A member-based group of individuals and organizations who want to protect and enhance the Midtown Greenway.
 
Help protect your greenway and make it even better!
 

Safety Resources

Safety Tips for Trail Users

The Midtown Greenway is a safe place to be: the Greenway sees 1.5 million trips by cyclists each year, and there are very few incidences of crime. In fact, there is less crime reported in the Greenway than in nearby neighborhoods.  Nonetheless, it is always important to be aware of one's surroundings and take precautions after dark, and there are simple ways to be prepared.  

As a general rule, it's always better to ride with a buddy or in a group. But if that's just not feasible, here are some things you can do to increase your safety:

  • Look ahead on the trail, and if you see something that makes you uncomfortable (a group of people, a few loitering individuals, etc), turn around. Going a little out of your way is better than getting into an unsafe situation. And trust your instincts--if your gut is telling you a situation should be avoided, listen to it!
  • Similarly, if you safely ride past a loitering group but are concerned about the group, do the cyclists and pedestrians behind you a favor by pulling over at a safe distance and calling 911.
  • It's always a good idea to carry a cell phone to know where you are on the trail, should you need to report an incident, but don't forget, there are also Blue Safety phones along the trail.
  • If something looks suspicious, call 911. It is better to be safe than sorry.
  • Visibility is important for safety -- Make sure you have proper lights on your bike! You need a white light in the front and a red light or reflector in the back (it's actually illegal to not have lights on your bike!) This significantly increases your safety as well as the safety of other trail users, who might not otherwise see you in some of the darker sections of the Greenway.


Remember that the more people who use the Greenway at night, the safer it becomes!

Click here if you're interested in learning more about our Trail Watch program, and email trailwatch@midtowngreenway.org if you'd like to start volunteering.

Safety and Trail User Resources

Online  crime report:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/police/report/eReport/index.htm

Reporting streetlights out or request one:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/streetlighting/streetlighting_issues

General 311 issues:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/311/online/311_complete-services

Report sidewalk issues (trail maintenance, shoveling, etc.):
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/sidewalks/sidewalks_sidewalk-issues

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