Though perhaps not intentional, this article in Hometown Life seems to reinforce the notion that bicycle commuting is a consequence and not a first choice mode of transportation.

Those attending Farmington’s 47th District Court’s Sobriety Court may ride a bike there, because they usually don’t have a driver’s license.

“We have a number of people who ride their bicycle,” said Judge Marla Parker. “There are so many costs and consequences to drunk driving.”

Consequences like what? They’re biking and getting in better shape?

Now granted, Farmington and Farmington Hills are two of the worst places to ride a bike in Southeast Michigan. Neither city has made any notable effort to become more bike friendly except for a short segment of bike lane along one side of Powers Road. (Yes, having two wide lanes instead would be the safer design.)

Farmington is doing streetscaping along Grand River. They’re adding bike racks and putting Grand River on a Road Diet, but are not adding bike lanes.

The Farmington Hills master plan (Vilican Leman & Associates) appears to ignore best practices for bicycle planning and suggests sidepaths. There’s no excuse for this in 2009.

Also, Farmington Hills also paid Hooke De Jong $89K in 2007 for a Sustainability Study that failed to consider bicycles as a mode of transportation. Instead the study said, “Bicycle paths add to the attractiveness of the city, appealing to families, while signaling a resident friendly community. Bicycle paths contribute positively to the community’s environment and image.”

At least Judge Parker consider bicycles to be transportation.

Tags: Farmington, Farmington Hills, Planning

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under General bike news, Planning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.