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City Guide - Minneapolis-St Paul - Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Road Driving in the United States is on the right. For UK nationals, a full UK driving licence is sufficient. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, but it must be accompanied by a full driving licence from their home country. The wearing of seatbelts by persons in the front seat and children under age 11 is mandatory by law. Children under age four must be protected in car seats. Minnesota has strict laws against drinking and driving, and driving while intoxicated is cause for arrest and a criminal charge. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving in 0.10%. Speed limits are 48kph (30mph) in towns and 88kph (55mph) on highways, unless otherwise posted. The American Automobile Association (AAA; tel: (800) 222 1333) can provide information, and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries. Emergency breakdown service: AAA (800) AAA HELP (222 4357) Routes to the city: The Twin Cities are served by an efficient interstate highway system. I-35 runs north-south and has two branches: I-35E runs through St Paul and serves its suburbs, while I-35W runs through Minneapolis and its adjoining suburbs. The two branches meet again north of the city centre. I-94 runs east-west through both cities and intersects with both branches of I-35. I-494 and I-694 form a large oval around the cities, called the 'Belt Line', and intersect with most of the major highways. Other state roads into the metro area include highways 10, 52 and 55, which run roughly southeast-northwest, and SR-36 which enters St Paul from the east. Driving times to the city: from Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 5 hours 30 minutes; Chicago, Illinois - 6 hours 30 minutes; Omaha, Nebraska - 6 hours 30 minutes; Winnipeg, Canada - 6 hours 30 minutes. Coach services: Greyhound buses (tel: (800) 231 2222) and Jefferson Bus Lines (tel: (612) 332 3224) provide intercity service to and from the Twin Cities. Both use the same terminals, which are located in the city centres. The Minneapolis terminal, 29 North Ninth Street (tel: (612) 371 3323), sits opposite the Orpheum Theatre and is just two blocks away from city bus routes along Hennepin Avenue and Seventh and Eighth Streets. The St Paul terminal, 166 West University Avenue (tel: (651) 222 0509), is near the State Capitol building. Getting Around Minneapolis-St Paul Public Transport: Metro Transit (tel: (612) 373 3333; web site: www.metrotransit.org), together with Suburban Bus Lines, operates more than 100 bus routes throughout the Twin Cities area. Fares within the business districts are 25 cents (50 cents during peak hours). Outside the city centres, the fare is US$1.50 Monday to Friday, 0600-0900 and 1530-1830; US$1 all other times and on weekends. Day passes (US$3) are also available. 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. At the time of writing, the basic fare was US$1.80 and depending on the company, US$1.30 to US$1.50 per mile, with possible surcharges for extra passengers or airport runs. Taxi companies include Airport Taxi (tel: (612) 721 0000), Diamond Cab Co (tel: (651) 489 4036, St Paul), Rainbow Taxi (tel: (612) 332 1615, Minneapolis) and Yellow (tel: (612) 824 4444, Minneapolis or (651) 222 4433, St Paul). Limousines: Companies offering a range of chauffeur-driven vehicles include Premier Transportation, 4225 Hiawatha Avenue, Minneapolis (tel: (612) 331 RIDE (7433) or (800) 899 RIDE (7433); web site: www.premiertrans.com), rates for a six-passenger limo start at US$80 per hour, dropping to US$45-55 per hour for nine-hour rentals. Eclipse Transportation, 750 Bayfield Street, St Paul (tel: (651) 293 1111) offers similar services. Driving in the City: Minneapolis and St Paul are laid out on grid systems that extend from either side of the Mississippi River. The main streets in Minneaplis run north-south and include Hennepin, Lyndale and Nicollet avenues. Major east-west thoroughfares include Broadway, University and Washington avenues, and Lake and Franklin streets. In St Paul, Snelling and Hamline avenues, Lexington Parkway and Wabasha Street are among the main north-south thoroughfares, while Seventh Street, University and Como avenues are major east-west routes. With a good map, both cities are fairly easy to navigate. Traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hours, and entry to the interstates is controlled by traffic lights during these times. Winter conditions present the biggest challenge to driving in the Twin Cities. Extreme cold and copious amounts of snow and ice make driving hazardous, especially for those who are not used to such conditions. 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. Vehicles parked in violation of the rules are swiftly towed away. Information on the current situation is available (tel: (651) 266 7569, St Paul or (612) 348 SNOW (7669), Minneapolis). Metered parking is available on downtown streets; meters take quarters (25-cent coins) only. Meters are strictly enforced and expired meters incur a fine of US$10. There are also huge parking garages, which cost US$8-15 per day in Minneapolis and US$6-10 per day in St Paul. However, on weekends and on weekdays after 1600, the 'Do the Town' programme enables drivers to park free with a US$20 purchase at shops, restaurants and clubs, who validate the ticket. Car Hire: Service providers include: Avis (tel: (800) 331 1212); Budget (tel: (612) 727 2000 or (800) 527 0700); Enterprise (tel: (651) 225 9766); Hertz (tel: (612) 726 1600 or (800) 654 3131); National (tel: (800) 227 7368); and Thrifty (tel: (800) 367 2277). Rates begin at US$28 a day. Visitors should always enquire whether rates quoted include Collision Damage insurance, as this is not automatically included in American car hire rates; and check whether the rate includes unlimited mileage, which is recommended if excursions are planned for outside the city. Bicycle Hire: The Twin Cities have an extensive system of bike paths, including dedicated commuter lanes along some of the main thoroughfares, as well as 85km (53 miles) of paved, interconnected paths, called the Grand Rounds, running through parks and recreational areas. In Minneapolis, bicycles can be hired at Calhoun Cycle, 1622 West Lake Street (tel: (612) 827 8231), The Alternative Bicycle Shop, 2408 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 374 3635), or The Bike Shop, 213 South East Oak Street (tel: (612) 331 3442). In St Paul, there is Bennett's Cycle (tel: (612) 633 3019) or Como Lakeside Pavilion (tel: (651) 488 4297) - both in Como Park. Rentals start at US$6 per hour. Skyways: Both Minneapolis and St Paul are famous for their skyways, a unique system of enclosed second-storey walkways, which connect banks, department stores, office buildings and hotels in the city centres, enabling people to shop and do business in the cities without ever going outside in inclement weather. Some 60 blocks in downtown Minneapolis are interconnected in this manner. Measuring eight kilometres (five miles), the skyways comprise the longest skyway system in the world. |
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