The 2015 state bicycle map is now available from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Bicyclists can get the new map from Thursday to Sept. 7 at the Minnesota State Fair at the Kick Gas exhibit inside the Eco Experience building on Randall Avenue.

The map is also available at MnDOT’s Central Office Building, 395 John Ireland Boulevard in St. Paul. Bicyclists may request a paper version of the map by emailing bicyclemap.dot@state.mn.us

The free map shows road conditions, traffic volumes and existing paved, bikeable shoulders and gravel roadways, all factors that make planning long-distance bicycle trips easier.

Changes to the map include:

Updates to the state bike trails

Updates on locations of new paved shoulders along roads

A new way traffic volume is displayed. The old map used the terms “light” or “heavy” when describing traffic volume, but the new map shows the volume according to categories, which includes cars per minute.

Road shoulders were previously shown as four or more feet wide or zero to four feet wide. New shoulder data is displayed as bikeable shoulders, meaning the shoulder is four or more feet wide and paved.

The map also includes shoulder widths, pavement type, state and regional trails, including the Mississippi River Trail, state historic sites, parks and points of interest and safety tips. Minnesota Bicycle Friendly Communities, as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, are also highlighted.

Bicyclists, especially those making shorter trips, can also use the editable Cyclopath route planner at www.cyclopath.org.