Statewide Bicycle+ System Plan
Image Credit: Waqar AhmadIntroduction
Image Credit: Waqar AhmadMinnesota has a long and proud history as one of our country's most bicycle friendly states. The Statewide Bicycle+ System Plan is a helpful guiding document to help Minnesota continue to improve.
A lot has changed since the statewide bicycle plan was last updated in 2016 (PDF). Many more people began bicycling for transportation and recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. More people are using newer transportation devices including scooters, e-bikes, and e-skateboards in communities across Minnesota.
The 2016 plan and the District Bicycle Plans that followed established the Statewide Bicycle Route Network, a network of envisioned connections that link destinations throughout the state by bicycle. The statewide priority corridors are not anticipated to change as part of this update. Instead, this update will build on the previous plans to identify and remove barriers at MnDOT that make it harder to build safe, comfortable, convenient places to bike.
The updated Statewide Bicycle+ System Plan (Bike+ Plan) will develop vision, goals, and strategies for MnDOT’s role in supporting bicycling and bike-like modes statewide.
Why the +?
The Statewide Bicycle+ System Plan (Bike+ Plan) includes bikes + bike-like modes. Bike-like modes are other human scale transportation devices that share a similar mass and velocity (kinetic energy, yay science!) to people on bicycles and include folks who are already legally using most types of bicycle facilities found in Minnesota.
Bikes = conventional bikes, cargo bikes, e-bikes, tricycles, recumbent bikes
Bike-like modes = conventional and e foot scooters, conventional and electric skateboards, electric unicycles, etc.
Goals
This plan will align with state transportation policy including Minnesota GO, reflect evolving trends and conditions, and aim to achieve the following goals:
- Create safer and more enjoyable places to bike in Minnesota
- Identify MnDOT's role in improving bikeways on Trunk Highways, routes that cross Trunk Highways, and facilitating local and regional efforts
- Build internal capacity within MnDOT to advance biking
- Develop an understanding of current and emerging trends with e-bikes and bike-like devices
Get engaged
Ask us a question. Be on the lookout for engagement events summer 2026.
During the first phase of engagement, MnDOT talked to community members throughout Minnesota to learn how they currently bike or use bike-like modes, and what barriers they encounter. This included 15 pop-up events throughout the state, meetings with the Diverse Bicycling Perspectives (DBP) advisory group, and feedback from more than 1,176 survey respondents. Below is a summary of what we heard from people who bike or use bike-like modes:
Motivation to ride:
- Health: Many associated biking with being physically active, healthy, and feeling mentally refreshed; describing it as stress-relieving because of physical movement and a connection to nature.
- Fun: Community members highlighted biking and using bike-like modes as a social activity that allows them to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Many described it as a relaxing, enjoyable way to travel, and emphasized that routes where people can bike together comfortably help sustain interest in biking.
- Convenience: High-quality, well-maintained trails and bicycle facilities support biking and bike-like modes as a comfortable and enjoyable option. Many community members shared that electric “e-bikes” made it easier, faster, and more enjoyable to bike further and navigate challenging terrain.
Barrier to ride:
- Safety: Safety concerns remain the most significant barrier for bicycling and using bike-like modes to travel. Many described being uncomfortable on busy roads, unsafe highway crossings, and gaps in protected bicycle facility networks.
- Access: Owning, maintaining, and securely storing bicycles and bike-likes modes are critical barriers for many community members. Lack of access to affordable bicycles, repair services, or safe bicycle parking limited their ability to ride.
- Connectivity: A lack of continuous bicycle trails and bicycle infrastructure is a significant barrier for community members. A complete network that connects schools, parks, workplaces, and commercial areas is essential for daily travel and recreational use.
Click to read: Full Phase 1 Engagement Summary.
What's Next?
Let’s Talk Survey
We took your feedback and developed 8 strategies that will help guide the different short and long-term policies, goals, and outcomes in the plan. We are seeking your input on these strategies – which ones you would prioritize, and how well you think they would impact your ability to bike and roll. This survey will take about ten minutes to complete. We encourage you to share the survey with your community.
Take the survey by clicking this link: Strategy Concepts Survey
Bicycle+ System Plan Update Partner Focus Groups
We are seeking community organizations, bicycling and bike-like mode advocacy groups, or recreational groups and clubs to help gather input on the developed strategies by hosting a short group input activity. The format is adaptable and meant to meet community members where they are – your community centers, homes, virtual meeting spaces, or trailheads – with the goal of having more local voices incorporated into the plan.
Does this sound interesting to you or your organization? Please fill out this short form if interested in learning more about this opportunity to share your input and a project team member will reach out to you: Partner Survey
Contacts
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Phone (651) 366-4180 Email caroline.ketcham@state.mn.us
