Hello MN Cargo Bike Library friends,
We’ve got some great updates for you below.
- August Orientation
- New Cargo Bike Library Branch Coming to Rochester
- July Bookings Now Open
- Program Reminders
- Upcoming Events
August Orientation
Registration is now open for August orientation for folks who subscribe to our mailing list (you!). Visit the link below to register and use password: bikes!
- Minneapolis: Saturday, August 8th from 3-4pm (password: bikes!)
New Cargo Bike Library Branch Coming to Rochester
Did you catch us in the Star Tribune and Rochester Post Bulletin? We’re so excited to announce that (thanks to grant funding and staff support from BikeMN) we are opening a new cargo bike library branch in Rochester! The first orientation for this branch will be held on Monday, June 22nd from 6-7:30pm. Rochester residents can register here.
We are actively applying for grants to hopefully help us expand to St. Paul, Duluth and other cities in the years to come. If you have any leads/ideas for funding opportunities, please reach out via our contact form.
July Bookings Now Open
Our July bookings are now open to everyone who has completed an orientation (in 2025 or 2026). If you are signed up for our August orientation, you’ll get access to book bikes on our site following your orientation.
The bikes listed below are available this month and are listed within the new branches pages, allowing you to more clearly see which bikes live at which cargo bike library branch locations. If you are having any trouble using your account, please reach out so we can help.
Please be sure to closely read over the description of the bike you’re looking at to ensure it will fit you, your needs and your schedule re: check in/out days. We do occasionally rotate bikes in/out and between the 2 Minneapolis locations (Lyndale & Brackett Park) depending on demand, storage, if bikes are out for maintenance/repairs, etc.
Program Reminders
Check In/Check Out Times Changed: Please note: our check in/check out dates and times have changed from last year!
Check Out:
- Both locations: Thursday @ 6:30pm
Check In:
- Lyndale: Tuesday 6:30pm (+ no contact drop off option for earlier drop off)
- Brackett Park: Wednesday by 7pm
To protect our volunteer capacity to run the program, please do NOT book a bike if you are not able to check it out Thursday between 6:30-7pm. We do not have volunteer capacity to offer custom/rescheduled check out times, so if you’re not able to be there at that time we will need to cancel. Check out is rain or shine (as long as there’s not lightning/severe weather). Each bike listing has details on the bike itself (payload capacity, battery range, etc), which location it’s at + check in/out days/times, so be sure to review that before booking a bike. If your schedule changes at any point prior to your loan, you can cancel your booking directly through our website.
As a reminder, all bikes need to be transported by riding them to/from our locations – we do not allow members to transport bikes in a car (for safety and liability reasons), so please plan to walk, take transit, get a ride from a friend, or use bikeshare. OR – if you have a folding bike, most of our bikes can easily transport a folding bike in the cargo area with some straps!
For safety reasons, we do not permit members to install or uninstall accessories on the bikes (like child seats). We can make some limited modifications to install or uninstall kid seats, depending on volunteer availability, but please choose the bike that is set up to most closely fit your needs (based on the photo/description) and reach out to us at info@mcbl.bike ahead of your loan to see if we can help meet any individual needs you have re: different accessories.
If you want to volunteer or have any questions, ideas, feedback for us please don’t hesitate to email us via the contact form on our site or directly at info@mcbl.bike.
Upcoming Events
We hope to see many of you at the following events.
- Kenny Neighborhood Ice Cream & Green Fair: Thursday, June 18th 6-8pm
- July Orientation: Wednesday, July 15 @ 7-8pm
- August Orientation: Saturday, August 8 @ 3-4pm
- State Fair Eco Experience Building: August 27-September 7
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