7. Minneapolis, MN

Clean Air, Big Plans

Hybrid-driving Mayor R.T. Rybak dreams of bequeathing to his grandkids the city he grew up in… exactly as he knew it: "a place where you can hop on a bike, swim in a clean lake, and then ride down parkways to see two waterfalls and amazing wildlife ... without leaving the city limits." Mayor Rybak is committed to sustaining this Midwestern jewel of a city, set in the middle of farm country on the banks of the Mississippi, well into the next century. He’s got plenty of support from hearty Minneapolitans, who help make it one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, though the mercury rarely rises above 20 degrees in the winter. This same resolve is found among grassroots neighborhood groups, which receive city Climate Change grants for projects tackling global warming. One group handed out clotheslines to neighbors; another taught Somali refugees to ride bicycles along the 5.5 mile Midtown Greenway, built on an old rail line that cuts through south Minneapolis. Having tripled its number of farmers markets since 2006, residents have better access to healthy, local produce. They’ll also benefit from a strengthened land use and development policy that encourages dense, green development along transit corridors.

(Photo by Dawn Easterday)

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City Study 2008: Minneapolis Articles

Minneapolis Speaks: Q&A with City Officials

In August of 2008, SustainLane spoke with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak along with Gayle Prest, the city’s sustainability coordinator. One of the programs that most impressed us in the City of Lakes is one that offers grants to neighborhood groups and other organizations doing work in the area of climate change. One group taught Somali refugees to ride bicycles along the city’s Midtown Greenway, a bikeway built along a former railroad line. Mayor Rybak told us that sustainability was central to his platform when he was elected in 2001 and that it continues to be a core issue in his administration.more »

Minneapolis Harnesses Citizens' Power

We here at SustainLane are willing to wager that when you moved into your new apartment last year, no one showed up on your doorstep with a platter of macaroons, and a warm welcome to the neighborhood. Are we right? If only you lived in Minneapolis. We’re not sure if any of the residents in the city’s Linden Hills neighborhood can bake a decent macaroon, but one thing’s certain: within days of your arrival, they’ll know your name, and they’ll know what kind of light bulb you use.more »

Bike Cafe

In Minneapolis, evidence of a growing bike culture is found in the handful of bicycle cafes that have sprung up, like the CRC Coffee Bar in the city’s Uptown area. According to its blog, the café is dedicated to the city’s cycling and caffeine culture. You can buy coffee, lunch, or a refurbished bike. Here, Minneapolis resident Angela Kim poses in front of the coffee bar with her bicycle, Buttercup.more »

Hello Deli! Sustainable, Local and Downright Delicious (or so we hear)

Danny Shwartzman’s concept was simple: to serve organic, locally-grown, seasonal food in an informal setting, at affordable prices. Think Chez Panisse meets the 1950s diner. The catch? The 26-year-old wanted to launch his business in Minneapolis, known better for crushing winters than an inviting growing season.more »