Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Pillar: Safe & Connected Infrastructure
Indicator: Bicycle Infrastructure
Once a car-dominated corridor, Minneapolis’ Bryant Avenue South has been reborn as a model of safe, green, and inclusive street design. The two-mile reconstruction has prioritized walking, cycling, and stormwater sustainability while keeping neighborhood access intact.
Minneapolis is quickly becoming one of the United States leading cycling cities. Cycling has been mainstreamed into multiple departments in city hall and guided by the Go Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan and the “All Ages and Abilities” network approach. Over the past years, the city has been using major corridor reconstruction projects as opportunities to put in place safer, greener, and more equitable streets. An example of this shift is the 2022-2023 Bryant Avenue South Reconstruction Project. Between Lake Street and 50th Street W, the city has transformed a traditional two-way street into a calmer one-way corridor with a two-way protected bikeway, accessible sidewalks, and green stormwater infrastructure.
The design process engaged residents, businesses, and Metro Transit to align street function with local needs. Buses were rerouted to adjacent Lyndale Avenue, freeing space for the bikeway while maintaining transit access by a short contraflow bus lane. New curb extensions, raised crossings, and curb-level cycling tracks replaced curbside parking areas, while selective on-street parking remained near business centers. Green infrastructure now captures and treats stormwater runoff, diverting up to 30,000 gallons per storm and helping clean local creeks and lakes.The results speak for themselves. Average vehicle speeds dropped from 28 to 25 mph (45 to 40 kph), annual crashes fell by a third, and daily bike volumes nearly doubled from 361 to 710 cyclists, with a peak day exceeding 1300 bikes. Pedestrian counts have risen as well, reflecting a more comfortable, community-oriented street. Residents describe Bryant as “quiet and wonderful” and “safe for bikers, pedestrians, and everyone.” Families now ride together, children walk to school, and local shops benefit from calmer traffic and pleasant public spaces.
It’s more fun to bike as a family than be in the car! Drivers are slowing down. The street feels quiet, safe, and wonderful. – Resident feedback, As You Go MPLS Bryant Avenue Celebration 2024
