I'm neither mad nor disappointed because it went exactly how I expected it to, but man, if you live in Eden Prairie or have to commute there, I am so sorry.

Let me set the scene. There's a multi-use shared path on Flying Cloud Dr that is NOT ADA accessible but wide enough for you to realistically bike around Lake Smetana and cross I-494 as safe as possible. We're already dealing with below the bare minimum for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mobility-assisted users.

I'm biking and biking then all of a sudden, there's a sidewalk closed sign in the middle of the trail with no detour. I circle back for the curb cut because the curb is hella tall, put my head on a swivel, and hopped onto the southbound lane on Flying Cloud Dr. That is a wide-ass road with cars speeding past.

I went home and left a concerned note online about the lack of detour or space for people who might've needed to use that trail. Today, I called and left a voicemail because I've gotten a lot of luck with people taking my concerns seriously when I call. I get a voicemail ten minutes later and I just called them.

Spent ten minutes on the phone with Adam and I just gotta laugh. He shared with me that the city granted a private utility permit that ends in October but it should end really really soon! When I told him that this section may pose a challenge for people outside of cars and offered the suggestion that "hey, I know Bloomington has a ton of torn up sidewalks too but they've put out these big cones to create a small path adjacent to the sidewalk for people to go by on these high-speed roads" (mind you, they were shitty experiences when I was over there but it was something).

1. got told that Flying Cloud Dr's speed limit is 30 MPH which is low for the area. like yes, the road is super wide and cars will most likely fly by, but it is 30 MPH

2. got told that the area I'm talking about is not well-trafficked (how would they know? how do they track?) so there was not a requirement for the permit requestor to offer detour signs

3. got told that if it's the Mall of America area in Bloomington then of course there would be proper detours and treatments AND it's not like we're dealing with a road with thousands of cars moving on it where constructions require detours

4. got told that there's some other trail out there that can get me to where I need to be but it's the onus of the trail users to know the direction and figure it out. also didn't actually offer me how to get to those trails

5. got told that the residents of The Fox & The Grouse has a private trail that can get them to the other side to get to the light rail station

6. ended the call with "we'll go out and take a look but like it's unlikely anything will change"

god bless you, people of Eden Prairie. if I get treated like this as a pedestrian, bicyclist, mobility-assisted user, I'd get a car too (if I can still drive).

Like the title says, I was nearly hit by a car who ran a red light on west Lake, and the only reason I wasn’t hit was because I sensed that based on the car’s speed, it most likely was going to run the red light. I stopped in the middle of the intersection and watched the car pass mere inches in front of me. I can use bike lights, wear a safety vest, follow stop signs and streetlights, and none of that matters when cars aren’t following basic rules of the road. It just sucks so much.

For over 15 years I've been going to the fair, and every time I've biked via the Transitway from UMN or South Minneapolis. It's the best way to get to and from the fair. Bike corral is brilliant! Biking on Como or on the off street path is great! Biking on the transitway, or the offstreet path, most of the way is great.

But the last leg from Energy Park Drive to Como...

Maybe it's because of the improvements in bike infrastructure we've seen through out the metro. Maybe there's more bus traffic. Maybe it's just that I'm getting older and would like to keep getting older. But this weekend I went, and between the inconsistent, narrow shoulders and the 40mph speed limit I wondered how there's never been an accident here.

Anybody else feeling this?

Rare candid sub hed: A devoted St. Paul bicyclist died this summer when he hit a just-opened car door. The driver was not cited, and few ever are.

Fine article generally, although it does fall short in not noting "This can significantly be mitigated by providing appropriate infrastructure, not paint next to parked cars."

Gift link: https://www.startribune.com/risk-of-getting-doored-keeps-wary-minnesota-riders-on-the-edge-of-their-bike-seats/601871390?utm_source=gift

watch out on the trails! also keep an eye out for people who need help

Bought a bike last month after maybe a 15 year hiatus. I'm not gasping for breath as much as I did in July.

Bikes are fun!

This is Raspberry Island via the Big Rivers Regional Trail.

There is a lot of animosity from car drivers toward cyclists which only makes it more dangerous and harder for us. Some cyclists do dumb things that only make it worse. I wish they'd stop.

Yesterday there was a cyclist in the left lane of west bound Saint Clair waiting to make a left turn on to south Lexington. This is a very high traffic intersection and the wisdom of making a left turn in traffic like this is questionable for one thing, but this guy had no intention of waiting for a green light. He slowly edged into the intersection, dodged some traffic, and ran the red light.

This kind of behavior amps up the animosity toward cyclists is bad for all of us.

I’ve got an ebike for commuting and cruiser for recreation but I’m looking for something I can ride around the city and dirt roads mostly for exercise and fun. I’m newer to biking and when I talk to people about what I’m looking for, I get brand recommendations like Surly, All City, Salsa, etc. But many of those bikes are $1000+, even used on FB marketplace. I am however seeing brands like Retrospec that are much less expensive, so I’m wondering is there much of a difference between these brands, for someone newer to bikes and who is just trying to get on the road?

My commute to work has me taking Van White north from the N Cedar Lake Trail. With the construction of 394 around there and the closure of on/off ramps, I feel like the intersection gets a little messy during rush hour. I’ve found that it’s super easy to avoid the intersection altogether by taking a little detour under the bridge past the Basset Creek Valley station.

The photo shows where to turn when approaching from the west. Sorry I don’t have one from the other direction it was dark last time I approached from downtown.

Some of you may be like ‘duh’ but I also drive through this intersection once or twice a week and I’ve found that when I’m driving through I notice lots of cyclists trusting cars and crossing Van White on the NCLT most often without engaging the crosswalk lights. That’s fine if that’s you, no judgment (I don’t hit the crosswalk light either, I think it requires you to actually stop which is dumb), but for those of you who just want to avoid crossing at grade, it’s a quick and easy detour.

Hopefully they put up some directional signs.

My daughter and I are traveling to St. Paul tomorrow, in Chicago we get around everywhere by bike and transit because hauling a car seat is a pain, I’d love to be able to bike her around the Twin Cities. Does anyone know of a bike rental place that will rent me a solid step through bike with a good kids seat on the back? Bonus points if they will deliver to the Intercontinental Hotel in St Paul!

I’m thinking of traveling to Minneapolis this fall and bringing a fat tire bike with 27.5 x 4.5 tires. Would be able to get on a bus or train with it? If I’m not able to bring a bike along, what are some good places to rent a hard tail mountain bike or a fat tire?

Hey MSP I made this for reporting vehicles in bike lanes with one tap: https://www.loudbicycle.com/bb

Boston is ignoring almost all our reports, but MSP is actually sending out people to the locations that get reported. Hope you can make it useful! Let me know if you have questions or suggestions.

Never biked to the State Fair before, but am considering biking next week. A few questions for more seasoned fair-goers:

• Do you need a lock in the bike corrals? I'm seeing mixed reviews.
• What do you do with your helmet?
• Can you keep a small bag next to the bike (put my light and mirrors and an extra t-shirt in it), so I don't have to weight down my fair bag?
  

Open to any other bike to the fair tips you have as well.

Hey folks,

Considering biking to the state fair with my kiddo. Is there room in the bike corrals for a burley? Or should I take the bus instead?

Lately I've been noticing a lot more piles of broken glass in bike lanes from smashed parked car windows.(At least in the NE/University area) Has anyone else been seeing any more than usual? ... or am I just going crazy?

You passed me on Cedar Lake and told me my dog was cute in my front basket. I eventually caught up and told you to ride on my wheel and you did so for a few miles and said thanks when you split. I got a good kick out of it.

To the guy who yelled at me for riding on that same trail because it was an e-bike saying people like me cause problems, I hope you get flats. You then proceeded to do what you could to stay in front of me and yell back at me here and there about something or other. Then you got defensive because I got annoyed and started cursing and yelling other stuff.

I ride a Tern HSD, not a Surron. There's not even a throttle. I agree a lot of people with throttle e-bikes and e-motorcycles are a problem, but I'm on basically the station wagon of e-bikes.

Kindly fuck off and mind your business.

Yeah bikes get stolen all the time but fucking A. Kryptonite heavy chain lock, right on Ford parkway in St. Paul. Middle of the day. All kinds of people around. Went in to a dentist appt for 1 hour. Came out and nothing there. No cut lock no evidence of anything that ever existed. Man am I just fucking deflated. As a type this. While walking home. Fuck.

We take this bike ride multiple times per week up to Wedge Market in Linden Hills. Today we rode up on our bikes, and as I turned off of 44th onto the street where Wedge is located. It was completely clear, and my daughter was following me. Some person in a busted-up SUV blew through the intersection and had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting my kid, who was turning behind me. This is insane! I don't think I've ever been so scared and close to tears in my life. That shit human didn't even stop to see if she was okay. Be careful out there, friends.

If you lost a light on the trail next to 494 over the MN river today shoot me a message with the description of it and I’ll get it back to you.

I’m going to be in Northfield this weekend and would like to get some riding in. Curious if anyone has ridden from Northfield to Cannon Valley Trail, and if there is a dedicated bike path there, or if it would be better to just drive to the trail?

Also any recommendations for trails (paved or gravel) in Northfield area would be greatly appreciated!

Looking to ride 50-80 miles.

Thanks in advance

Hourcar members - read the email you got for the free $5 code.

Although Brigid was able to fit two bikes into the Evie, I will have to report that it took me 20 minutes and a ton of sweat to get my one e-bike into the Evie I booked to get it to REI for servicing. Thank god I was able to just bike home after the bike was serviced because I'm never doing that again.