Commuters, Tourists and Strollers
On any given day you might find people commuting to work, tourist biking throughout the city from around the nation or parents pushing babies in strollers along the Midtown Greenway. The short five-mile bike trail and pedestrian track built on an old railroad welcomes 5,000 people a day for 5,000 different reasons. It is called a greenway because the planners sought to take a drab railway ditch and turn it into a green transportation corridor that would bring people together. Much of the sides of the ditch are now covered with flower gardens, grassy knolls and art works. Take a ride with us from the west end of the Greenway.
The Lakes
Let’s begin our journey on the Midtown Greenway between where the western portion of the Grand Rounds cuts between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles.
Uptown
The crossing of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street mark the popular Uptown District of restaurants, shops and boutiques. We can access Uptown at Humboldt, Irving and James Avenues.
Lyn-Lake
Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street offer more restaurants and stores as well as a classic bowling alley with a live theatre just off the Bryant Avenue ramp.
Nicollet
Some eat to bike, others bike to eat but every one that has visited the Eat Street section of Nicollet Avenue agrees this stretch of road is eating at its best. Whether you like African, Asian, Classic American, Malaysian, French or German you will find it here.
4th Avenue
The dining and tempo of 4th Avenue is much more Mexican than the rest of Lake Street with restaurants, shops and markets lining the way. You can access this area from the 5th Avenue at-grade access.
Chicago & Lake
Take the 29th Street exit to the halfway point of the Greenway you will see the old Sears Building that now serves as part of the Allina Commons and Midtown Global Market with vendors selling wares and means from around the world. There is also a bike center where commuters store and repair bikes, travelers drink coffee and look over the newest bike models. You can also visit the Midtown Greenway Coalition’s offices here. South of here you will find Powderhorn Park.
Sabo Bridge
The 2,200-foot Martin Olav Sabo Bridge is the first cable-stayed suspension bridge in the state and perhaps the most beautiful bridge when lit up at night.
Grand Rounds
The Greenway connects on the east with the Grand Rounds trail running along the Mississippi River where bikers can connect with the University of Minnesota and the Arch Bridge to the North and Minnehaha Park and Fort Snelling to the south.
