Minneapolis Skyway System

I appreciate that I can walk the city from the indoors when it’s freezing outside. I also like that there are so many cool shops and places to eat inside the skyway. The bummer about not being a commuter and actually living downtown is that 99% of the establishments inside the skyway close at 5 or 6pm and aren’t open on the weekends. I would love if some had even limited hours on the weekends. In addition to that, certain doors are locked at certain times on the weekend and holidays and you can find yourself having to turn around and go outside to get to your destination. I wish hours were posted on the doors to state when they are unlocked, or at least a website or app that you could check. It doesn’t make it very friendly to be wandering around during the weekends not knowing if you’re wasting your time walking the skyway. I’d just assume to get in my car and drive.

Weird to review this on Unilocal but thought I’d throw my cents in.
This is a great way to get between buildings when downtown, especially as a worker who needs to buy lunch. 99% of food businesses in downtown are accessible (sometimes only) by skyway and there are a multitude of businesses from food to banks to random gift shops, like a giant shopping mall. It also connects you to inner-​building courtyards and things like the Wells Fargo Museum that you wouldn’t otherwise know about without this system.
As a person who lived in Phoenix, Arizona most of their life, I think this is ingenious and would be greatly utilized in Phoenix — not to stay from the cold, but from the intense heat — though Minneapolis is a much more condensed city so it makes this sort of thing a lot easier.
The only problems I have with it is that sometimes it can be confusing and you can easily get lost without a map or smartphone, where the streets below are much easier to navigate. You can always tell someone has worked/​lived downtown if you ask for directions because they will almost always give you skyway directions instead of using the streets, even when street directions are easier and/​or less walking time. Also, when the working day is done, the skyway shuts down too. Not convenient if you’re downtown on the weekends or later in the evening. It can be a little spooky and post-​apocalyptic if you find yourself inside around 7pm.

WHY can’t Los Angeles or other major cities create skywalks? When walking the skyways it really makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the future of architecture! Why hasn’t Los Angeles, California come this far? It gets people walking, and in a safe place. There are many police officers walking the skyways and watching who is hanging around the courtyards (I honestly don’t know what they call them). There was a homeless person sitting, they watched her until she decided it was time for a nap, then they asked her to move on. It was actually funny watching 4 – 6 of them gather and stand on the upper level and look down upon the little people;)
Seriously, way to go MN! This is really a wonderful way to cut across city blocks or town and get to where you need to be without dealing with the weather or traffic! AWESOME!

The skyway is warm compared to the outside, in winter. I live downtown and I use the Skyway to get to Target, an ATM, my eye doctor, and some restaurants. Most of the shops and restaurants in the Skyway are shut during evenings and weekends. I can rarely go to them because I do not work downtown. If I am home during a weekday, I go to the Skyway for lunch.

What an amazing idea, what better way to avoid the harsh brutal northern winters than to just stay inside. Minneapolis has seems to solve one of the biggest problems with getting from point A to point B during a brutal northern winter, how you might ask? By staying inside and taking the Skyway and walking between buildings where the temperature is always 70 degrees year round.
In addition to making travel easier you no longer need to worry about the outside elements and traffic when trying to get from one building to another. The Skyway is not only a convenient means of transportation, but it’s also home to numerous shops and restaurants all inside what almost feels like one giant mall connecting most of downtown Minneapolis.
Getting from point A to point B is not always a straight shot, so it might take you a few more minutes and extra steps to get to your final destination however you no longer have to deal with the outside elements when doing so.

Technically, I was in the St Paul Skyway system but that’s not on Unilocal to review.
It was a Sunday evening and we were walking the city and ended up in some bank… that ended up in the mall… with stores (all closed). and restaurants (closed too). What the fuck? Where am I?
How am I in a mall and all we did was walk off the streets into this bank?
What… How… *head spinning*
My man busts into the story of the Skyway and how it’s this indoor method to keep people warm as they venture thru life downtown in the brutal winters here in MN.
This was so awesome!
It’s basically a gigantic 2^nd story mall that’s all enclosed and each building downtown is connected by a walking bridge/​corridor that allows you to look out over the city.
This is INCREDIBLE! It’s a mall. all day, every day (except weekends of course). But, WOW! Do you know how much money we’d all spend if this was everywhere? Lining our days within a fucking mall?!
I’m still taken by the awesome innovation of this place!
I’m still telling folks here at home about it and we all want one!
I get it, we don’t have winters here but, all enclosed malls that line the streets?
Sign me UP!

Der Skyway ist schon etwas in die Jahre gekommen. Wenn man von A nach B muss, ist das im Winter bestimmt eine tolle Sache. Die meisten Shops sind aber inzwischen geschlossen. Daher ist das zum Bummeln völlig uninteressant. Die Mall of America hat wohl alle Kaufwilligen «aufgesogen».

The skyway is like a whole new world to discover! As someone from the streets for many years (Yeah, THE STREETS), I had to relearn how to get around, but it’s delightful to suddenly find a completely new way to get somewhere familiar. Also, the restaurants! They’re so tiny and never stop!
Pro: You never have to go outside.
Con: You people walk too slow. Move out the way!

The major benefit of the skyway system is being able to escape from the biting Minnesota winter. It’s a handy way of getting around downtown without getting frostbite.
Once the obvious benefit of being warm is apparent, I found I was getting frustrated at the crazy layout and confusing directions to get from point A to point B. If you are new to the skyway system like I was then you need to either plan your toe ahead or take a map. Kind of embarrassing I’ll be honest.
Overall, the benefit of the system means that I will always use it, but Damn is gonna take me some practice to get used to!
On a further note, I should point out to any other first time users of the skyway that you can get from past the convention Centre to a couple blocks from the river all inside. I also saw parts of downtown I would never have done before

We all know what the skyway is: 2^nd floor corridors connecting buildings downtown. The second floor of most buildings is public/​commerical space, with bridges spanning streets between buildings.
When I got my first job downtown St Paul, I felt so grown-​up travelling the skyways, I loved it. When I moved to a position downtown Minneapolis, I loved them even more — because there’s far more restaurants, shops, and services in Minneapolis skyways. Most of the things in the skyways are there for there convenience of the downtown workers, right down to the actual stores/​services to the hours. Most locals refer to places in the skyway in by the building name, which can be confusing for new people to find. Almost every buidling has a coffee shop and a convenience store.
There are large blue Skyway maps posted on walls throughout the halls, with streets and buildings named, and some landmarks. There are also signs in the skyway bridges telling you which street you are crossing, which streets are to the left and right, and most buildings have a sign letting you know the building name that you’re entering. The city of Minneapolis tried to institute Skyway Hours across the board due to complaints about buildings being closed. However, it doesn’t seem to be enforced. I prefer to walk in the street at night anyway, rather than an isolated building.
I have seen the weirdos/​homeless in the skyway, but not all that much. They seem to be much more prevalent on Nicollet Mall, which is the transit thoroughfare through downtown. I honestly don’t notice that many; it’s usually business people, as downtown is still largely daytime commuters. Hence the importance of Skyway Etiquette:
— Stopping to converse? Move out of the center
— Walking slowly? Move out of the center
— Cell phone? Keep your voice low
In a nutshell? Get the F out of the way
Things I can do without leaving the skyways:
— shoes resoled (Skyway Shoe Repair)
— hair done (Juut Salon in Gaviidae)
— shop (Target, Macy’s, Marshall’s, Saks, Banana, Gap, Len, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor)
— coffee (Caribou, Dunn Bros, Starbucks)
— floral shops
— eat (Cosi, D Brians, Au Bön Pain, Potbelly, Panera, Zen Box, Dave’s, Skyway Wok, Cousins, Subway, Taco Bell)
— banks
— post office (hidden on the first floor on 8^th St, but still skyway accessible)
And it’s so awesome in the winter to do all that and leave my coat behind.
Cons:
— Difficult to navigate at first
— Crowded during pre-​work rush, lunch rush, after-​work rush
— Non-​uniform hours as each building is managed independently
— Primarily convenient for business people
Pros:
— Protected from elements and weather
Despite some negatives, the Pro a thousand times more beneficial than any of the drawbacks combined.

One of the first things my husband inquired about on his first visit to Minneapolis was the «hamster» tubes”. It seems like a fair amount of people liken the look to something a hamster would navigate through.
I used to work downtown and would travel the Skyways every single day. Everyone else in my district received mileage reimbursement. I inquired about a shoe allowance reimbursement since most of my stores were in walking distance. Didn’t get the shoe allowance, but I got a work out in almost everyday.
Thankful I didn’t have to go outside. The «hamster tubes» did come in handy during the long daunting winter months. They are nice for staying warm in the winter and cool on the hot days.
The Skyways can be entertaining and slightly annoying at the same time. Lots of characters traveling through each and every day.
–Singers with their guitar cases open
–People asking for money (although not many)
–Brisk walkers with their company lanyards swaying back and forth in a hurry to get back to their next team builder.
–People trying to avoid contact at all costs scrolling through their iPhone or Ipod.
Sometimes its nice to just hang back on one of the railings and just watch all the people walking by.
They are relatively clean and serve a nice purpose getting to and from a destination without having to go outside when it’s too hot or too cold and to grab something quick when on the go.

A hidden gem. The system keeps you inside on cold nights and connects you to all the different buildings. Also, as you’re walking from place to place some of the hidden gems of coffee and tea places and snack shops are found along the way.

Our Minnesota «Hamster Cage» as I call it, helps me to get to and from work when the snow falls. I get on near the Greyhound station near the Twins stadium and travel as far as the Franklin Light Rail Station near Nicolet Mall on a daily basis and have found that the skyway is both fun and horrific, depending on the segment and the crowd.
Yes, I usually spot two homeless men, one which will beg for money and follow me a few feet and the other that sings a happily good morning hymn to all that pass by. You’ll find food locations that fill the walkways with delicious smells but that promptly close by the time you’re off work and in some places the carpet is stained with who knows what and in other spots the segment is clean and shiny, smelling of fresh bleach.

I love the skyway system. Every work day when the weather outside is miserable (which is often in Minnesota) I walk for my lunch hour (30 minutes) and can make a nearly 2 mile loop without stepping outside.
I can park in the warehouse district and walk (inside) to the convention center. While it can be dead in the evening or weekends it’s awesome during the week.
If you are looking you can see some amazing art (fountains, installation art, paintings).
Some people hate the gerbil tubes but I am a fan!

The Minneapolis Skyways are in alot of ways a gigantic mall, but a much more interesting one. Personally I don’t mind our cold temperatures in Minnesota most of the time. I can’t stand extreme heat and humidity however and that’s the way the Twin Cities can be on some Summer days, and pretty much the whole month of July, at least for me. Thankfully we have the Skyway’s, and the ones in Central Downtown usually have good air conditioning. It keeps me from feeling like I’m melting and suffocating to death so I greatly appreciate having this option available to me.
In the Winter Downtown is like a Winter Wonderland when it’s snowing out. Not alot of other places have that feel anymore, and there isn’t anywhere like it during holiday season. No place can beat the backdrop of city lights and olde tyme grandeur that Downtown has. The view from the Skyway’s is spectacular and there are very popular holiday events like the Hollidazzle Parade that you can get a good view of from the Skyways as well.
My only complaint is that with the exception of our large Downtown stores, retail centers and places accesible by but not in the Skyway the Skyways don’t have much open in them after 4:00 in the afternoon. There are a few dining places that are open til 5, even 8 at night but those are mainly fast food chains like Arby’s, Subway, Leann Chin, Taco Johns, and McDonalds.
Before 4 you can find practically every sort of business in them, for example you got repair shops, art galleries, designer apparel shops, jewelers, lots of proffesional services, and of course an endless variety of food options. You can get you’re shoes shined, you can find Minnesota souveniers and you can go to a travel agency. You’re sure to be overwhelmed, our Skyway system is almost 5 MILES LONG.
I’m more into the local, independent places that you won’t find elsewhere, and unlike at malls there are alot of those kinds of places in the Skyways. Bayou Cajun (open til 6), Brothers Deli (open til 2:30), Andrea Pizza (open til 3:30), and the Shanghai Wok (open til 8) are some of my favorites. You can easily access the system from outside by entering most any building in Central Downtown. If there isn’t an obvious way to get up to them once you enter a building they’ll usually be signage to direct you.
I’ve heard that there is actually a GPS system available now for navigating the Skyways. I know them end to end so I have never used it, but you should have a way to navigate the Skyways if you’re new to them unless you feel like going on an adventure. There are maps on the walls of the Skyways every now and then, and if you’re good with using landmarks as a point of reference you won’t get lost too bad. The free Downtown newspaper, The Journal which can be found on almost every block has a Skyway Map in it too.

Oh Skyway… my love for thee is only matched by my love for wine (which subsequently can be acquired within you). You are so warm in the winter, temperately controlled in the summer, so wonderful when there is rain or snow! You have saved me all winter from having to brave the ravaging wind and cold of the harsh Minnesota winter, and you will continue to save me now from the steamy unbearable heat/​humidity combo that the summer will bring!
Well now that I’m done talking it up, let’s get honest. The skyway is full of people. FULL. They are all business professionals, students, or homeless. The majority of them are carrying WAY too much in their arms at any given time (usually including a shoulder bag and cellphone incessantly pressed to the ear) and don’t really care to use what I like to call courtesy rules.
Such As —
1) Do not practice douchebaggery, please move to the side to have a conversation, do not stop and stand in the direct center of the walkway and ebb the flow of traffic
2) For those that have a problem hitting the off button on the cellphone, I do not wish to hear about your lady problems, your toe-​nail fungus, your bad dinner date, or your flatulence.
3) Please PLEASE stop riding in tandem with your electric power chairs.
4) Oh, and please stop plugging in your power chairs as well
That about covers the majority of the courtesy rules.
On to the shops, the food, the liquor store, and the maze like structure that will get you from one side of the city to the other. You can go from Target Field up until about two blocks from HCMC. That’s pretty impressive! I imagine there is a reason that The Skyway system in Minneapolis receives national attention.
Try your hardest not to push yourself into unimaginable debt (I assure you it’s quite difficult) you are literally forced to walk through Macy’s, Target, Saks, and several other stores, just to get to your final destination. **involuntarily shivers… still don’t like saying that after the movies.
All said, it is the most useful and inventive thing that this city has as far as transportation goes. And for Minneapolis, that’s really saying something!

Oh, Skyway, you save my ears from frostbite and my guts from dehydration.
Unfortunately, you are frequently consumed by businesses that *gasp* CLOSE, and you have hours that cause you to *gasp* CLOSE, and sometimes I don’t want to be drunk and outdoors. I don’t like having to take a taxi to avoid a charge of public intox. I would appreciate a bit more accommodation.
Nonetheless, I’d like to give a shout-​out to the public workers in this fair city who kick out the rabble and loiterers. I don’t like having less room to navigate around the eternally slow people who always end up in front of me while I try to get from point A to point B at somewhere near the speed of light.
Now if only we could draw lines throughout the Skyway to teach people, «hey, walk on the right and pass on the left, this isn’t England.»

Oh, dear home, how I miss you!
Most of the buildings in downtown Minneapolis are connected. You don’t have to go outside. Hot or cold, you can always stay inside.
Lots of places to eat, shop, drink, buy some flowers, get your shoes shined, etc. Also, great for downtown workers who wish to get away from their cube. Can walk around in circles and get a work out.
During the winter you can snag a spot above Nicollet Ave and watch the santas run and the parades.
For tourists there are maps available at IDS and probably some other locations.
Best thing ever!

Oh the skyway.
I had no idea what you were like until I got a job in a big ass Downtown building. But you are a daily joy that I will always appreciate.
Do I need to get a sweaty as I amble down to Target on my lunch hour in 90 degree heat? Hell no. Do I need to freeze my buns on my walk to the bank? Psh. The skyway has me covered.
Besides protecting me from the elements, the skyway offers endless shops, food spots, and people-​gawking so that when I need to get out of the office for a few minutes, I have a mini-​world to explore.
Sometimes the signs are a little confusing, as in «Courthouse this way» but then they really mean «go down this escalator and backtrack, then go that way.» Which is fine when you can really suss out your route, but kind of not so fun when you just want to get where you’re going (and could totally find it waaaay easier outside.)
All in all, I’m very glad we live in the land of ice & snow, because we have the Skyway to save us. (You could maybe navigate the Skyway while listening to Jeremy Messersmith’s song of the same name. It makes you feel very Minneapolitan.)

Um, it’s probably the best idea since sliced bread. And, what’s nice is with the Skyway, the bread ain’t frozen.
I’m going to ask Mayor Daley for a system like this in Chicago. I’m sure it’ll be an easy sell…
Besides keeping your extremities free from frostbite, it’s fun to walk around on the 2^nd floor of everything, overlooking all the freezing people below.
Sort of like one of those hamster maze things, but with shopping and coffee. Perfect. :)

Skyway–
You take the Skyway, high above the busy little one-​way
In my stupid hat and gloves at night I lie awake
Wonderin’ if I’ll sleep
Wonderin’ if we’ll meet out in the street
But you take the Skyway
It don’t move at all like a subway
It’s got bums when it’s cold like any other place
That’s warm up inside
Sittin’ down and waitin’ for a ride
Beneath the Skyway
Mmm, mmm, hmmm
Mmm, mmm, hmmm
Mmm, mmm
Mmm, Mmm…
Oh, then one day, I saw you walkin’ down that little One-​Way!
Where, the place I’d catch my ride most everyday
There wasn’t a damn thing I could do or say…
Up in the Skyway…
Skyway…
Skyway…
from Pleased to Meet Me by the Replacements
copyright. P. Westerberg