Biking

Explore Hennepin County's more than 800 miles of bikeways.

View maps online

• Interactive bike map
• Printable bike map (PDF 10MB)

Get a printed map

• Pick one up at most Hennepin County Service Centers
• Call 612-596-0352 to request maps

Biking is one of the most efficient, cost-effective and low-impact ways to travel in Hennepin County. Ridership is increasing rapidly while driving nationwide has been steadily decreasing since 2007.

Desired outcomes

Anticipating those trends will continue, we are committed to creating a biking environment that meets the needs of all residents those who bike now, and those who will bike in the future. We believe a good bikeway system will deliver the following benefits:

Safety

Decreasing the risk of crashes by reducing gaps and adding more separation from motor vehicles through more interconnected network

Livability

Increasing transportation options and improving access to jobs, schools and services

Mobility

Increasing mobility for people of all ages to reach more destinations

Economic sustainability

Reducing the cost of transportation for everyone, including the one-third of people who do not drive

Health

Providing an opportunity for residents to make physical activity a routine part of daily life

Clean air

Improving air quality and reducing emissions of harmful pollutants

Recreation

Serving the strong desire for metro area residents — especially among older residents — to have biking as a recreational activity

Parking and congestion

Alleviating congestion on roads

Regional economic competitiveness

Attracting and keeping residents who seek to live, work and play in a vibrant community that embraces their values

These projects and studies include biking and walking features and improvements.

Current and future projects

66th Street (County Road 53) in Richfield

This reconstruction project improves the streetscape, adds bike facilities and a more accessible sidewalk.
Learn more

Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) in Brooklyn Park

This future reconstruction project will add shared paths for biking and walking between West Broadway and 83rd avenues and extends the Crystal Lake Regional Trail.
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Blake Road (County Road 20) in Hopkins

This reconstruction project spans from Highway 7 to Spruce Rd in Hopkins. A multi-use trail will be added on both sides of the road to improve walking and biking connections to the future LRT station.
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Flying Cloud Drive (County Road 61) in Chanhassen and Eden Prairie

This reconstruction project adds a multi-use trail along the north side of the road that will fill the trail gap from Shakopee to Eden Prairie.
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Glenwood Avenue (County Road 40) in Golden Valley and Minneapolis

Two projects are planned for Glenwood Avenue. The first is a repaving project along Glenwood Avenue from Highway 100 to Thomas Avenue that is scheduled for 2020. As part of this project, staff will evaluate short and long-term improvements for walking and biking.
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The second is a reconstruction project that will improve biking and walking connections to transit at the future Royalston Station.
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Golden Valley Road (County Road 66) in Minneapolis

This repaving and restriping project will add bike lanes on Golden Valley Road between Xerxes and Girard avenues in 2020.
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Hiawatha-Lake intersection (Highway 55 and County Road 3) in Minneapolis

This construction project includes short-term improvements such as bump-outs, median refuge islands, shortened crossings, high visibility crosswalk markings, and wider sidewalks.
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Lake Street (County Road 3) Connections in Minneapolis

This future reconstruction project will add wider sidewalks, bump-outs at intersections and improves accessibility near I-35W.
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Wayzata Boulevard (County Road 112) in Long Lake and Orono

This reconstruction project will add new sidewalks and trails, connecting downtown Long Lake to the Luce Line Trail.
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Weber 44 (County Road 152) in Minneapolis

This reconstruction project will add a new dedicated bicycle facility, improved wayfinding, accessible pedestrian ramps, durable crosswalk markings, and countdown timers. Streetscaping elements and transit improvements will also be included as part of this project.
Learn more

Recently completed projects

County Road 24 in Plymouth

Added a trail along the south side for a continuous shared-use route along the corridor.

County Road 101 in Minnetonka

Added a sidewalk on the west side of the roadway and safer crossings for people biking and walking between County Road 62 and Hutchins Drive. 

Douglas Drive (County Road 102) in Golden Valley

Added new sidewalks and trails with a boulevard buffer along both sides of the road and widened curbs for people biking. 

Humboldt Avenue (County Road 57) in Minneapolis

Improved accessibility along Humboldt Avenue by adding sidewalks and curb ramps, added a shared use path between the Grand Rounds and Shingle Creek trails, and improved safety by resurfacing two railroad crossings. 

Minnetonka Boulevard (County Road 5) in St. Louis Park

Added bike lanes, signage and bike-friendly catch basin grates along Minnetonka Boulevard between highways 100 and 169.

Penn Avenue (County Road 2) in Minneapolis

Replaced sidewalks, constructed accessible ramps at intersections, and shortened crossing distances.

Pinto Drive (County Roads 115 and 116 in Medina

Added a multi-use trail along the corridor and accessible ramps at intersections.

Portland Avenue (County Road 35) in Bloomington

Increased the safety of the corridor by converting the roadway from American Boulevard East to Old Shakopee Road from four lanes to three. This provided an opportunity to add bike lanes and an enhanced pedestrian crossing at East 82^nd Street.

Washington Avenue (County Road 152) in Minneapolis

Added protected cycle track, wider concrete sidewalks, shortened crossing distances, and accessible curb ramps and crosswalk signals between Hennepin Avenue and 5th Avenue South in downtown. Buffered bike lanes were added between 5th Avenue South and I-35W.

Current studies

East 46th Street Study

Hennepin County is working with the City of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and other stakeholders to study options to make East 46th Street (County Road 46) between Hiawatha Avenue and the Ford Parkway Bridge safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving. The purpose of the study is to consider different design options to improve mobility and safety for all users and identify preferred configurations that could be implemented as part of a planned repaving project in 2019 and/or a full reconstruction at a later date.

Hiawatha-Lake Interchange Study

Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis have started Phase 2 of the Hi-Lake Intersection Study. The city and county will work with the community for input on the intersection configuration as well as develop a plan for the implementation of interim improvements to better serve people walking and biking.

Completed studies

Marshall Street Northeast Study

Marshall Street Northeast (County Road 23) is reaching the end of its pavement life. There will be an opportunity to improve the design of the roadway to better serve all users during expected reconstruction. The county and City of Minneapolis worked with northeast Minneapolis communities to study options for making Marshall Street Northeast from 10th Avenue Northeast to St. Anthony Parkway safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving.

Vehicle passing distance

University of Minnesota graduate students from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs partnered with Hennepin County to complete a vehicle passing distance study. This study investigated the average passing distance and the rate of encroachment for motor vehicles overtaking people biking at seven locations with different road classifications and configurations of travel lanes, parking facilities and bicycle facilities.
Learn more

2040 Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan

The 2040 bicycle transportation plan lays out a vision that emphasizes ways to make bicycling safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities. The plan guides how, where and when the county and the parks district will build bikeways, and outlines an integrated system that will be developed through 2040.

The county and Three Rivers Park District worked together to gather input from the community, cities and other stakeholders starting in June 2013. The public comment period on the latest draft of the plan closed December 5, 2014. The county board adopted the plan in April 2015.

• 2040 Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan (PDF 11MB)
• Planned bikeway system map (PDF 5MB)
• Appendix A – Engagement report (PDF 20MB)
• Appendix B – Strategies and Actions (PDF)
• Appendix C – Design guidelines (PDF)
• Appendix D – Corridor prioritization list (PDF)
• Appendix E – Gaps prioritization list (PDF)
• Appendix F – Bicycle parking standards (PDF)
• Appendix G – Crash analysis memo (PDF)
• Appendix H – Prioritization methodology (PDF)
• Appendix I – Cost assumptions (PDF)
• Appendix J – TRPD priority trail crossing improvements (PDF)
• Appendix K – Maps: System plan, corridors, gaps, transit/bike integration (PDF 9MB)

Other resources

• Hennepin County planned and existing bike routes
• Bottineau LRT/Metro Blue Line Extension bicycle study (PDF 33MB)

Southwest LRT bicycle study

• Tech Memo 1 – Existing Conditions (PDF 8MB)
• Tech Memo 2 – Recommendations (PDF 6MB)
• Tech Memo 3 – Project Prioritization (PDF)

Enhanced bikeway network study (2018)

Bikeways that are protected or separated from motor vehicle traffic offer a higher level of comfort for people biking. These types of enhanced bikeways make it easier for more people of all ages and abilities to bike as part of their everyday lives, whether it be for transportation, recreation or physical activity.

Hennepin County staff recently completed an enhanced bikeway network study to:

• Review county roadways to determine suitability for enhanced bicycle infrastructure
• Evaluate estimated construction and maintenance costs and assess changes to the county's cost participation policy
• Identify a list of roadways potentially suitable for enhanced bikeways

The initial findings of the study were presented to the Board of Commissioners in a public briefing on August 9, 2018.

Enhanced bikeways briefing – presentation (PDF)

Enhanced bikeways briefing – handout (PDF)

Pedestrian and bicycle progress report (2019)

The accomplishments highlighted in this report are thanks to the collaboration and dedication of numerous departments across Hennepin County Public Works, partner agencies, advocates, and beyond.

2019 pedestrian and bicycle progress report (PDF)

Bike counts reports and resources

The primary focus of the bike counting program is to track and report biking volume information along Hennepin County roadways, including trails adjacent to county roads.

Interactive multi modal counts map

2017 bike count report: southern Hennepin County (PDF)

2016 bike count report: northern Hennepin County (PDF)

2015 bike count report: southern Hennepin County (PDF)

References

Automated bike count methodology (PDF)

Manual bike count methodology (PDF)

Learn how to bike

• Traffic skills 101 – offered by Bike MN