Twin Cities bike culture just got cooler

Here at Good Work Group, we like to think about what sort of qualities that make cities livable. Recently, Minneapolis released the Living Well report, its annual progress report tracking quality of life factors.

And it looks like we are improving on front lines of decreasing violent crime, offering more affordable housing, and encouraging residents to adopt alternative forms of commute like biking, walking, and public transit. While progress is good, we can always strive to do better.

A lack of mobility within a city is one thing that frustrates many residents. With the rising price of gas, many are feeling the pinch and are looking for other ways of getting around the city. What caught our eye and means good news for true alternative mobility was a recent addition to the Twin Cities bike culture – a vending machine that sells bike parts!

There are vending machines for soda pop and TV dinners and, in China, there is one even for live crabs. But in Minneapolis, we hail the arrival of Bike Fixation. Located within the Uptown Transit Station on Hennepin Avenue, the self-service repair kiosk is complete with a bicycle stand with tethered tools for easy repairs and an air compressor for filling flat tires.

The concept is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs, Chad DeBaker and Alex Anderson, who, after a particularly frustrating flat-tire experience, spawned the idea. The best-selling items from this red machine are tubes for remedying an inconvenient flat that would frustrate even the most mild-mannered cyclist. You could also buy cold drinks and small snacks for quick nourishment.

The addition of Bike Fixation is yet another testament to the Twin Cities’ commitment to providing easy access to alternative transportation options. Besides being named the number one city for biking in America by the Bicycling magazine–one-upping our perpetual competitor, Portland– the Midtown Greenway reveals why our bike culture is thriving. Convenience in and an ease for getting out of our cars and onto the sidewalks and bike lanes makes the switch less painful.

In fact, biking is actually good for the economy. And let’s not leave out the health and emotional benefits of ditching our fuel-guzzlers.

If you are new to the bike/walk scene, Bike Walk Twin Cities is a great resource for getting started. Check out their website and learn how to get around safely and explore different routes. To help grow the bike culture here, the organization also launched the Bike Walk Move campaign to support an active lifestyle. (Did you know that on average, it costs a family $8,000 per year for each car it owns?_

Besides creating health and economic benefits, we see walking and biking as a community-building and engagement exercise that improves our connection to the city, one neighborhood at a time. So slow down and explore the city! You will be amazed to discover that hole-in-the-wall restaurant or a cool mural that you would have missed driving all the time.

For more info, check out  this cool infographic.

Better yet, go take a Nice Ride.

–By Clem Auyeng