MN Cargo Bike Library

FAQs

What is the MN Cargo Bike Library?

The MN Cargo Bike Library is a community/volunteer-run program through the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), made possible through partnerships with Cyclehoop, the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and a grant from the Minneapolis Foundation. Our goal is to ensure Minnesota residents have the knowledge, skills and resources to safely and confidently replace car trips.

We have a small fleet of electric cargo bikes that members can borrow FREE for about a week. Prior to borrowing a bike, each member participates in our one-hour orientations, focused on bike safety and tips for riding, maintaining and securing e cargo bikes. For more information on our impact so far, see our 2025 end of year report.

What are the program requirements?

  • Live in the same city as the library branch (so Minneapolis borrowers must live in Minneapolis, Rochester borrowers must live in Rochester, etc.).
  • Complete the 1 hour in-person orientation, and sign a waiver.
  • Have a place to lock the bike (garage, indoors, fenced backyard or public bike parking near your home) & commit to locking up the bike & removing the battery (to take with you) at all times you aren’t riding it. We will provide you with a lock.
  • Agree to pick up and drop off your rental at the designated times, fully charged, and with all accessories (charger, keys, lock, panniers, etc.).

How does the rental process work?

  1. Attend orientation, sign the waiver & follow email prompts to set up your account on our site.
  2. Visit the “Branches” page to book a bike – make sure you’re logged in!
  3. Pick up the bike: Unless otherwise noted, plan to pick up your bike at 6:30pm on Thursday.
  4. Do your ABC quick check before every ride. Ride it as you’d like for the week, locking it up securely when not in use (including when in a locked garage). Charge the bike as needed, including at the end of your rental period.
  5. Return the bike at the designated day/time.
  6. Spread the word and stay in touch: Join our email list, follow us on social media (and tag us in any posts you share about the program so we can reshare!) and reach out with any ideas or opportunities you see for our library!

What if my bike has a mechanical issue during my rental?

We do our best to avoid any mechanical issues by checking our bikes between rentals. However, if while doing your ABC quick check before each ride or during a ride you notice an issue, please STOP riding the bike, lock it up in as secure of a spot as possible and reach out to us via text so we can help figure out a fix. Unless approved by an MCBL librarian, please DO NOT transport the bike in a car.

Can I install/change accessories on the bike while it’s with me?

To ensure safety and ease logistics between loans, please do not install/remove/modify any accessories on the bike during your loan – especially child seats. We do our best to ensure our fleet is set up with a variety of accessories to fit various needs and ages/types of passengers. Please book the bike that most closely fits your needs and do not swap accessories. If you have a special request, you’re welcome to email us and we may be able to accommodate it depending on volunteer availability!

How can I help prevent theft?

We want to do everything we can to keep our bikes secure and available to the community to borrow through our program. To help prevent theft, please use the provided lock to secure your rental bike when you are not actively riding it. Be sure to lock the bike in as secure of a place as possible. Ask a librarian if you need help evaluating your parking options.

What if I need to cancel/change my borrow?

You can cancel your order via our website and rebook. Unfortunately, due to high demand and volunteer capacity, we cannot guarantee another slot, so please try to keep your booking if at all possible. 

What are other local options for borrowing/renting a bike?

Our program is in VERY high demand and we likely won’t come anywhere near meeting everyone’s needs with our small fleet. Unfortunately, we cannot borrow bikes to out of town guests or residents of cities where we don’t have a branch. However, we can recommend the following options:

I have more questions!

We’re here to help. Please email us via the Contact page.