The Twin Cities and commuting

I've been down with that bronchitis that's been floating around (for the last month!), and it's put a damper on my own commuting and riding. However, I spent the last few days in the Twin Cities, and I have to say, I think they've got the Front Range beat when it comes to commuting.


If you get bored, pull up google maps, put in "Minneapolis" and hit the "bicycling" icon to pull up all the bike routes in the area - absolutely amazing! Their network is incredible, and crisscrosses all directions throughout the area. The one issue with getting around the Denver Metro area is the lack of east/west connectors, especially bike/ped only paths. But the Twin Cities has them all over the place.


Also, people just commute there. In their regular clothes. Without spandex or cycling jerseys. My husband put it well when he said "Denver has more 'hardcore' cyclists, but here people just ride". Everywhere we went there were bikes - bikes of all kinds: fixies, singlespeeds, flatbar, dropbars, road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, tricycle, big bikes, small bikes, training wheels, trailers, unicycles - you name it, we saw it! People in every sort of attire possible from jeans, to, yes, cycling jerseys and chamois. But people would just ride to places. We stopped for lunch along the Mississippi River on Nicollette Island, and people would just ride up, grab a bite and socialize, and ride off. Whole families would do it! It was AWESOME!


Bikes are just a way to get a round - it's not something you do for exercise (sure, those people were out there, too), rather, it's just a way of life. People with smiles just pedaling the paths and streets, some with messenger bags/backpacks and others with panniers (these were the obvious 'commuters' to and from work), but many just going to the store, for coffee, entertainment, to the movies or bar, or simply to socialize. It reminded me that commuting doesn't have to be, and shouldn't be, a chore. It can very easily be a way of life, as it is for the people of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It's just something you do. Not to save the world, burn some extra calories, or to reduce your carbon foot print. It's just how it is. And it made me happy to see it. I challenge you to go out and be happy - go for a ride, get a cup of joe, and wear regular shoes with some platform pedals. Enjoy!