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Getting around Minneapolis St Paul

Public transport: 

Metro Transit (MTC) (tel: (612) 373 3333; www.metrotransit.org) and Suburban Bus Lines operate over 100 bus routes and one light rail line throughout the Twin Cities. Single fares are available for purchase on the bus, in cash only. There is a set fare within the downtown districts.

Stored Value Cards and Go-To Cards are valid at any time of the day. A 31-day SuperSaver pass offers unlimited use of the Metro Transit buses. Passes are available online or from Transit Outlet stores, located at 719 Marquette in Downtown Minneapolis, the Downtown St Paul Skyway as well as some supermarket chains.

The Hiawatha light rail line connects Downtown Minneapolis with the Mall of America via the airport. There are 17 stations on the line. Services operate between 0400 and 0110.

Skyways
Both Minneapolis and St Paul are famous for their skyways, a unique system of enclosed city centre, second-storey walkways, which connect banks, department stores, office buildings and hotels, enabling people to avoid the inclement weather. Measuring 8km (5 miles), the skyways are open Monday-Friday 0630-2200, Saturday 0930-2000 and Sunday 1200-1800, although hours may vary.

Taxis: 

There are designated taxi ranks at the airport, the Mall of America and in Downtown Minneapolis and St Paul. Taxis must be telephoned in advance for all other locations. There are surcharges for extra passengers or airport runs. Taxi companies include Airport Taxi (tel: (612) 721 0000), Rainbow Taxi (tel: (612) 332 1615), Blue & White Taxi (tel: (612) 333 3333) and Yellow (tel: (612) 824 4444). Tip are around 15% of the total fare.

Driving: 

Minneapolis and St Paul are laid out like a grid. With a good map, both cities are fairly easy to navigate. Traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hours.

Winter present the biggest challenge to drivers. During heavy snowfalls, parking is banned on many main streets, or only allowed on even- or odd-numbered sides of residential streets, to enable snow ploughing.

Metered parking, which costs from 50 cents per hour and often is free at the weekend, is available on Downtown streets. Parking time is often limited to two hours. There are also parking ramps (garages) and lots, which are more expensive.

Car hire: 

To hire a car, drivers must be 25 years old and hold a major credit card. For UK nationals, a full UK driving licence is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, accompanied by a full driving licence from their home country.

Car rental companies include Alamo (tel: 1 800 462 5266; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1084; www.avis.com), Budget (tel:1 800 527 0700; www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 3665: www.dollar.com) and Enterprise (tel: 1 800 261 7331; www.enterprise.com).

Bicycle hire: 

The Twin Cities have extensive bike paths, including dedicated commuter lanes along some of the main thoroughfares, plus 85km (53 miles) of paved, interconnected paths, called the Grand Rounds, which run through parks and recreational areas. In Minneapolis, bicycles can be hired at Calhoun Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 827 8000; www.calhouncycle.com) or The Alternative Bike and Board Shop, 2408 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 374 3635; www.altbikeboard.com).

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