After Minneapolis started being noticed as one of the nation's top cycling cities, I started taking notice of the innovations coming from there. Making cities more cycling-friendly is not just making biking desirable, it's also about making biking safe and feasible. And that means Bike Fixtation, a company offering self-service kiosks that cater to cyclists in need, which just opened its first location, in Minneapolis.
Last year, Minneapolis was named the most bike-friendly city in the United States, and for good reason. The City has a year-old bike share program and a great network of bike trails, the star of which is the Greenway, a 5.5 mile long former railroad corridor that is now highway for cyclists and pedestrians. And the location of Bike Fixtation # 1 is perfect: in a transit shelter, directly above the uber-green artery.The kiosk includes a vending machine that sells all the basics: inner tubes, patch kits, lights, plus snacks and drinks. It's also got an electric tire pump and a work stand with the tools to make repairs or adjustments to a bicycle. Open from 6am to midnight, 365 days a year, the Bike Fixtation provides a necessary service to cyclists, and removes one more obstacle on the road to becoming a a more bike-friendly world.