Regional Bikeways - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a bikeway?

This dataset identifies bikeways as routes that meet some basic criteria for bike-ability as determined by the Metro Bikeway Mapping Advisory Committee. This map includes four classes of bikeway:

striped bike lanes or a bike-able shoulder of a width of 5 feet or wider;
paved off-road trails;
non-paved off-road trails;
other/unclassified bikeways that meet some criteria for bike-ability; contact your city for more information on the composition of these bikeways.

2. What is the difference between planned and existing bikeways?

Existing bikeways are bikeways that met the requirements for classification in one of the above categories when this data was collected. Planned bikeways are bikeways that have been identified in a local comprehensive plan, capital improvement program, or other agency planning document to be constructed or striped in the future.

3. What is the spatial accuracy of the data?

Trails are aligned to MNDOT BaseMap Roads where appropriate.

The positional accuracy of the data set has not been tested under the National Standards for Spatial Data Accuracy. Trails were placed according to source information, which varied in accuracy.

Location accuracy for most of the bikeways depends on the location accuracy of the road centerlines. MNDOT derived the road centerline features from USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles and their accuracy cannot be assumed to exceed National Map Accuracy Standards for 1:24,000 scale maps (+/- 40 feet or 12 meters).

If an off-street bikeway followed along road centerlines within proximity of approximately 10-50 feet of the road centerline, the centerline was used as the source.

4. Why does the data extend beyond the Metropolitan Council’s legal jurisdiction.

This dataset is the result of a multi-agency effort that is being led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. While the Metropolitan Council is a lead partner in this effort, the full dataset extends beyond the 7-county Metropolitan Council jurisdiction.

5. What do I do if I find an error?

Please contact the local unit of government (city or township) or your local city public works or planning department, or parks department.

6. What do I do if there are no bikeways in my community?

Please contact the local unit of government (city or township) or your local city public works or planning department, or parks department.

7. Where can I get the digital data?

This digital dataset is available for download on the Metropolitan Council’s Datafinder website at http://www.datafinder.org/metadata/bikeways.htm

8. How can I get a better map or improve the data for my community?

Since the data is aggregated from local government datasets, the data needs to be created at the local level. Please contact the local unit of government (city or township) or your local city public works or planning department, or parks department.

9. Can I get a printed version of this map?

Printed versions of this map are available from the Metropolitan Council’s Data Center for a fee of $10 per map. Visit the Data Center at the Metropolitan Council, 390 Robert Street North, St Paul, MN 55101 or fill out an online order form.

10. My computer freezes up each time I attempt to view the map is there another way to view the data?

The problem is probably related to your internet connection. The bikeways map PDFs are very large files. Users on slower connections may experience “timeout” problems with these files. We are currently working on the development of an interactive tool for this information to alleviate this problem. Unfortuneately, this tool is currently unavailable .