A friend just told me he heard the tail end of a news segment in which they were talking about cyclists being mugged on the Cedar Lake Trail in Minneapolis. I don't wish to start any rumors but I ride that trail daily to and from work so I'd like to know if anyone knows anything about this. Thanks.

I head some people talking at a LBS. I guess 4 teenagers beat up a guy on a road bike. I don't know if they stole the bike or not, but it sounded like a random act of violence.

I haven't heard about this, I too, ride the Cedar lake trail. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't closer to down town end of the trail, where it starts near the bus depot and the Salvation Army. There have been any number of days I've ridden out of downtown and found drunk/passed out derilict sorts on the trail. I try not to catagorize folks but these people are basically homeless, and looking for a drink. I work with some of them when they sober up. It's tough cause when they get some sobriety they really are good people.

I've also noticed some youths further out on the trail around highway 100 like to sit/lay in the trail. It's a hassle, and I've wondered what they might've been up to.

Know the Greenway has the emergency boxes, but Cedar doesn't have any. Hmm.

Where'd you get you're avatar?

I took a picture of it with my digital, and edited it to use.

Hey, where does that trail start and stop anyway? I live close to downtown. Where do I get on and where will it take me?

Which trail? Cedar Lake Commuter Trail? The Cities are strange, for those who don't live here, we have a great system of bike paths in and around the city. There is a Talk Show host that calls this the thrid grid. One of the commuter trails is the Greenway, it has recently been compleated out towards the western suburbs, it runs along an old rail line, and future plans include paving the route to allow bus traffic along the corridor. You can hop on this trail from down town off of Nicolete ave. If you go west you'll pass other entrances, and two other trail systems. One will take you around the lakes that "The City of Lakes" is known for. A ways from this is another trail that takes a right and heads north where it combines with another trail that will take you into down town where the Metro Transit System has a bus barn and Grayhound has a depot. If you take a left on this trail in stead of right you can travel west on a pathed route that will take you almost all the way to hiway 169 it will turn south along the hiway and eventually drop you in Hopkins just north of another trail that will take you out to more suburbs or back into town. I know this is long and doesn't make much sense unless you live here, but if you are planning a short trip, try the Twin Cities. We have lakes to fish, rivers to kyak, woods to explore, and miles of bike paths.

Ok, I have been on the trail that runs from Hopkins and runs out at Kix Field around Portland Ave. in Minneapolis. That was nice. So there is a trail that starts out at the Metro Transit Garage and goes to Hopkins? I would like to ride that starting in Minneapolis and going to Hopkins, and then back on the other trail. Is there a place you know of either on line or somewhere else where I can gets maps to show me where they begin and end and what they are called? Thanks.

Not sure if there is an updated map on line or not. I have had a difficult time getting the TC bike map to come up. My best suggestion is follow the Greenway to where it goes under Lake Street, there is a right hand turn there, that will take you up to Cedar Lake, cross the road and follow it to I think it's 21st or 23rd, where the old bare a55 beach used to be, that continues up to where there is a "Y" left you can go out through St Louis Park and down along 169 to Hopkins, or right you'll hit down town Minneapolis, and know where the trail starts.
The "Hopkins Loop" I like to call it is like 15-17 miles.

OT: naisme, are you a WW kayaker? I've been a sea kayaker since I lived on the Georgia Coast (ie real sea kayaking in surf etc, not Minneapolis pond paddling) and I've been wanting to take up ww kayaking. Any suggestions on where to go, places to rent boats, etc? Thanks.

Nope, I don't kayak, my step brother is a big river kayaker. He's been working on trying to get a kayak park built on the Mississippi river in the area around the Stone Arch Bridge. He goes up North for kayaking up there, I don't have any particulars, and he's kayaked in Guatemala.
I have a cousin who lives in Steam Boat, works a ski rental during the winter and guides white water rafting in the summer. I have yet to experience that either.