Fred's Bike/walk Page
City of Minneapolis Bicycle Program has many useful links. "Where to Ride" link goes to page with
maps - online and where to get printed ones including the great Hennepin County Bike map.
City of Minneapolis Pedestriain Program Similar resources for walking.
Transit for Livable Communities advocating for buses, light rail, commuter rail in Minnesota
Walkscore site calculates a number that reflects the distance to destinations within walking distance for an
address one enters. It is a fairly rough calculation using information from Google. Choosing where to live
in a location with most destinations in walking / biking distance greatly reduces the potential
environmental/energy transportaion impact. Of course routes to work destinations are very significant.
North Minneapolis Bikeways
Plans for Luce Line Bikepath from Douglas Drive in Golden Valley to Wirth Parkway A key link west from Minneapolis.
1999 picture of Blue bike lanes in Denmark which are used (only) at some intersections.
Note also in the foreground) that bike lane has curb between it and vehicle lanes as well
as between it and sidewalk. BTW note that bus has 3 doors to speed stops.
Special Twin Cities bike shops - used, recumbent, public workshops
Calhoun Cycle Uptown area. One of the nations largest recumbent and folding bicycle dealers.
Edina Bike Shop Lower cost recumbents.
Express Bike Shop - St Paul Community based used bikes / training.
Grease Pit Bike Shop Free public workshop - little retail.
Hub bike Shop Coop bike shop, two locations, Cedar Riverside, Hiawatha & Lake area site has public workshop
Sibley Bike Depot - St Paul Member based nonprofit bicycle advocacy organziation and public repair/education facility.
Varsity Bike Shop - Dinkytown Has air and basic tools tethered on sidewalk for basic repairs.
Fred's bike design and recumbent bikes it evolved from.
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle which places the pedals in front rather than below the rider.
The back of the rider is supported. Many recumbent riders find them easier and more comfortable to ride.
FUS Earthday bike rides: 2007 (no ride) 2006 2005 2005,2 2004
Fred's Bike Blog
10/07 This image, 4 bike vertical rack , is a mockup that attempts to illustrate an idea for a bike
rack that holds bikes vertically and overlapping side to side by having alternate bikes higher
thus allowing bikes to be stored more densely. This is probably more dense than realistic since
the bikes are all the same. I expect that only with experience will it be possible to arrive at
a practical density. Maybe some racks set up at different density for different bikes -- mostly
touring bikes vs mountain bikes and maybe different style handlebars. I would hope that the
rack could be used for short wheelbase (about 40" between axles) recumbent bikes. These
would only be used where there are many bikes parked like around dorms. There will be need for
some conventional racks for bikes and riders for whom these racks don't work. Bicyclists can be
given incentive to use them such as availability of space, proximity, maybe reserved spots,
maybe shelter from rain. Note that in some ways bikes are actually more maneuverable when they
are walked vertically than walked conventionally since one can walk behind the bike and thus
maneuver in a narrower space. I often walk my bike into the garage on end (where I have a
vertical rack).
In this image:
o red by the front tires represents hooks
o longer red line by the stem represents the top of a loop tub which
the bike can be locked to and which stablizes the bike side to side
( see crude attempt at a side view of bike in vertical rack )
o lower red is a channel where the rear tire sits.
o Not shown is a ramp for the raised bikes to roll up into position.
Note that Dero Bike Rack Co. (here in Mpls) has a bike rack something like this
Dero Space Saver which is used mostly indoors that stores bikes 16" apart.
Also their Track Rack has hooks suspended from trolleys that allow you to push neighboring bikes
apart when hanging or removing a bike so bikes can be stored about 8" apart.
7/07 Today I picked up a large yellow Schwinn bike from a friend with an adaptation to the
trailer I use haul water and supplies to the garden. I mounted a "tray" that is normally used
on a car top rack on the trailer - the kind that keeps both wheels on and has a brace that clamps
on the down tube. Bike on trailer
6/07 pondering conversion of a used aluminum "women's" frame with 7-speed hub and internal brakes
to a recumbent... Replace forks with those for 20" bike for a 20" wheel. Mount a strong tube to
support cranks out front and seat (red line in picture): Yellow aluminium bike
Compare to this 29 pound Volae with 650 C wheels
Compare to this to this Vision VR-50 USS Short WheelBase with Underseat steering recumbent
bike for sale in Aug '07 for $695 (It was sold before I saw it) Note that it has Full Suspension
This page is maintained by Fred H Olson email: fholson at cohousing.org
Fred's Link page