Below are highlights of some of the new routes. Check out the Twin Cities route map to see how the network for bicycling is expanding.

5^th Street Bicycle Boulevard (with region’s first bicycle stoplight and better crossings for people walking )

This new route will connect Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota, with neighborhoods in Northeast Minneapolis and connect up to the Grand Rounds off-road bike path along Saint Anthony Parkway. Also in Northeast, a new east-west route along 22^nd Avenue NE connects from the Mississippi River to the Minneapolis Diagonal Trail and The Quarry shopping center.

The region’s first bicycle stoplight is coming to the intersection of 5^th Street and NE Broadway. These mini-traffic signals with bicycles on them are simply triggered by pushing a button (much like people walking press the button for the walk sign).

The same intersection will be better for people walking, with better curbs and sidewalks. The same median that bikes will use to cross northbound will make it safer for people walking.

Another bonus for bicyclists is at the intersection of 5^th Street and Central & Hennepin Avenues in the heart of Northeast. When cyclists pull up to this stop light, bicycle detection in the pavement will mean the light changes more quickly for cyclists and crossing is safer.

Bryant Avenue Bicycle Boulevard

This is one of the longer new bicycle routes coming to the Twin Cities, connecting from the bike and pedestrian bridge over Lyndale and Hennepin (just south of the Walker Art Center and Loring Park) through many south Minneapolis neighborhoods all the way to West 58^th Street (great route for downtown bike commuters!).

New medians along Franklin Avenue (between Lyndale and Hennepin) at the north end of the route make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, creating a mid-street refuge.

The sidewalks and curbs also are getting a facelift at the intersection of Byrant Avenue and West 28^th Avenue and West 29^th Avenue. Farther south on the route, at Aldrich Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, the curb between the Minnehaha Creek bike path and Aldrich Avenue (on the south leg of the intersection) will be altered to allow bicyclists to pass through.

Hiawatha LRT Trail Connection into Downtown Minneapolis

The Hiawatha LRT Trail is a busy bike path, running alongside the LRT tracks into downtown Minneapolis at 11^th Street. Once at 11^th, bicyclists had no good way to get into downtown, but a new path will open soon making that much easier.

The off-road path will continue across 11^th Street and over to 3^rd Avenue. Bike lanes will be added to 3^rd (headed into downtown) and 4^th (headed out of downtown) Avenues. No longer will the Valspar parking lot be the default.

Note:  We will have more information on new routes and bike lanes in North Minneapolis (Emerson and Fremont Avenues) and South Minneapolis (1^st & Blaisdell) in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can always find more detailed information about new bike ways on the Bike Walk Twin Cities Projects page or through the City of Minneapolis Bicycle web site.