Last year the Minnesota Department of Transportation completed its Statewide Bicycle Planning Study to identify ways the agency can better improve conditions for bicycling and incorporate needs of bicycle riders into future road projects.
Starting next week, MnDOT will hold a series of meetings in 11 cities statewide to get input from bicyclists to help shape the statewide bicycle system. Stakeholders will be asked to provide their thoughts on where MnDOT can improve the network, how road conditions and location influences whether to ride, where bicyclists want to ride long distance, where they feel comfortable riding, and how MnDOT should prioritize projects.
"Minnesota is often recognized as one of the top bicycle-friendly states in the country, and the best way to continue improving is to learn from constituents who use the highways, bike lanes and shoulders to bike," said Tim Mitchell, MnDOT bicycle and pedestrian coordinator.
Meetings will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. and will feature a presentation about the bike planning study followed by a workshop. A community open house will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Meetings will be held on the following dates and times:
April 23 in St. Cloud – Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive
April 30 in Granite Falls – Kilowatt Community Center, 600 Kilowatt Dr.
May 1 in Fergus Falls – West Central Initiative, 1000 Western Ave.
May 6 in Mankato – Blue Earth County Library, 100 E. Main St.
