Ride Share Zones Will Continue
City officials say North Loop visitors who enjoy Washington Ave. N. bars and restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights are a little safer thanks to the Uber and Lyft loading zones, which debuted as a pilot project in August. As a result, the loading zones will continue to be in effect.
“We’re thrilled with the results,” said Council Member Michael Rainville, who represents the North Loop. Minneapolis police, along with Minneapolis Public Works, report fewer jaywalkers and dangerous U-turns from riders and drivers trying to find each other along Washington.
The zones are located on 5th Ave. N., next to the Public Storage Building and across from Cuzzy’s parking lot, and on 6th Ave. N., next to Sunrise Banks and across from Smack Shack. They’re in effect only on Friday and Saturday nights, from 9pm to 6am.
This map shows the rideshare zones. PUDO stands for “Pick Up Drop Off.”
Uber and Lyft are reporting fewer cancellations and reduced wait times, since both riders and drivers have adopted the loading zones in large enough numbers.
After the first weekend, when the zones were slow to catch on, The North Loop Neighborhood Association provided sidewalk signs to direct riders and drivers to the zones and away from Washington. “The rideshare companies were flabbergasted the neighborhood association made those signs,” said Rainville. “This was cooperation with the community they don’t see in other cities.”
Councilmember Michael Rainville, Safety Walking Group Leader Aileen Johnson, NLNA President Diane Merrifield
The Rabbit Hole and Cuzzy’s have each “adopted” a sign, making sure staff places them outside and retrieves them at closing time.
The zones were a response to safety concerns from residents, visitors and bar owners that too many people were darting through cars on Washington in an effort to find their rideshare drivers. Council Member Rainville convened bar owners, MPD traffic enforcement, Minneapolis Public Works, Uber, Lyft and the North Loop Neighborhood Association to find solutions to improve safety.
“We love that the North Loop is a popular entertainment destination,” said Rainville. “Everyone came together to make it both fun and safe.”
By Mary Binkley, NLNA Volunteer