Getting To & Around Pride
By Amy Ongaro
Transportation options to get to (and around) Pride weekend have never been more plentiful. Check out these great options to have a safe and celebratory festival weekend:
Bike It
Biking is an easy option by way of our convenient bike share program, Nice Ride. If you’re not already a Nice Ride member, $6 gets you a 24-hour pass to rent out a neon green bike for as many 30-minute intervals as you need. Make your way to the nearest station to rent a bike, then dock it at a station near your destination. There are two Nice Ride stations alongside the park, one located near Harmon Place and Maple Street, and the other near Willow Street and 14th Street. If you choose to BYOB(ike), there will be a bike check and lock location presented by Allina near the horseshoe courts in the park by 15th Street. Bike maps (thanks to Hedberg Maps) will be available on the Pride website, providing details on dedicated bike paths, bike-friendly roads, and Nice Ride stations.
Drive It
Pride has partnered with Parking Panda (provider of online parking reservations) to provide guaranteed parking available for advance purchase at several parking ramp locations within easy walking distance to the event. Due to high traffic and likelihood of ramps selling out before the festival, it is strongly recommended that you purchase parking in advance (single day and two-day passes offered). Visit the Pride website for more details on parking ramp locations and passes. If you plan on drinking, consider using DDi (Drink and Drive Intelligently), a premier designated driver service that will drive you and your car home. Bonus extra: DDi is offering a $10 discount for Pride festival goers.
Share It
Car2Go members will have the added convenience of a designated drop zone for the Smart Cars at the festival, located on 15th Street near the horseshoe courts. Uber will have an onsite location at the cul-de-sac in the northeast corner of the park on Yale Place. Other options are Lyft and your other favorite local taxi companies!
And Metro Transit is back this year with their Free Ride Pass for Sunday, June 29, so you can light rail or bus to and from the Rainbow Run 5K, parade, and a celebratory afternoon in the park between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. You’ll be able to download your pass at www.tcpride.org.
Trip It
Out-of-towners have transportation options through air, train, and bus. Many flight carriers, including Delta Airlines (official airline for Twin Cities Pride), fly to and from the MSP International Airport. Delta’s even offering a discount on first class fare for Pride-goers. See the Twin Cities Pride Facebook page for details.
Another option: Trains! Amtrak has daily service from Chicago, Fargo, Seattle, and cities in Wisconsin (Eau Claire, Wisconsin Dells, Milwaukee) to the Midway station, located between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Long-distance bus options include Greyhound and Megabus.
