A new multiuse trail is being constructed on
the north side of the Minnesota River from Lyndale
Avenue. Currently it is a 1.6 mile paved trail that ends
abruptly near Mounds Springs Park. Eventually this trail
will stretch east to Fort Snelling State Park and west to
the city of Jordan. The trail is a boon to walkers and
paved trail bicyclists, but mountain bikers will have a
degraded experience. One rider compared it to riding
on a frontage road next to a highway.

The trail connects to the multi-use trail on I-35W and
will eventually create a loop connecting to the Black
Dog paved trail on the south side of the river via the
Cedar Avenue bike bridge.

Following the death of George Floyd on May 25th, the Twin Cities Bike Club acknowledged its own shortcomings in promoting a more welcoming environment for non-white riders. They issued what has become a standard declaration about their intent to do more. It could have ended there, as these statements often do, but board member John Benda decided to do more. He worked with Louis Moore of the Major Taylor Bike Club and fellow members of TCBC to develop a black history tour of the Twin Cities, with a focus on the racial inequities Black people have faced in the Cities. The 35 mile route starts at Minnehaha Falls and stops at the obvious spots, such as 38th and Chicago, where George Floyd was murdered and the Philando Castile Memorial and Peace Garden, but it also takes in the Rondo Commemorative Plaza where the thriving Rondo neighborhood was replaced by I-94, the African American Heritage Museum at Plymouth and Penn, and other, lesser known sites.

Black History Tour Route

You can now cross the Minnesota River using the separated bike lane on I-35W. The bridge connects to the Minnesota River Bottoms where you can either ride on the mountain bike trail or a paved trail being constructed along the river.

The Twin Cities Mobile Bike Map has been updated. The newest version shows the route of the Green Line Extension (LRT line) and road and trail changes related to construction of the line. There are also changes in over a dozen suburbs including trail additions and closures, bike friendly road changes and housekeeping changes such as signage.

This is a significant update and it’s free if you already purchased an earlier version of the map.If you haven’t already purchased the map, use the link below.

More Information

See all Bikeverywhere Mobile Maps

The Stillwater Lift Bridge will reopen to pedestrians and bicyclists in June. Final repairs are being done on the bridge now and a trail along the St. Croix River connects downtown Stillwater to the Hwy 36 Bridge. No need to climb the big hill to get out of town! The trail splits into an upper and lower trail next to Hwy 36. Both are good trails, but the lower one is closer to the river and quieter than the upper trail.
The new trail will be part of a June update to the mobile Twin Cities Bike Map.

Looking for a couple of lakes to circle, but not the Mpls Chain of Lakes? Try the Demontreville/Lake Jane loop off the Gateway Trail, near the intersection of I694 and Hwy 36. The loop is approximately 7 miles around. More distance can be added by making a triangle with the Gateway Trail and South Av/40th St. Check your mobile Twin Cities Bike Map for details.

Even with Stay at Home directives, the governor and health officials encourage us to get outside to bike and hike. The key to stopping the spread of Covid 19 is to do these activities at a safe social distance. Our most popular city parks have become too congested for safe social distancing, so branch out. Try a less well known trail or ride the many bicycle friendly streets of the metro.
The attached screenshot shows my ride for today. I was researching the impact of LRT construction on the routes around Hopkins. The ride was short, less than 12 miles, but note that I wasn’t close to any busy trails. I met cyclists along the way, but we easily stayed over 10 feet from each other.

The Great Outdoors has not been canceled. Get outside. Breathe fresh air. Enjoy the sun, but keep your social distance.The most popular city parks are getting so crowded that keeping a safe distance is difficult, so try the less well known trails.
If you need suggestions, download the newly updated 2020 Twin Cities Bike Trails from Bikeverywhere and explore at a safe social distance. If you already have the map, download the update at no cost.

https://www.avenzamaps.com/a/vfz0xf

The 2020 version of the Twin Cities Bike Map reflects thousands of miles of research on new and existing bike trails and bicycle friendly roads since the July, 2019 update. New trails, trail alignments and bicycle friendly roads have been added and old routes retired. More highway symbols have been added to major roads to help with navigation on small screens. The 2020 update is free if you already have the 2019 version. All updates in 2020 will be free.

To update the 2019 Twin Cities Bike Map, go to “My Maps” and click on the “Updates Available” link. You have the option to replace the old version or add the new version and keep the old. Replacing the old version will save all placemarks, routes, lines and photos from the old version and add them to the new version automatically.

First time buyers, click Twin Cities Bike Map 2020 using the device you wish to download the map onto.

Construction of the SW LRT line will include some improvements for the bike trail as well. The attached photos show construction of a new bike bridge across Beltline Blvd in St. Louis Park. This is the intersection where bicyclists had to cross two lanes of traffic, then wait in a center island until two lanes of traffic in the other direction cleared.