St. Paul Officials Unveil Draft For New Bike Plan

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – The City of St. Paul is releasing drafts for a new plan Tuesday to make biking around the city safer and more efficient for everyone.

Public open houses are scheduled throughout February to unveil ideas for the plan, but three preliminary ideas were announced Tuesday. St. Paul and Minneapolis are among the most popular areas for bicyclists as the Twin Cities biking community is expanding fast.

The goal is to make biking in St. Paul safer, more convenient and more accessible. The plans include to expand the St. Paul bicycling network by more than double from 144 to 358 miles of paths. There's also hopes to have a "Grand Round" biking loop that would be a path around the entire city of St. Paul. Lastly, officials aim to construct a 1.7 mile bicycle loop around Kellogg Avenue, Jackson, St. Peter and 10th Streets in the downtown area.

Those who are interested in the plans or who have concerns are encouraged to attend public meetings in St. Paul throughout February. The first is scheduled for Feb. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the El Rio Vista Recreation Center/Wellstone Community Center.