Could bikes play a role in disaster relief? Exercise puts it to the test

There's an international winter cycling conference going on this week in Minneapolis and St. Paul. It's the first time the gathering is being held in the U.S.

Some participants will hit snow-covered Twin Cities streets Wednesday morning, for what's being billed as an exercise in disaster relief.

Bikes are not typically used for transportation by first responders. But organizers of the exercise want to challenge that notion.

MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with Steve Durrant, who's with the firm Alta Planning and Design, which is organizing the winter disaster relief exercise.