The Twin Cities are often lauded for their friendliness to bicyclists, and a recent
article in the Chicago Tribune highlights some of the top reasons for the region's reputation.
The article points out that the parks that circle Minneapolis are laced with bike paths, there's a considerable Rails-to-Trails program, and there's been increasing focus on making streets more bike-friendly.
Even the weather works to the city's benefit, the article notes. In an interview with a local bicyclist, the story pointed out that the weather is fairly good for about eight months out of the year. As for the other months, winter bicycling is on the rise as well, making the area even more amenable to bike enthusiasts.