MPLS Bicycle Master Plan Open House

I received the following announcement from the City of Minneapolis today in my email:

Bicycling Update Subscribers,

The City of Minneapolis is hosting an open house to solicit public input for a new Bicycle Master Plan. Unlike the last bicycle plan (which was approved in 2001), the 2008 plan will include goals, policies, and design guidance in addition to a map of future facilities. The plan will focus on the 6 E’s required to make a city bicycle friendly: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, Encouragement, Evaluation, and Equity. The plan will also include a prioritized list of projects and initiatives.

Bicycle Master Plan Public Open House:

Wednesday June 18, 2008

4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Room 319 City Hall

Public ideas and suggestions will be solicited at this event. A brief presentation will be given at 5PM, 6PM, and 7PM. Members of the City of Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee will be present to answer questions.

If you have any questions please contact:

Donald Pflaum, P.E., P.T.O.E.

Transportation Planner

309 2^nd Avenue South – Room 300

Minneapolis, MN 55401-2268

612-673-2129

donald.pflaum@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Happy Riding,

City of Minneapolis Bicycle Program

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I have not seen the Master Plan - I suspect it is not yet drafted and this open house is one of the early stakeholder consultations that will help to inform the plan. A copy of the outline is available on-line and I am encouraged that it recognizes that education will be a component of the Master Plan. According to the outline, they are also only two months off schedule, which is not bad. I plan to go to the open house and give them my $0.02 and see what this is all about. If you ride a bike in MPLS, I would encourage you to do the same.

FYI, you can sign up to receive your own email notices from the City on bicycle and other issues right here.