Stuff about Minneapolis

It’s so cold the gears need defrosting, roads are like ice rinks and helmets are strapped over full-face balaclavas.

But the mayor of the favourite city for cycling in the United States says if Minneapolis can achieve what it has, there’s no reason Melbourne and other Australian cities can’t follow.

Almost halfway across a country famed for its car culture and with a climate to test the bravest – think snow ploughs and Fargo – Minneapolis doesn’t strike as one where commuters would prefer the saddle over the car heater.

Minneapolis, an urban area with a population size similar to that of Melbourne, has more than 150 kilometres of bike trails, has converted an abandoned railway line into a bicycle highway spanning the midtown area, allows cyclists to load bikes on the front of buses and was one of the first American cities to introduce a bike share scheme.

Cycling advocates believe Melbourne has the infrastructure, layout and culture to make it a great biking city and many say it is getting there, but Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak believes making the jump requires something bold.

“My advice to Australian cities which may think they can never aspire to this, is the public is ahead of government when it comes to the bike culture,” he said.

“Get out there and do some things and you’ll be surprised by how much people will come along.”

Australia was talking about Minneapolis bike culture in the Sydney Morning Herald today! Click link for full article.