Minnesota delegation keeps busy between DNC sessions in Denver

Mayor RT Rybak led a bicycle tour through downtown Denver Tuesday to highlight that city's bike sharing program.

"It's a system that we'll have during the Republican National Convention where bikes will be the best way to get around," Rybak told local reporters, "But it's also something we're going to set up on an ongoing bases because Minneapolis is the number two bike city in the country and we want more bikes on the street and far fewer cars."

The Denver system has 1,000 bicycle that can be checked out with the swipe of a debit-style card.

"If these bikes weren't here," Rybak remarked, "There would be one thousand more cars congesting these streets, making it harder to get around."

Sheila Jackson-Lee drops by

The delegation started its day with a visit from Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who is an emerging figure in the Demcoratic party.

She has become such a rock star in the party, with her speeches often carried on C-SPAN, she had a hard time getting out of the hotel where Minnesota delegates are housed.

At least 20 people asked to pose for snapshots with Jackson-Lee. And she, in turn, was impressed with the snapshot Minnesota is sending to the nation with its most diverse delegation ever.

"This is a potpouri, this is United Nations," Jackson said of the faces that greeted her at the Tuesday morning breakfast.

"This is why we listen to Minnesota, wny Minnesota is such an important state."

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

(Copyright 2008 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)

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