It seems a lot more people are taking two wheels instead of four to the Minnesota State Fair.
"I am standing in a sea of bicycles here on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds."
That's WCCO's Susie Jones standing in one of three lots set aside for bicycles. Since the fair started, nearly 5,000 people have wheeled their way into the fairgrounds.
"It's smart to bike," says Bill Stower, superintendent of the three lots for the State Fair. "More and more are doing it. Yes. All the bike lots are getting full."
The three lots are free for bicycles, or any non-licensed bike or scooter. If you have one with a license plate, you do need to pay a fee to park.
"We have skateboards, we have scooters, we have whatever you call the thing that they pull behind the bikes, whatever those things are with the kids in," he says.
You still have to pay to get into the fair. Of course, riders are being advised if you want to ride your bike here to bring a lock.
Anna from St. Paul says it's the first year they've tried biking.
"It was really easy and it's free to park," she said. "We come multiple times and having the bicycle option is kind of a no brainer."
South Bike Lot: Loop Gate (#9) on Como Avenue – NEW LOCATION!
North Bike Lot: North End Gate (#2)
West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)
Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (9 p.m. Labor Day)
The bike corrals are fenced-in areas with bike racks and are monitored by a staff person. They operate much like a coat check. Fairgrounds admission opens at 7:00 a.m.