Comments on: The fair: How do you get to the Great Get-Together? http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/ Travel along with our transportation geek Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:16:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Stacy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15200 Stacy Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:29:16 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15200 I bike and park in one of the secured bike lots -- just as I've been doing for 20 years. Public transportation is something the fair does right. I'd invite Monte to try it. (This also reminds me of when I rode Light Rail during its first month. A rider told me that I couldn't board the train -- that there were already too many people. Very Minnesotan - I suspect that he'd never ridden the train in a more dense city...) I bike and park in one of the secured bike lots — just as I’ve been doing for 20 years. Public transportation is something the fair does right. I’d invite Monte to try it.

(This also reminds me of when I rode Light Rail during its first month. A rider told me that I couldn’t board the train — that there were already too many people. Very Minnesotan - I suspect that he’d never ridden the train in a more dense city…)

]]> By: pdxtran http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15190 pdxtran Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:43:27 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15190 For various reasons, I can't attend this year, but last year, I took the #3 bus from downtown Minneapolis, which stops right across from the fairgrounds. For various reasons, I can’t attend this year, but last year, I took the #3 bus from downtown Minneapolis, which stops right across from the fairgrounds.

]]> By: mnmuskie http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15189 mnmuskie Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:44:30 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15189 I used to drive to Rosedale,and park on the East end, then they stopped doing the park n ride there. Now I drive to Catholic Charities, and catch the bus there, and always I have to get my lefse fix at Lynn's Lefse. I started something new for her about 8-9 years ago. I told her I like peanut butter on mine, and she's had it ever since. What more could one ask for? Great service and products at the fair. The only bad thing this year was the security at the Leine bandshell. Thursday night (28th) War was playing, and security let people (mostly drunk) run amuck in front of the stage. They were bumping into everybody, including those sitting...so security, your grade for the 28th...F I used to drive to Rosedale,and park on the East end, then they stopped doing the park n ride there. Now I drive to Catholic Charities, and catch the bus there, and always I have to get my lefse fix at Lynn’s Lefse. I started something new for her about 8-9 years ago. I told her I like peanut butter on mine, and she’s had it ever since.
What more could one ask for? Great service and products at the fair.
The only bad thing this year was the security at the Leine bandshell.
Thursday night (28th) War was playing, and security let people (mostly drunk) run amuck in front of the stage.
They were bumping into everybody, including those sitting…so security, your grade for the 28th…F

]]> By: UofM2010 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15185 UofM2010 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:20:07 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15185 Yep, I stand corrected, sorry. I had assumed the U of M didn't have free parking anymore since a parking e-mail I got from the U was talking about daily rates for going to the fair, but the 4th Street Ramp at 17th Avenue IS STILL FREE!! Rejoice! Yep, I stand corrected, sorry. I had assumed the U of M didn’t have free parking anymore since a parking e-mail I got from the U was talking about daily rates for going to the fair, but the 4th Street Ramp at 17th Avenue IS STILL FREE!! Rejoice!

]]> By: dc1515 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15175 dc1515 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:57:53 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15175 Monte is part of the reason I can't get a parking spot at my girlfriend's house unless I get there after about 9:30pm on fair days. Plus people who 'just park in the neighborhood' drive too fast in very parked up residential narrow streets. Monte is part of the reason I can’t get a parking spot at my girlfriend’s house unless I get there after about 9:30pm on fair days.

Plus people who ‘just park in the neighborhood’ drive too fast in very parked up residential narrow streets.

]]> By: Monte http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15172 Monte Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:37:59 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15172 Since I refuse to ride city buses and think the parking lots are a bit expensive I drive and then park for free on one of the neigborhood streets. It's a bit of the walk to the gate but when you're walking all day anyway walking a ways to your car isn't a big deal. Since I refuse to ride city buses and think the parking lots are a bit expensive I drive and then park for free on one of the neigborhood streets. It’s a bit of the walk to the gate but when you’re walking all day anyway walking a ways to your car isn’t a big deal.

]]> By: DI http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15169 DI Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:43:15 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15169 UofM2010 writes "fair parking at the U is NOT free anymore!" Metro Transit's <a href="http://www.metrotransit.org/news/events/StateFair/free.asp" rel="nofollow">Park Free & Ride Free</a> page lists: U of M Minneapolis Campus 4th St. ramp and surface lots Free weekdays after 4 p.m., all day on weekends and Labor Day UofM2010 writes “fair parking at the U is NOT free anymore!”

Metro Transit’s Park Free & Ride Free page lists:

U of M Minneapolis Campus
4th St. ramp and surface lots
Free weekdays after 4 p.m., all day on weekends and Labor Day

]]> By: UofM2010 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15168 UofM2010 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:24:12 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15168 In the past, I have driven from Maple Grove to a park-and-ride lot right on Larpenteur to get dropped off for free. It wasn't worth taking a school bus from Maple Grove to the fair for $7 a person when driving was much more cost-effective. This year, though, I should have a spot to park at the U for free (note: fair parking at the U is NOT free anymore!) since I live there and will take my bike on the Transitway from Mpls to St. Paul campus and find a spot for it there. Thank God for a bike-friendly University of Minnesota! In the past, I have driven from Maple Grove to a park-and-ride lot right on Larpenteur to get dropped off for free. It wasn’t worth taking a school bus from Maple Grove to the fair for $7 a person when driving was much more cost-effective.

This year, though, I should have a spot to park at the U for free (note: fair parking at the U is NOT free anymore!) since I live there and will take my bike on the Transitway from Mpls to St. Paul campus and find a spot for it there. Thank God for a bike-friendly University of Minnesota!

]]> By: Elsa http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15166 Elsa Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:41:44 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15166 This is my second year biking there - I take Como most of the way. There is a lot of traffic by the fair but most of it is moving at a snail's pace so not too scary (though the ad hoc bike lane is a bit narrow). I love that there is a free, monitored bike parking lot, and that I burn off some of the fair food on the way home. This is my second year biking there - I take Como most of the way. There is a lot of traffic by the fair but most of it is moving at a snail’s pace so not too scary (though the ad hoc bike lane is a bit narrow). I love that there is a free, monitored bike parking lot, and that I burn off some of the fair food on the way home.

]]> By: Big Jimmy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15165 Big Jimmy Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:37:25 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/08/27/the-fair-how-do-you-get-to-the-great-get-together/#comment-15165 More stats to counter Joe S.'s claim: Milwaukee's Summerfest has the greatest attendance of any event in the Milwaukee area, and the 2008 attendance was 831,024 over 11 days. The record was set in 2001 with 1,039,794. Interestingly enough, the MN State Fair also set a total attendance record in 2001, but with 1,762,976. The WI State Fair set a record with 938,658 in 1990. More stats to counter Joe S.’s claim:

Milwaukee’s Summerfest has the greatest attendance of any event in the Milwaukee area, and the 2008 attendance was 831,024 over 11 days. The record was set in 2001 with 1,039,794. Interestingly enough, the MN State Fair also set a total attendance record in 2001, but with 1,762,976. The WI State Fair set a record with 938,658 in 1990.

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