[MINNEAPOLIS, MN] – More people than ever before are riding bicycles in Minnesota. That’s why the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) is rolling out the 2021 edition of the Minnesota Bicycling Handbook just in time for National Bike Month in May and to support people riding their bike for the first time or returning to it. The handbook is a comprehensive informational resource that equips bicyclists of all skill levels to safely enjoy Minnesota’s roads and trails and to know their rights. The handbook also provides guidance for motorists on what to expect from bicyclists and how to safely drive when bikes are around.
“Motor vehicle travel declined in the past year and biking and walking increased yet Minnesota continues to see increases in crashes, especially crashes with pedestrians, a trend that had started before and has been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Dorian Grilley, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s Executive Director. “There clearly needs to be more education for all users about how to share Minnesota’s roads and trails safely. We think this resource does just that.”
Many bicyclists feel that Minnesota bike law is not straightforward and that it can be challenging to ride a bicycle both safely and legally, especially given some of the nuances in state statutes around bicycling. The Minnesota Bicycling Handbook provides 36 pages of Minnesota-specific information and digs into the details of many complicated topics, such as lane positioning, roadway and bike lane markings, bike law, equipment, bicyclists’ rights, and more.
This is the only place this information has been captured and put into one resource. BikeMN printed a record 50,000 handbooks and is in the process of distributing them across the state. The handbook is available to view, download digital copies, and order physical copies at www.bikemn.org/handbook.
The 2021 handbook is made possible with support from AAA Minnesota, Anoka County, Bike Thief River Falls, Bike Law Minnesota, Dan Brazil Law Group, DERO, Digi-Key, Discover Austin Minnesota, Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Health, Pedal Fergus Falls, Quality Bicycle Products, Ramsey County, Three Rivers Park District, University of Minnesota Parking & Transportation Services, and Visit Fergus Falls.
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