Cycling in Minnesota
The state has developed a variety of cycling paths, including urban routes, long-distance trails, and mountain biking terrains.
[2] Minneapolis was already building an extensive park system during this time, which was built upon during succeeding generations—including a significant amount of help during the Great Depression when the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements.
Today, a nearly continuous system of parkways, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways encircle the city as the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.
During this period, many bike shops in Minnesota were established, including Penn Cycle in Richfield, which became the first dealer for Trek bicycles in the late 1970s.
Minnesota capitalized on its rich railroading history by transforming half of the state's abandoned rail lines into cycling trails.
[3] Trail building in the state has continued rapidly since then, with various organizations including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), counties, cities, and non-profits contributing to the development.
In the same decade, cyclist Greg LeMond, who had moved to Minnesota, became the first American to win the Tour de France, doing so three times in 1986, 1989, and 1990.
A more successful bike-sharing program, Nice Ride Minnesota, began in 2010 but faced financial challenges in the wake of competing scooter-sharing services.
[9] Central to this network is the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a continuous 51-mile (82 km) loop of off-street bike trails encircling the city.
While the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) operates a system of State Trails,[16] counties, cities, and non-profit organizations have also worked to build bike paths.
Some of the popular cycle routes include: For off-road enthusiasts, destinations like the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area offer challenging terrains and are known for their mountain biking trails.
The United States Bicycle Route System, a national network using existing roads and trails, is in its early planning stages in Minnesota.
