Bicycle Friendly Community

Rochester, MN | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: The City of Rochester has planned and implemented a vision for a core trail system organized around the network of rivers and streams bisecting the city referred to as the River Trails System. This has led to the development of over 92 miles of off-road trails, paths and bike lane facilities that link many of the neighborhoods in the city to major park facilities and the general area of the Central Business District.  The city completed a Downtown Bicycle Study in 2009 which will enhance the connection of the existing trail and path network to major employers and other destinations such as the City Library in the downtown area. The city plans to construct an additional 237 miles of paths and trails in the next 5 years. The Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee is actively involved in education and promotion efforts targeting elementary school children and families. BPAC priorities also include planning community bike events such as Bike4Fun, promoting downtown bike parking, and working on development of walking/cycling city maps. There are a number of annual events, such as a bike to school program in the month of October. The Mayo Clinic conducts a Bicycle Safety Fair every year and Olmsted County hosts a number of community bicycling events.