Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 9/1/12

A ride in the country

Taken:  9/1/12

Location:  Lewiston Blvd.

Near Hampton, MN

Turn-by-Turn Navigation for Biking Added in Latest Google Maps Update for Android Users

Google released an update for its Google Maps app on August 29th that now includes turn-by-turn Navigation for cyclists.  All of those great features that Android users have had for navigation in their cars is now available for your bike.  The update includes voice guided navigation just like it has for automobile use.  It also has an option for walking navigation.  Just select the type of navigation you would like, driving, walking or bicycling and enter your destination by speaking or typing it.

Google Maps Navigation for bicycling will plot the route to your destination, calculate mileage and estimate your travel time.  You can choose which view you would prefer between map view or satellite view.  For satellite view, tap the three bars onscreen in the lower right corner, select "layers" from the popup menu and choose satellite.  This menu also has an option to turn off voice navigation if you prefer.

 

If you are not satisfied with the route Google Maps plots for your trip, you can select "Route and alternatives" from the popup menu and it will give you alternate routes to choose from.

Once your route is chosen, there is a turn-by-turn direction list that is accessible any time by selecting "Directions list" from the popup menu.  To view your route step-by-step on the map, tap the arrow in the upper right corner.

With Street View on Google Maps, when you arrive at your destination a street view picture will pop up.  By selecting the Street View icon in the lower right corner this will give you a 360 degree view of your destination.

Remember, turn-by-turn biking directions are still in Beta so use caution when following the selected route.

Google Maps is available for free from the Google Play Store and more information about the app is available there.  Street View on Google Maps is an add on for Google Maps and is also available on the Google Play Store for free.

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival To Be Held Labor Day Weekend

Head down to La Crosse, Wisconsin Labor Day Weekend for some of the best road cycling in the Midwest.  This is the weekend of the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival.  The festival is scheduled to begin Thursday, August 30th lasting through the weekend and wrapping up on Monday, September 3rd.

The festival celebrates cycling in the scenic deep river valleys and bluffs of the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota and west central Wisconsin.  It will be a weekend of great cycling and fun family activities. 

Some of the rides scheduled for the festival include:

Coon Valley Coulee Express-57, 48, 28 miles (August 31)
Norski Tur-100, 75, 50, 25 miles (September 1)
Apple Blossom Loop-35 miles (September 2)
Driftless Region's Most Scenic Ride-75 & 36 miles (September 2)
Skull Splitter Ride (half gravel, half pavement ride)-56 miles (September 2)
Ride the Cut-80 & 55 miles (September 3)
Spinning the Goose-35 & 24 miles (September 3)

Online Registration for this free event includes a wristband good for bicycle friendly deals from downtown area businesses.

For a complete schedule of activities, click here.

MN/DOT Requests Cyclist's Feedback for Creation of 2013 State Bicycle Map

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is requesting input from cyclists who ride in Minnesota.  This feedback will put to use in the creation of the new 2013 MN Bicycle Map.  The last version of this map was produced in 2001 and is no longer in print.

You can view or print out the draft map online.  Take a look at it, share this information with fellow cyclists and take the short survey to let MN/DOT know what you think.  More than 2000 cyclists have already told MN/DOT what is most important to display on the new map.  This feedback is needed to make sure it meets cyclists needs for accuracy and usability.

The final version will be an electronic, printable map that MN/DOT can make updates to in the future.  Feedback information is being accepted through September 10, 2012.  This new map will be a great tool for cyclists planning on riding anywhere in the state of Minnesota, especially those that will be traveling long distances.

For more information, contact:
Greta Alquist
Bicycle & Pedestrian Section
651-366-4164
greta.alquist@state.mn.us

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 8/26/12

A little bit of country in the city

Taken 8/26/12

Location:  Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail

Near Minnetonka, MN

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 8/25/12

Passing by two Minneapolis landmarks

Taken 8/25/12

Location:  First Bridge Park

Near the Hennepin Avenue Bridge

Downtown Riverfront Byway District

Grand Rounds Scenic Byway

Minneapolis, MN

Trail Repair, Construction and Closure Update-8/25/12

The Martin Olav Sabo bridge was closed over the last week in order to perform work to retrofit a diaphragm plate designed to withstand fatigue that caused cracking and cable failure last winter. The new plate connects the third longest set of cables on the bridge and will be monitored over the next few months to see how it performs.  It is expected that engineers will schedule the replacement of the other diaphragm plates later in the year.  The bridge is now open until the rest of the repairs are scheduled to begin.

The Sabo bridge opens just in time to be used as a detour for the Midtown Greenway Hiawatha Spur closure that starts Monday, August 27th.  The City of Minneapolis sent out the following statement to its Bicycle and Pedestrian Update subscribers yesterday:

Starting Monday, August 27, 2012, the Midtown Greenway Hiawatha Spur will be closed. The Hiawatha Spur is the short, at-grade trail segment just east of the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and East 28^th Street. The closure is estimated to last five days and is needed to install fiber optic lines for a new Xcel Energy substation. Please follow the marked detour via the Sabo Bridge.

Keep informed of trail closures, detours and construction work by subscribing to the City of Minneapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Update.  Visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles/email-updates  and follow the instructions.

Image Credit: Dakota County

Work on the Pine Bend Bluffs segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail continues into the next week. Work will include the removal of debris, stripping the topsoil within the construction limits and the shaping and grading of the trail from 111th Street to the north and from 117th Street to the south.

If you would like to get e-mail updates on this segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail as they are posted send an e-mail to erin.borchert@co.dakota.mn.us with "Add me to the CP 97-98 (MRRT - Pine Bend) update list" in the subject line.

Repair work also continues on the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail.  The following closure information is from the MN DNR:

Image Credit:  MN DNR

Mankato section

The trail is closed from the Lime Valley Parking Lot, east past the Hwy 22 Parking Lot (also closed) to the old #12 Bridge. Lime Valley Parking Lot is open for users going South into Mankato and the city trail system. The Hwy #22 Parking Lot is closed weekdays and for westbound use of the trail on weekends. There are county and city trails that can be used to get to downtown Mankato. Users must stay out of closed areas, during repairs to culverts and the replacement of the blacktop surface. Construction is expected to be completed by Mankato section by November 2, 2012.

Image Credit:  MN DNR

Faribault to Waterville section

Crews are currently rebuilding four bridges in this area and closing off sections around the bridge work. No trail users are allowed in any work area.

On August 6, 2012 old blacktop will be removed, re-grading and replacing the blacktop surface begins. Construction is expected to be completed by October 31, 2012. Remember, for safety concerns, stay out of closed areas.

To read more about this project from one of my earlier posts, click here.  For more information and updates on the construction improvements, visit the DNR's Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail page or call the DNR Information Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 am & 4:30 pm at 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-646-6367.