Midtown Greenway West (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

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The Midtown Greenway is pedestrian and bicycle path that bisects south Minneapolis, from France Avenue on the west to the Mississippi River on the east. It occupies a former railroad right-of-way and connects with several other ped and bike paths through the city, including the Chain-of-Lakes trails, the Mississippi River trails and the Kenilworth Trail.

Though there have been efforts to make the Greenway 'green' with a few nice little community gardens garnishing its margins, the Greenway remains rather like a concrete trough. In this image, the bulk of its concrete is visible in the many bridges transecting it. Bicyclists are safe from cars on the Greenway, but not necessarily from the possibility of mugging, etc. Though it is probably still quite safe, bicyclists who use it should be alert, and refrain from riding there alone late at night. This said, it is an amazing amenity for cyclists, walkers, and lovers of functional public space in an urban setting.