The Metropolitan Council and MnDOT are conducting a series of public meetings requesting public input to an ongoing regional Bicycle System Master Study. Their goal is to improve the region’s network of on-road and off-road facilities, particularly working to link regional destinations and urban and suburban work centers.

One of the purposes of the study is to define a regional plan of bikeways, and piece together the current mish-mash of city, county and park trails. As such, they’re seeking the following inputs from users:

• What are some important bicycle trip origins and destinations?
• Where are there gaps and barriers to bicycle travel?
• What routes do people use today?
• What trips would people like to be able to make by bicycle, but cannot due to system gaps?

There are multiple listening sessions planned in the coming weeks:

Apple Valley: April 15, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Apple Valley Community Center
14603 Hayes Road, Apple Valley

White Bear Lake: April 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
White Bear Lake Library
4698 Clark Avenue, White Bear Lake

Plymouth: April 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Plymouth Library
15700 36th Avenue N, Plymouth

Chanhassen: April 25th, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Chanhassen Recreation Center
32310 Coulter Blvd, Chanhassen

As you can see, the scheduled sessions are focused to outer ring suburbs with various connectivity issues to the central metro, such as missing river crossings or oddly configured transit. If you have experience or thoughts about the connection of these places to the greater metro via bicycle, consider attending one of these meetings!