Bike commuting in Minneapolis is continuing to rise, according to the latest Census data released this week. The latest info from the American Community Survey shows that about 5 percent of city workers now bike commutes, a slight increase over the year before.
Bicycle commuting rising in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Newly released American Community Survey data show both cities at their highest-ever rates, and Minneapolis among nation's highest
September 17, 2016 at 1:19AM
The uptick comes as the city has boosted its investment in bike lanes, particularly those that are protected from cars. The city has the densest bike lane network in the nation, according to a national advocacy group, with 226 miles of them as of earlier this year.
Minneapolis' share of bike commuters ranks third in the nation among cities of more than 100,000 people who are employed. It falls just behind Madison, and about 2 percentage points behind Portland. Among all cities, Davis, Calif. has the highest share of bike commuters – a whopping 19 percent.
Minneapolis has a goal of reaching 15 percent by 2025.
St. Paul, meanwhile, is playing catchup. Two-point-one percent of St. Paul workers bike commuted there in 2015, which was a record for the city. That's about double the share in 2006.
Steve Brandt contributed to this story.
![Bikers in Dinkytown have their own lanes to negotiate the traffic. Minneapolis has the densest bike network of the nation's 50 most populous cities. It's so far ahead that it has 30 more bike lanes per square mile than runner-up Boston, and five times the median for those cities]. Richard Tsong-Taatarii/rtsong-taatarii@startribune.com ORG XMIT: MIN1603091726521961](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/BDBZ6VWNTOAXFOPHQ5ACNHYCIM.jpg?&w=712)
These Minnesotans are poised to play prominent roles in state and national politics in the coming years.
