Have you checked out the new and improved bike lanes on Minnehaha Ave? The construction was completed on November 12 and an opening ceremony was held to bring the community out to see the new changes. Activities included crafts for kids, cider and treats, speakers from the county, and a group bike ride to test out the bike lanes.

Minnehaha Ave from 46th Street to Lake Street is complete! Improvements were needed to fix the old pavement, address storm drainage issues, and make the corridor more welcoming to all, regardless of mode of transportation. One-way bike lanes were installed on each side of the road to accommodate bike use. These lanes are marked with white stripes and provide a buffer zone between motor traffic and parked cars. The Coalition fought hard for protected bike lanes to be part of the final plan, and unfortunately, they were not part of the improvements as we had hoped. On the bright side, we recognize that there were upgrades to intersection crossings that make it more accessible for pedestrians.

The celebration, held on Saturday, November 12, took place at Adam's Triangle and included a plethora of activities for folks to participate in. Various neighborhood organizations (Longfellow Community Council, Hennepin County, and the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, just to name a few) had tables with outreach materials and staff to answer questions about the project. Warm cider, hot chocolate, and baked goods were provided by local businesses and tables were set up with activities such as face painting for little ones to enjoy. After some time to mingle and chat, speakers from the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and Longfellow community gave speeches regarding the improvements. The event concluded with a group bike ride up and down Minneahaha Ave with Nice Ride providing bikes for anyone who wanted to tag along. 

If you haven't already, we encourage you to check it out! Take a stroll or roll along the corridor to see what you think!