In this edition...
  • Car-Free MSP is Sept. 21-23
  • New Metro Transit Residential Pass
  • Nice Ride For All on Campus
  • FlexPass U of M Study
For the sixth year, Move Minneapolis celebrates World Car-Free Day - a day to imagine transportation without being dependent on the automobile. Move Minneapolis presents Car-Free MSP 2021 with three days of virtual and in-person events September 21 – 23.

After 18 Months, What’s New?
Today’s workforce does not have to go back to a stressful, congested, carbon-heavy, pre-pandemic mindset of drive-alone commuting. Move Minneapolis can help you and your workplace during Car-Free MSP…and beyond. We can help provide a little transportation coaching and offer some new commuting tools.

Celebrate Car-Free MSP, September 21 – 23

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST: Join us for a WEBINAR:
"(When You) Return To Downtown"

For the past 18 months the pandemic closed most downtown offices, employees teleworked from home. About one third of the workforce is now back at the office, more are returning on a staggered schedule this fall and winter. As much as COVID has had a devastating impact on us all, workers returning to the office will find some welcome improvements to their commutes. This webinar highlights the new programs and infrastructure that didn’t exist pre-pandemic. Improvements to make the “return to downtown” easier, faster, and more climate friendly. Join this lively discussion about new transportation options employers and employees will want to know about.
 
  • Metro Transit has discounted all rides for Sept – Oct
  • Transit expanded service into the North Loop
  • The Orange Line (BRT) from Burnsville to downtown is set to launch in the fall
  • The Lake Street Transit Station opening just weeks from now
  • ABC Ramps Mobility Hub expanded its sustainable commuting options
  • New downtown off-street bike lanes cross downtown
  • A new Bike & Ride provides bicycle commuters with FREE secure park bike parking
 
WEBINAR Speakers:
  • Yumi Nagaoka, Outreach Coordinator, Metro Transit
  • Juan Rangel, Community Outreach Coordinator, Metro Transit
  • Michel Wong, Marketing Manager, ABC Ramps Mobility Hub
  • Tony Drollinger, Commuter Programs Specialist, Metro Transit 
 
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 11 am – 1 pm: Grand Opening of the Bike & Ride

Join the grand opening celebration of the new Bike & Ride secure bike facility just off Twins Plaza in Ramp B. It's free to use by registering any Metro Transit fare card. Tour the facility, register a free access card, and get a pair of Metro Transit bike socks! Visit Bike & Ride info

Thursday, Sept. 23, 11 am – 1 pm: Car-Free MSP on Nicollet Mall

Bike, bus, or carpool to Nicollet Mall for a full block devoted to easy, affordable, climate friendly transportation. Adjacent to the Thursday farmers market, we'll be at 8th Street and Nicollet Mall. 

  • Nice Ride/Lyft: Scooter & E-bike Rodeo – Test a Lyft Scooter / Nice Ride E-bike for free!
  • Transportation Exhibitors – Talk to the transit, bike commuting, and carpool experts, and collect some cool swag!
  • Free Bike Safety Checks – Bring your bike! BiciXicas bike mechanics will give safety checks and bike adjustments 



A New Transit Pass Program for Apartment, Condo Dwellers is Rolling out this Month
Metro Transit is launching a new Residential Pass Program! Some apartment and condominium owners will soon add passes that allow residents to ride transit for free to their list of amenities. After a successful 2019 pilot, Metro Transit wants to grow the Residential Pass program to include more multi-family properties located on transit lines.

Through this unique program, multifamily properties that purchase 1 pass per unit will be eligible to purchase unlimited ride transit passes for $14 per month/pass, which is an 88% discount from the full price of $120 per month for each pass. As the owner of the pass, a property manager will have the direct ability to cancel passes when tenants leave and order new passes for new tenants.

This program will provide a benefit to transit-oriented housing by helping attract and retain residents. During the program pilot, 100% of survey respondents said they would choose to live at a property that provides this amenity over one that does not. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Michael Krantz at Michael.Krantz@metrotransit.org.
Learn about Nice Ride for All student enrollment at the University of Minnesota's Welcome Week!
Look for the Nice Ride booth in front of Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave SE on Friday, September 3rd, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm AND Tuesday, September 7th, 9 am - 2 pm

  • Most students who receive financial aid qualify for the $5 annual membership
  • Check out the Nice Ride E-bikes and Lyft scooters on-site
  • Cool Nice Ride bike swag
FlexPass for Better Commuting Options
There is a new commuting program offered at ABC Ramps. Called FlexPass, it’s offered as part of a University of Minnesota research study to test more flexible commuting options, including telecommuting and transit. 
 
With FlexPass, you can get guaranteed parking for less and easily combine unlimited transit if you’d like. There are two FlexPass contracts offered during the research study:

  • FlexPark for $90 per month Get guaranteed parking 14 days per month with in-and-out privileges on those days.
  • FlexPlus for $125 per month. Get the same benefits as the FlexPark contract plus unlimited transit. Take the bus or light rail as often as you want, weekdays and weekends, and get discounted fares on Northstar.
 
Plus, you can receive an Amazon e-gift card (up to $100) for completing trip and activity data collection during the study.
 
The research study is open to anyone interested in a monthly contract at ABC Ramps in downtown Minneapolis, including existing contract holders at ABC Ramps. Those with existing parking contracts at municipal parking ramps are not eligible to participate.
 
As a study participant, you’ll be asked to complete an enrollment survey, log your activity details for two weeks, and complete an exit survey. The study will end December 31, 2021. FlexPass contracts will be active through December 2021. More information about the time commitment is included on the Enrollment Web Page.
 
Read more about FlexPass and enroll at flexpass.umn.edu.

Move Minneapolis is a 501c4 nonprofit that promotes sustainable transportation.

Support is provided by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, Hennepin County, and the downtown community.