Bryan Schneider

Mankato Candidate Questionnaire

The following responses were submitted by Bryan Schneider as part of the Greater Mankato Bike & Walk Advocates 2026 Candidate Questionnaire.

Responses are presented as submitted and have not been edited for content.

1. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips in Mankato?

Yes and No

1b. Why or why not?

Although I would not trust myself on an e-scooter, yes, I do feel comfortable using a bike for many short and medium-length trips in Mankato because our community already has an extensive trail system and many destinations can be reached without driving. Micromobility options provide affordable, convenient transportation and are especially valuable for students, young professionals, and residents who may not own a vehicle or don't live on a bus route.

That said, there are still several locations where I would not feel completely safe. Some major roads, roundabouts and intersections are difficult to cross, and there are gaps in the trail and sidewalk network that force cyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians to cross busy traffic. Improving these crossings and completing missing connections would make active transportation a more practical option for many more residents including children riding to parks and school.

Overall, Mankato has a strong foundation for bicycling and micromobility, but continued investments in safety, connectivity, and infrastructure are needed to make these transportation options comfortable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

2. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in Mankato?

Today, there are several locations where crossing busy roads is difficult or unsafe for bicyclists, pedestrians, scooter riders, and individuals using mobility devices. Improving these crossings should be a priority.

The City should also focus on completing missing trail and sidewalk connections that prevent residents from safely traveling between neighborhoods, schools, parks, and commercial areas. A transportation network is only as strong as its weakest link, and even short gaps can keep people from walking, biking, or using other micromobility options.

Investments should be guided by safety data, traffic volumes, crash history, and community input. Particular attention should be given to routes that connect schools, parks and residential neighborhoods. Projects such as safer crossings, trail extensions, protected pathways, and improved connections across major roads can make a significant difference.

By creating a safer and more connected network, we can provide residents with practical alternatives to driving, improve public health, reduce transportation costs for families, and make Mankato a more accessible community for people of all ages and abilities.

3. Please provide ideas to improve connections to the trail systems for those neighborhoods that don’t have safe access to improve active transportation opportunities.

I am currently working with Mankato Area Public Schools and the Safe Routes to School program to improve student safety along Monks Avenue, where four students have been struck and seriously injured by vehicles over the past year. Our efforts focus on identifying and implementing safer crossing solutions to better protect students traveling to and from school.

I am also collaborating with these same partners to gather data and secure funding for a pedestrian bridge connecting Hosanna Drive and Creekside Drive over Highway 22. This project would provide a safe connection to Prairie Winds Middle School, Prairie Winds Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, we are pursuing funding to extend the trail along the west side of Highway 22 from Hoffman Road to the proposed bridge.

Together, these improvements would create a safe and accessible route for students and residents to walk, bike, or use a wheelchair between neighborhoods, schools, and parks without having to cross busy highway traffic. The project would also help reconnect the east side of Mankato, where Highway 22 currently serves as a significant barrier between neighborhoods. Additionally, it would provide a safer connection for students traveling between Prairie Winds Middle School and East High School for academic and extracurricular activities.

Another initiative I'm passionate about is working with MnDOT, MAPO, and the federal government to construct high-T interchanges and full interchanges on Highway 14 along Eagle Lake and Highway 60, including safe trail connections between or neighbors in Eagle Lake and the Sakatah Trail.

These efforts reflect my commitment to improving public safety, expanding transportation options, and investing in infrastructure that strengthens connections within our community.

4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in Mankato?

Promoting alternatives to driving is important for the health of our community, the safety of our residents, and the environment. The City should continue investing in safe, connected infrastructure for walking, biking, scooters, wheelchairs, rollerblades, and other forms of active transportation.

I would support community helmet clinics that help properly fit children and adults with helmets, while providing free helmets to children whenever possible. Education and safety programs like these can encourage more people to bike and ride safely.

I would also like to see Greater Mankato host recreational and family-friendly biking events similar to RAGBRAI, but on a smaller scale, several times each year. Similar events could be organized for scooters, rollerblades, and roller skates, showcasing our beautiful trail system and encouraging residents to explore different parts of the community.

The City should do a better job of publishing and promoting maps of walking and biking routes and highlighting the many trails we already have. Just as importantly, we need to prioritize completing missing trail connections so people can travel safely and conveniently throughout the community without relying on a vehicle.

By improving safety, expanding connections, and promoting active transportation, we can create a healthier, more connected, and more vibrant Mankato for residents of all ages.

5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?

The City should continue to support shared scooters, bike-share programs, and other micromobility options as part of a balanced transportation system. From what I have observed, these programs have been managed well and are used frequently, particularly around Minnesota State University, Mankato.

For many residents, especially students, young professionals, and lower-income individuals, owning and maintaining a vehicle can be financially impossible. Just riding a bus to Walmart and back can take two hours on some routes. Micromobility options provide an affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to travel for work, school, shopping, and recreation. In many cases, they can serve as a practical transportation alternative for much of the year at a fraction of the cost of owning a car.

The City's role should be to ensure these programs operate safely and responsibly through reasonable regulations, designated parking areas where needed, and continued investment in connected trails, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure. As these transportation options become more popular, we should look for ways to integrate them into our broader transportation network so residents have more choices for getting around.

Supporting micromobility is not about replacing cars. It is about providing additional transportation choices that improve mobility, reduce barriers for those who cannot afford a vehicle, and contribute to a healthier and more connected community.

6. Should the city consider adding traffic calming to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares?

Yes

6b. If you answered yes to question #6, please provide some traffic calming suggestions.

Traffic-calming solutions should be based on data and tailored to the specific safety concerns of each location. Before making significant investments, the City should collect reliable traffic volume and speed data. Public Safety can use low-cost StatTrak traffic counters to track vehicle counts and speeds, helping identify problem areas and allowing enforcement efforts to be targeted during the times speeding most commonly occurs.

Several traffic-calming measures have proven effective in different situations. Curb bump-outs can help reduce speeds and shorten pedestrian crossing distances. Neighborhood traffic circles, such as the one in the Dancing Waters area, can effectively slow traffic while remaining relatively cost-effective. Speed feedback signs are also valuable, particularly near schools, in areas where speed limits change, or in locations with recurring speeding concerns. I am also interested in evaluating the long-term effectiveness of chicanes, such as those being considered on Balcerzak Drive.

No single solution works everywhere. The appropriate traffic-calming strategy should be based on factors such as crash history, proximity to schools, whether the street is being used as a cut-through route, traffic volume, and neighborhood input. By taking a data-driven approach, the City can invest in the solutions that provide the greatest safety benefits for residents.

7. Are you in favor of reducing the speed limit in residential areas to 20 mph, unless otherwise posted?

Yes and No

8. What can the city do to improve walkability, including wheelchair and other mobility devices, access through the winter, keeping sidewalks and paths clear of snow and ice?

Recurring communication to residents and business owners. Include in the campaign to help your neighbors keep the sidewalks clear. At some point, the city will need to contact the property owner and have the sidewalk cleared at the owner's expense.

The City must continue regular communication and education efforts to remind residents and business owners of their responsibility to keep sidewalks clear. Public awareness campaigns can also encourage neighbors to help one another, particularly seniors and residents who may be physically unable to shovel their sidewalks.

While education should be the first step, there must also be accountability. When sidewalks remain uncleared after reasonable notice, the City should contact the property owner and, if necessary, arrange for the sidewalk to be cleared at the owner's expense. Consistent enforcement helps ensure sidewalks remain safe and accessible for everyone.

The City should also prioritize snow and ice removal on key pedestrian routes, trails, transit stops, school routes, and other high-use areas so residents can safely walk, use mobility devices, or access public transportation throughout the winter months.

Maintaining accessible sidewalks and trails is not only a matter of convenience. It is a matter of safety, mobility, and ensuring all residents can participate fully in community life year-round.

9. How can the city work with local businesses to improve bike parking throughout Mankato (specifically older businesses that existed prior to adoption of the biking ordinance)?

Bikes are so expensive now that people need a way to secure them even if they leave them unattended for a few minutes. The City should work GMG, Visit Mankato and with local businesses as a partner rather than relying solely on mandates. Many older businesses were built before bike parking requirements existed, so we should look for ways to encourage and assist them in adding bicycle parking where it makes sense. Businesses should understand that with so many bikes, ebikes and scooters, customers will be more likely to shop or ride to work if they can secure their mobility device.

The City could provide design standards, technical assistance, and potentially small matching grants or cost-sharing programs to help businesses install bike racks. Recognition programs that highlight bicycle-friendly businesses could also encourage participation and demonstrate community support. To make bike racks affordable, partnerships with area high schools and South Central College to build bike racks or poles for the cost of material may make the racks affordable.

As businesses remodel, expand, or redevelop their properties, the City should look for opportunities to incorporate bike parking improvements into those projects. In some areas, especially downtown or commercial districts with limited space, the City may be able to install shared public bike parking that serves multiple businesses rather than requiring each property to provide its own facilities.

Improving bike parking is a relatively low-cost investment that supports local businesses, encourages active transportation, and provides residents and visitors with more options for getting around the community. The goal should be to make bicycling a convenient and practical choice while working cooperatively with business owners to find solutions that fit their locations and needs.

10. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?

Walk and car. I walk the dog 3 times per day plus walk outside of that. I drive because of distance and time constraints.

11. Would you support the city developing and facilitating an active transportation advisory committee?

Yes