been added at several locations in Northeast Minneapolis, including those along 22^nd Ave. at Mill City Cafe, St. John’s Byzantine Church, Dean’s Circle Grocery, Jackson Square Park, and the Firefighters Hall & Museum. Along 5^th St., there are new bike racks at Conga Latin Bistro, St. Mary’s Church, and near apartment buildings.

Connects to the University of Minnesota. The 5^th St. bike boulevard also connects with the bike lanes along 5^th St. SE, which lead to the University of Minnesota campus at Dinkytown via a bicycling/pedestrian bridge over 35W.

Landmarks and notable businesses along routes

The northeast Minneapolis area is home to many wonderful restaurants, watering holes, churches and other landmarks, including: 

Gardens of Salonica (5^th & 1^st)

Red Stag Supper Club (5^th & 1^st)

Grumpy’s (4^th & 22^nd—a block off 5^th & 22^nd)

Hennepin Country Library (22^nd & Central)

Northeast Social (4^th & 13^th—a block off 5^th)

The Ritz Theater (4^th & 13^th—a block off 5^th)

Mayslacks (4^th & 15^th—a block off 5^th)

Edison High School (22^nd & Monroe)

St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral (5^th & 17^th)

Northeast Farmer’s Market (2^nd & 7^th)

Jackson Square Park (22^nd & NE Jackson St.)

Windom Park (Johnson St. & 23^rd—a block off 22^nd)

St. Anthony Park (5^th & 3^rd)

More and more I am becoming a run commuter.

Blame it on my dad, who grew up on a farm, and ridiculed any form of exercise that wasn’t productive. Want to build some muscles? “Chop some wood,” he’d say. Take a walk? “Sure, let’s see if we can get ourselves a rabbit.” Running around in circles didn’t really make sense to him. And my bike touring trips, sans fishing rod, also seemed to him like a waste of time.

So perhaps it was inevitable that my love of bicycling became converted into bike-commuting. And now, the same thing is happening with running.

And I’ve decided running to work is indeed more fun than running around in circles. Having a purpose, knowing I have to go the full 8 miles to get to work, makes it feel different than just training for a race or something. I mean, it feels well, purposeful. Productive.

But because it’s so new to me, I’ve been getting new insights on these run commutes. Maybe they’re not quite on the scale of epiphanies, but I am seeing things a little bit differently; hence the reason for this blog. Here are four things that I now completely believe (at least while I’m running).

Make a clean break from the office

On a bike, I never hesitate to carry all kinds of things from the office home with me, and while they don’t weigh me down much physically, they do exert a weight on me emotionally. When I run to work or run home from work, it’s just my body, some clothing, a single door key tucked in a pocket, and perhaps some form of ID. But that’s it. No baggage from work to bring home, and no baggage from home to bring to work. It’s a clean break, allowing me to truly leave work at the office.

Perpetual motion = happiness

Here’s the thing I have discovered about running: You look sort of funny running in place. And while looking silly hasn’t really been something that has held me in check, it does seem like a waste of energy when you could be moving at least in some direction. So, if the light in front of me is red, I’ll take a right instead. Maybe I’ll go far enough so I can safely cross midblock (it’s only jaywalking if you’re between two signalized intersections); or maybe I’ll keep going till I get a green light to cross. It really doesn’t matter as long as I’m able to keep moving. There’s something really fun about being able to keep moving in a congested urban environment.

Traffic seems silly

No, I’m not saying I make better time as a run commuter than a motorist traveling the same distance. But as a runner, the amount of space devoted to moving lots of people traveling alone in large steel enclosed objects becomes pretty striking. And so much wasted time at intersections! Again, on two feet you really feel the freedom to keep moving; the machines we have built our cities around simply do not allow for such a thing.

We were born to run

This is a new concept to me, having been brought up to believe that running is an awful activity and that sooner or later people who run a lot are going to wind up needing surgery. But I started seeing things differently when I read Born to Run, by Christopher McDougal, and made the gradual switch to barefoot (or bareform) running. Now, at age 54, I don’t have any pain when I arrive at work after spending an hour running on pavement in shoes that provide virtually no cushioning! Had someone told me 20 years ago that I would be able to do such a thing (without pain) I would not have believed it. But don’t take my word for this. Read the book and see for yourself.

But clearly, it’s not for everyone….

Theoretically, running for transportation is within the reach of more people than driving a car. And of course it’s cheaper than taking transit or even using a bicycle. But theories don’t always translate into reality. So, consider run commuting if at least 4 of the 5 things below are true for you:

1) Bicycling sometimes seems too easy and walking would take too long (i.e., you live between one mile and ten miles from where you need to be);

2) There is a shower (or at least a sink and faucet) waiting for you at both ends of your journey, and dry clothes you can change into;

3) You have gradually built up to being able to run comfortably the distance that you need to go;

4) Once at work, you have other means to get to any meetings that might take you out of the office (transit, Nice Ride, Hour Car, office bike fleet, etc.);

5) You wanna try something really different but you can’t find your roller skates, and you’ve forgotten how to skip.

Good luck!

From your first steps as a child, you’ve known that walking is good for you. Not only does walking offer a host of health benefits, it also can provide several additional advantages – from saving you cash and enhancing your relationships to boosting your brain power and mood.

We’ve long known that walking boosts health. New research shows a significant risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes among those who regularly walk briskly. In other studies, walking has been shown to reduce the pain of fibromyalgia, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, and help you better manage your weight.

An 18-year study of 46,000 men and 15,000 women showed a 40% lower risk of developing a stroke among those who regularly walked.  And women who walk regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a 45% greater chance of survival than those who are inactive, according to a prominent oncology journal.

Walking can help you save on gym costs. On average, gym memberships run $40-$60 per person per month. The cost of a single month of gym membership could easily pay for a new pair of sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.

Walking can also help cut your medication costs, not to mention the potential side effects of many medicines. Data from the National Walkers’ Health Study found that those who took the longest weekly walks were more likely to use less medication.

Walking with someone for a half-hour – a spouse, friend, child or other family member – naturally leads to conversation. Those who regularly walk with others report higher levels of satisfaction with their personal relationships. And if you’re a dog owner, that’s a great reason to take a walk. You’ll find your role as “top dog” in your home solidified if you regularly take your four-legged friend for regular strolls.

Need a mental boost? Go for a walk! A recent study of 278 midlife African-American women showed that those who regularly walked were significantly less depressed than those who did not. Similarly, an Italian study tracked 749 older adults who had been identified as experiencing memory problems, and found that those who expended the most energy walking had a 27% lower risk of developing dementia than their less energetic counterparts.

Considering our mild winter so far in the Twin Cities – one of the 10 warmest winters on record – February is shaping up to be a great month to walk. The Winter Walkoff 2012 campaign, through the end of February, specifically urges Twin Cities residents to get outside and walk at least once a day. Those who commit to the campaign are encouraged to post about it on Twitter, at #winterwalkoff.

We’re fortunate that the Twin Cities metro area is primarily pedestrian-friendly. Of the nation’s 52 largest metropolitan areas, we are among the nation’s safest spots for pedestrians, according to Transportation for America. And indeed, three out of four Twin Cities residents keep walking year-round, according to Bike Walk Twin Cities.

Yet even those who regularly walk do not typically walk enough to fully enjoy its ample benefits. The daily walking goal cited by most health experts is 10,000 steps – about 5 miles of walking, or approximately the equivalent of exercising vigorously for 30 minutes.

The event, sponsored by the Midtown Greenway Coaliton, Bike Walk Twin Cities, and the Minneapolis Bike Coalition, encouraged current and would-be bicyclists and walkers to try out new bike equipment and socialize along the Midtown Greenway.

Event host Freewheel Midtown Bike Center touted free rides on fat-tire bikes — ideal for winter bicycling!

Representatives from Freewheel Midtown Bike Center served up refreshments and hot coffee to passerby along the Midtown Greenway.

Richard Parnell, a volunteer with the Midtown Greenway Coalition, roasted marshmallows on a unique bike-wheel roaster, and served up hot s'more snacks!

Passerby along the Midtown Greenway were invited to try out Nice Ride Minnesota bicycles with studded tires -- a demonstration to see if the public might be interested in using Nice Ride bicycles during the winter. (Nice Ride bicycles have previously been stored during the winter.)

Visitors to the Nice Ride Minnesota station were asked to write their comments about using Nice Ride bikes with studded tires. Depending on public interest, Nice Ride may begin a trial run of making Nice Ride bikes with studded tires available during winter on the University of Minnesota campus.

Dr. Mary Arneson (in yellow) led a team of four tricycles -- a "trike train"-- on demo rides along the Midtown Greenway. Arneson and her husband, Dr. Dale Hammerschmidt, came up with the trike train concept as a way for multiple riders to ride and socialize together. Both Arneson and Hammerschmidt are avid, regular bicyclists.

Alicia Cameron, marketing manager for Nice Ride Minnesota, leads a group of three bicyclists on Nice Ride bicycles in "the world's slowest bike race" -- a chance for riders to progress as slowly as they could remain upright to a designated finish line.

Visitors to the Winter Wonder event had a fun time trying out sample fat-tire bikes, along an obstacle course set up by the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center.

• New bikeways, bike boulevards and walking paths debuted all over the area, including the Riverlake Greenway and enhanced bike lanes on 1^st and Blaisdell Avenues, just to name two.
• New bike centers opened, including the University of Minnesota Bike Center in September and Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee in October
• We went behind-the-scenes at a few of the Twin Cities most bike-friendly companies, including Clockwork Active Media Systems, Colle+McVoy and Northern Brewer

The cherry on top: December’s news that numbers for both biking and walking in the Twin Cities are up – way up. Bicycling in the Twin Cities increased 52 percent over the past five years, and walking is up 18 percent, according to data from Bike Walk Twin Cities. In fact, from 2010 to 2011 alone, biking increased a whopping 22 percent. And that’s really what all the new bike paths and other infrastructure changes are all about: helping people bike, walk and move more.

Why the increase in biking and walking? Why now? Bike Walk Twin Cities officials attribute the increase to several factors, including new bikeways, fluctuating gas prices and heightened community awareness of the health and social benefits of bicycling.

The big jump in biking and walking numbers drew local and nationwide attention, once again solidifying the Twin Cities as one of the most bike- (and walk-) friendly areas in the country. Here’s a full list of the media/blog stories in the last month:

Huffington Post –“ How to boost biking and walking in your town”

Energy Bulletin – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Planetizen – “Twin Cities see remarkable increases in biking, walking”

Star Tribune – “A new attitude about biking in Minneapolis?”

On the Commons – “How to boost biking and walking in your town”

Minnesota Public Radio – “Advocates tout increase in Twin Cities cyclists”

Common Dreams – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Oregon Emerging Local Government Leaders Network - “The Afternoon Delight” (summary)

Building America’s Future Educational Fund – “Infrastructure in the news”

MinnPost – “Study says Twin Cities biking up 52% in last five years”

Open Salon – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Downtown Journal – “Community Notebook”

Shareable – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Transit Oriented Development News – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

People for Bikes – “More people than ever are biking and walking in the Twin Cities”

Mostly Water – “How to boost biking and walking even furthering your city”

Tokyo Progressive – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Humanitarian News – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Twin Cities Sidewalks – “Minneapolis bike count show disparities in cycling infrastructure”

Velo Traffic – “Measuring Cycling Growth”

Cycle TC – “5 years, 52% increase in cycling”

TreeHugger – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

AidNews – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Clearly, the positive news attracted a lot of attention inside and outside the Twin Cities. Here’s to continuing the momentum in 2012!

“I used to know everyone’s bike,” says Autumn Amadou-Blegen, Northern Brewer’s human resources director and one of the original bike commuters. “Now, there’s so many I can’t keep track of whose is whose anymore.”

How did Northern Brewer foster a culture of biking?

Although the number of Northern Brewer bike commuters has grown organically in recent years, a few factors have helped fuel the growing bike culture. Some of the building blocks along the way include:

• A supportive leadership team – Chris Farley, the founder, president and CEO of Northern Brewer, was one of the original three bike commuters.

• The Bicycle Commuter Act, which was passed in 2008, allows Northern Brewer to reimburse its bike commuters up to $20 per month for bike-related purchases.  “Employees here use it to buy things like nice saddles and light systems – things that show they’re into bike commuting for the long haul,” Autumn says.

• A few of the employees used to work at County Cycles and Sibley Bike Depot, which means there are plenty of in-house people who are handy with wrenches.  In the spring, they perform bike check-overs for fellow employees.

• The company has sought out ways to be involved in the local bike community. In 2009, it started participating in events such as Bike Walk Week and Bike Month. It also volunteered at a Bike Safety Rodeo at the Hancock Recreation Center, where employees conducted bike safety checks and the company donated root beer and gift certificates.

• A year ago, Northern Brewer formed a five-person bike committee to discuss which events it should participate in and ideas for bike-related initiatives. “We’re taking baby steps,” Autumn says, “but the goal is to eventually do bigger things, such as sponsor a local racing team or have a team of employees do the MS 150.”

• As the number of bike commuters grew, storage for the bicycles needed to be addressed. The company invested in a bike rack and a repair stand, which occupy a corner of the warehouse. There’s also a map outlining routes that employees use, along with their home locations and cell phone numbers so that commuters can call someone nearby if they get a flat or need other assistance on their way to and from work.

• All these factors culminated in receiving a Bicycle Friendly Business designation this year from the League of American Bicyclists. “Employees were really proud and excited because it’s national recognition,” Autumn says.

Culture starts with people

The bike commuters at Northern Brewer come from a variety of neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some have been lifelong bike commuters, and some are fairly new to it. A few employees that make up the company’s bike culture:

• Autumn Amadou-Blegen. In addition to being the company’s director of human resources, Autumn is also a long-time biking enthusiast. Her 7-mile commute takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic, and takes her from her home in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood down Snelling Avenue, through the State Fairgrounds, then north on Fairview Avenue. “My commute is one of the best parts of my day,” she says. “That’s not the case for most people who don’t bike.” She’s a year-round bike commuter (even using a combo of biking and the bus system when she had pneumonia last winter). For days with inclement weather, Autumn keeps a supply of extra clothing and socks at the office and isn’t stingy about sharing them with employees who may have gotten caught in the rain. Her advice for people interested in bike commuting: “Build up your comfort level. If you’re afraid of biking with traffic, ride your route on a Sunday morning when there’s not as much traffic and there’s no pressure to get to work on time. Or start by taking your bike on the bus and doing just part of your commute by bike.”

• Tom Phelan. A copy editor in the marketing department, Tom started bike commuting right before he started working at Northern Brewer four years ago. He makes heavy use of trails on his 9-mile commute from the Powderhorn neighborhood. “The community of support here is vital,” Tom says. “It’s everything from the big things like having a bike rack and repair stand here to the small thing like chatting with people while you fix a flat.” His advice for people interested in bike commuting: “Connect with other bike commuters. Sibley Bike Shop has free classes on things like maintenance, and Grease Rag in Minneapolis has women’s classes and relaxed rides.”

• Michelle Thomas. Michelle started at Northern Brewer as a fulfillment associate in February and has been bike commuting for six years. The fact that the company was bike friendly was definitely a draw, she says. “I knew it was bike-friendly before I started here, but I didn’t know how much so,” she remembers. “When I started here and saw how bike-friendly it was, it was nice to realize that I wouldn’t be the only person here without a car.” Her advice: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad layers. Do what it takes to get comfortable, wear a helmet and get lights.”

What about the business impact of biking?

As Northern Brewer experienced rapid growth in recent years, the bike culture at the company grew as well. “Overall, we’re prioritizing the creation of more infrastructure and programs that support all functions of the business, including wellness and engagement,” Autumn says.  The bike support system at the company is appreciated by employees and is likely a factor in retention, she adds.

The company has started adding more ways employees can be active, too, such as a weekly “recess” (a paid 30-minute break) during the warm months where employees can play soccer outside or take a walk around a nearby lake. “I think managers have seen that folks come back feeling energized, connected to their co-workers and refreshed,” Autumn says.

The grand opening event on Saturday drew a big crowd and featured local leaders including Minneapolis City Council Members, Don Samuels, Diane Hofstede and Barbara Johnson; Rep. Bobby Joe Champion; Sen. Linda Higgins and a staff member from U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison’s office. These leaders helped usher in a new era of healthy choices in North Minneapolis. The event also featured music, dancing, face painting, Dogwood coffee, free flu shots, food and a host of other vendors and community partners.

At the same time, new bike lanes were opening on Emerson and Fremont Avenues, which will help make getting around North Minneapolis much easier.

We could go on about the Venture North grand opening in more detail but thought photos from the event would better tell the story.

Crews worked through the night on Friday night to get Venture North up-and-running. The storefront still needed a bit of paint Sat. morning!

Partner Dogwood Coffee was on hand selling coffee throughout the day.

Venture North was selling their full line of merchandise on order Saturday, including these helmets on site.

All kinds of people—and bikes—showed up to the Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee grand opening.

Venture North intern Jemarte Taylor was interviewed by multiple mainstream media outlets during the grand opening including KARE-11 and KSTP-TV.

The interior at Venture North came together nicely over Friday evening and early Saturday morning.

Face painting was a popular booth at the Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee grand opening.

Rep. Champion addressed the crowd before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Reynolds-Anthony Harris, a key partner in the start-up phase of Venture North, helped kick things off Saturday.

The official cutting of the Venture North ribbon!

The completed front store front for Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee.