Building vibrant and thriving communities means investing in transportation options beyond personal vehicles. GPI supports initiatives that make shared and active transportation accessible to everyone, fostering healthier lifestyles, reducing congestion, and creating more connected neighborhoods while contributing to our climate goals.
Reliable shared and active transportation options are key to achieving GPI’s mission of accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment
Our focus on shared and active transportation works to address three major concerns.
Transportation equity: According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, over 13 percent of Black Minnesotans lack access to a motor vehicle compared to 3 percent of white residents, and less than 50 percent of Black households in Minnesota have access to two or more vehicles, compared to 80 percent of white households. Considering that the vast majority of transportation investments in the state focus on roads and highways, the expansion of shared and active mobility options, including transit and micromobility, is vital to ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities.
Transportation emissions and air quality: As the Twin Cities region continues to grow, so will the climate impacts produced by the transportation sector—especially without accessible and sustainable active transportation options. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, most of the air pollutants of concern today come from on- and off-road vehicles, including cars and trucks. This issue is reflected in the priorities laid out by The City of Minneapolis, which states in its Transportation Action Plan that even with the mass adoption of electric cars, the city will need to reduce automobile passenger miles by 38 percent to reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by midcentury.
Transportation costs: Car ownership should never be a requirement to access opportunities. However, a survey conducted in March 2020 by Data for Progress found that 80 percent of all Americans feel they have “no choice but to drive as much as they do.” And this reality is becoming more and more expensive for American households. A 2024 survey of drivers in the United States by MarketWatch Guides found that the average American is allocating 20 percent of their monthly income to vehicle costs, including auto loans, fuel, insurance, and maintenance, while almost 17 percent of respondents say they got a second job specifically to afford their car. The cost of auto insurance alone rose 26 percent from 2023 to 2024, according to Bankrate.
A New Vision for Bikeshare in the Twin Cities
Learning From the Past to Build the Future
Starting in 2010, Twin Cities residents used the nonprofit Nice Ride MN bike share system to make hundreds of thousands of trips yearly. Still, the operating model proved unsustainable, and Nice Ride ceased operations in 2023. GPI was selected by Nice Ride’s board of directors to receive its remaining financial assets and direct them toward developing a future system. This is an opportunity not just to rebuild bike share in the region but to reimagine bike share altogether. The Twin Cities pioneered the first wave of bike share in the US, and we intend to develop a system worth replicating once again.
Our Vision
We aim to develop a cutting-edge, carbon-neutral bike share system by drawing inspiration from the most successful and innovative programs around the world. Our vision includes fully electric bikes, smart stations with in-dock charging, and reliable year-round service—even in Minnesota’s cold climate. We will forge strong partnerships with local universities and community organizations, seamlessly integrate with public transit and other shared mobility options, and implement equity-focused programs to ensure all residents can access and enjoy the benefits of shared e-mobility.
To ensure that the benefits of bikeshare are shared broadly, equitably, and consistently, we believe that successful bike sharing must be treated more like public transportation. That means public sector control and oversight. The public sector should guide the basic framework of how and where the service functions and the rates charged, with significant public investment.
GPI’s overall approach is to ensure that the future bike share system is designed, built, and managed with equity as a primary focus, including the following:
- Access, including placing docking stations and vehicles in the communities with the greatest need for more mobility options.
- Affordability, especially for those who can least afford to pay.
- Commitment to authentic and consistent communication, including learning from and co-creating a system with underserved communities.
Our Shared Mobility Experts
Have questions? Get in touch with one of our communities experts.
Contact Us
Aaron Westling
Shared Mobility Program Manager, Transportation and Fuels
Mackenzie Love
Senior Program Manager, Communities
Brendan Jordan
Vice President, Transportation and Fuels