When it comes to living in a city, it’s important to know how to navigate public transportation. Bigger cities are well known for having congested roadways and difficulties finding reliable parking spots, so many prefer not to drive in Minneapolis and similarly sized cities. When new residents are purchasing their new Minneapolis condos and townhomes, they want to have peace of mind they can easily get to work or wherever they desire. Fortunately for residents and visitors of the Minneapolis community, the public transportation system is efficient and easy to use. Most modes of transportation run every 10 to 30 minutes, which makes it effective for getting to meetings, banks, and entertainment promptly. Read on to learn about some of the public transit options in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Metro Transit Buses

Metro Transit is one of the largest and most reliable public transit systems in the United States. The transit operates for an average of 18 hours a day, seven days a week. Visitors can easily get from the Mall of America to the airport, convention center, and other popular attractions. These scheduled routes range from outlying Minneapolis new construction neighborhoods to the University of Minnesota, downtown St. Paul, and other important stops. Some buses downtown are marked as “Free Ride” and act as transportation to and from the convention center.

Metro Transit has plans to expand the bus system, including new Orange Line, D Line, B Line, E Line, and Gold Line bus routes. There are also plans in the works to expand capacity, beautify and update facilities, integrate shared mobility options, and make routes faster and more reliable than ever.

Metro Transit Light Rail

As part of the Metro Transit system, any unlimited passes or visitor passes can be used interchangeably between the buses and the light rail. The light rail has two lines: the Blue Line and the Green Line.

The Blue Line provides fast service between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America. Many of the bus routes on the Metro Transit system are timed to connect with the Blue Line. This makes it easy to take the Blue Line to work, shopping, or anywhere. The Green Line stops at several attractions, including the Capitol City, University Avenue, University of Minnesota, and downtown Minneapolis. There’s even a Light Rail Beer Crawl along the Green Line that features 19 different taprooms.

Both the Blue Line and Green Line run every 10 minutes during the day. When the evenings arrive, the frequency slows slightly to every 10–15 minutes. As night falls, the light rail lines only run every 30–60 minutes.

Metro Transit’s Blue and Green lines charge the same fares as Metro Transit’s buses.

Nice Ride

Nice Ride is a bikeshare operation owned by rideshare company Lyft. The idea for a bikeshare comes from Lyft’s vision to improve sustainability and affordability in transportation in large cities like Minneapolis. Using bikes over vehicles supports the company’s mission of providing eco-friendly transportation options. With the bikeshare program, residents can explore their city in a new way, and visitors can save money while efficiently getting around.

Nice Ride has over 3,000 bikes and 400 parking stations across Minneapolis. If one is traveling at a moderate pace of 12 miles an hour, they will go up to six miles in the allotted 30-minute rental window. For reference, that’s about the distance between the Hiawatha neighborhood and the Central Minneapolis neighborhood.

The bikeshare program is meant for quick trips, but users can also pay a nominal fee for additional minutes after the allotted time. After that, riders only need to return the bikes to one of the parking stations anywhere in the city to stop the clock on their rental. For a slightly higher rate, the bikeshare program also offers e-bikes and e-scooters, which allow riders to get much farther in a shorter amount of time.

Uber, Lyft, & Taxis

With the size of Minneapolis, one can easily expect to find numerous taxi and rideshare services available to get them from point A to B. Residents can rely on these services on a night out, and tourists don’t have to worry about renting a car or navigating an unfamiliar city.

Uber is one of the better-known ridesharing services. In Minneapolis, users can expect to ride in an UberX, Comfort, UberXL, Black, or Black SUV. Those who prefer Lyft can find Lyft, Lyft XL, Lux, Lux Black, and Lux Black XL options available. Within the app, users can determine the maximum number of riders, estimated pick-up and drop-off times, and chat with their driver.

Those who prefer using taxis can find reliable services within Minneapolis. Whether they need airport taxis, yellow cabs, iHail, or luxury rentals, they can expect their ride to arrive within 15 minutes, mostly anywhere in the metro area.

Navigate Minneapolis Like a Pro

As one can see, there are numerous reliable public transportation options in Minneapolis. Between the buses, light rail, bikeshare, and rideshare options, one is sure to find a mode of transportation that fits their needs and budget. All transportation options are well maintained and monitored for safety and efficiency.

When you combine the live, work, and play lifestyle with the ability to see sights and attractions during a staycation or vacation, the public transportation in Minneapolis truly has it all. Guests and residents alike can meander through the city at their own pace without having to worry about driving or remembering where they parked. With the plethora of things to do available, Minneapolis has something to offer everyone. Whether they stay for a day or a decade, they will enjoy their time in this exceptional city.

If Minneapolis is the city for you, contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find your dream home today.