Did you know that Franklin Avenue from Minnehaha Avenue to Hennepin Avenue sees the highest volume of bicycle traffic of any road in Minneapolis that doesn’t have a bike lane or any other type of bike facility? Although this stretch of road is less than friendly for bikers, more than 500 riders a day make it a major bike route – especially for riders traveling between the University of Minnesota and Uptown. Making Franklin Avenue a safe and convenient thoroughfare is one of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition’s key priorities for 2012.
To accomplish this, the MBC must build support, create awareness and educate the communities near Franklin Avenue…and we need your help. Volunteers are needed to connect with cyclists who regularly bike Franklin Avenue to sign a petition showing support for the project. We will host an information session Thursday, May 3 from 5 to 6 p.m. at The Nicollet, equipping volunteers with the information they need to talk with cyclists. We’re asking volunteers to either hit Franklin after receiving that information or at a time more convenient to help get petition signatures and inform bikers how to become involved in the efforts. Contact Will Cooksey, [email protected], if you want to get involved.
If flagging down bikers on Franklin Avenue isn’t your thing, there are other ways to show your support. Transit for Livable Communities is hosting a meeting 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7 at Philips Community Center (2323 11th Avenue S.) to discuss future bike and pedestrian improvements on Franklin Avenue. Please come share your ideas and show your support to make Franklin Avenue more bike-friendly.
Stay tuned for progress updates and more volunteer opportunities as we work to make Franklin a better place to bike.
