m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Complete Streets legislation introduced in Michigan House

    Two bills were introduced in the Michigan House yesterday which would require all Michigan road agencies to adopt Complete Streets policies within two years as a condition for receiving transportation dollars.

    An excerpt from House Bill 6151

    SEC. 10P. (1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

    (A) “COMPLETE STREET” MEANS A ROADWAY OR AN INTERCONNECTED NETWORK OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES THAT ACCOMMODATES ALL USERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, AND THAT ENABLES ALL USERS TO USE THE ROADWAY SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

    (B) “COMPLETE STREETS POLICY” MEANS A STATE OR LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE, OR POLICY THAT ENSURES BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:

    (i) THE ADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION, IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF ALL USERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, PUBLIC TRANSIT USERS, CHILDREN, OLDER INDIVIDUALS, MOTORISTS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

    (ii) THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF ALL USERS IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO AND COORDINATE WITH LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES.

    (2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT, LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT RECEIVE APPROPRIATIONS UNDER THIS ACT SHALL ADOPT COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES. THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES SHALL ADOPT COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES NO LATER THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AMENDATORY ACT THAT ADDED THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES AND MUNICIPALITIES SHALL ADHERE TO THE ADOPTED COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE POLITICAL JURISDICTION WITHIN WHICH THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

    The bill does carve exceptions, but they seem to be based on the same reasonable exceptions listed in the U.S. DOT recommended bicycle and walking policy statement.

    Also, the bill does create a Complete Streets Advisory Council at the state level to “assist local road agencies and municipalities with implementation of Complete Streets Policies.”

    House Bill 6152 would update Michigan’s planning enabling act by adding non-motorized transportation, Complete Streets, traffic calming and more as required elements of a municipal master plan.

    If passed, this sweeping and profound legislation would clearly put Michigan on the right track by supporting active transportation and building livable communities.

    What action can you take? The Michigan Complete Streets Coalition will likely have some recommend plan in the near future and we’ll be sure to pass it along.

  • Opening Michigan roads to roller skis

    In many Michigan communities, it’s against local ordinance to roller skate, skateboard, inline skate, or roller ski on roads. There’s language in the Uniform Traffic Code (UTC) against it.

    R 28.1204 Rule 204. Use of coasters, roller skates, and similar devices restricted; violation as civil infraction.

    (1) A person who is riding in, or by means of, any coasters, toy vehicle, or similar device shall not go on any roadway, except while crossing a street on a crosswalk. When crossing a street on a crosswalk, the person shall be granted all of the rights, and shall be subject to all of the duties, applicable to pedestrians.

    (2) A person who is on a skateboard or roller skates, including in-line skates, shall be considered a pedestrian and is subject to all of the rights and duties of a pedestrian, except as provided in subrule (3) of this rule.

    (3) The traffic engineer may designate those roadways and areas where the use of skateboards, roller skates, or in-line skates are prohibited and shall designate these areas through the posting of appropriate signs.

    (4) A person who violates this rule is responsible for a civil infraction.

    State Representative Steve Lindberg has introduced legislation (House Bill 6125) which would allow roller skiing on Michigan roads (and in bike lanes) albeit with numerous restrictions. Given today’s lighting technology, it’s unclear one couldn’t roller ski on roads at night if properly lighting were used.

    SEC. 660E. (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (2), A PERSON MAY USE ROLLER SKIS ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE AND IN AREAS AND ON PATHS SET ASIDE FOR THE USE OF BICYCLES AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION. A PERSON WHO USES ROLLER SKIS SHALL DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

    (A) ONLY USE ROLLER SKIS DURING THE DAYTIME BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET.

    (B) ONLY USE ROLLER SKIS ON A STREET, HIGHWAY, PATH, OR OTHER AREA THAT IS OPEN TO PUBLIC USE BY BICYCLISTS AND ROLLER SKIERS.

    (C) USE A BICYCLE LANE OR THE SHOULDER OF A STREET OR HIGHWAY, IF AVAILABLE.

    (D) TRAVEL ON A STREET, HIGHWAY, PATH, OR OTHER AREA IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS VEHICULAR TRAVEL.

    (E) TRAVEL ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF A STREET, HIGHWAY, PATH, OR AREA.

    (F) REFRAIN FROM UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT WHEN BEING PASSED BY A MOTOR VEHICLE.

    (G) PROCEED IN SINGLE FILE, EXCEPT WHEN PASSING.

    (H) WEAR A PROPERLY SECURED HELMET ON HIS OR HER HEAD.

    (I) WEAR CLOTHING BEARING OR CONTAINING REFLECTING MATERIAL.

    (2) A LOCAL UNIT OF GOVERNMENT MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE USE OF ROLLER SKIS AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (1) ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, PATHS, AND OTHER AREAS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION.

    It seems silly to allow roller skis, something few people do, while ignoring skating, which many people do. Then again, Lindberg does hail from the U.P.

    The bill has been sent to the House Transportation Committee.

  • Save Gasoline, Ride Bicycles

    Sandra Svoboda at the Metro Times found this historical bicycle movie made in 1925 by the Detroit News.

    According to this newsreel, “Residents of Bloomfield Hills have taken up bicycle riding as a means of recreation.”

    Mrs. Warren S. Booth is highlighted. Her husband eventually became the president, publisher and chairman of the board of the Detroit News — the newspaper his grandfather James Scripps founded in 1873. So, this newsreel was more of a family movie than news.

    Still, those are some sweet bikes, riding clothes, and hats — a nice tweed ride.

  • New Bagley pedestrian bridge reconnects Mexicantown

    Yesterday, Cinco de Mayo, the new Bagley pedestrian bridge over I-75 in Detroit was officially opened. Mexicantown has been divided by I-75 for over 40 years and this biking and walking bridge helps close some of that gap.

    And it does it with style as the below photos show.

    Here are some details from the Detroit News:

    The 407-foot-long bridge is the first cable-stayed pedestrian bridge in Michigan and varies in width from 10 feet on the western approach to 31 feet on the eastern approach.

    The bridge also connects to plazas at both ends. It is adorned with 335 lights and surrounded by 900 trees, plants and shrubs.

    The Bagley Avenue Pedestrian Bridge?cost $5 million to build and is part of the $230 million Gateway Project, which provides a direct connection from I-75 and I-96 to the Ambassador Bridge.

    Mayor Bring addresses the crowd
    A large, colorful mural on the east ramp
    Michigan’s first cable-stayed ped bridge
    Cesar Chavez leads the crowd over the bridge

  • Detroit biking featured in Momentum magazine

    The current issue of Momentum (“the magazine for self-propelled people”) features Detroit.

    Following on the heals of Portland, the main article describes biking in Detroit — the conditions, culture, people and future.

    There’s also a visitor’s guide, which is helpful for all those U.S. Social Forum folks who are biking to or at least biking around Detroit this June.

    And, there’s a rider profile of Cassandra Spratling, a member of Sisters Cycling. We could not find the profile Wheelhouse Detroit co-owner Kelli Kavanaugh on-line, so you’ll want to head down to their bike shop and pick up a printed copy.

    We really like this Momentum article and hope it brings a bit more national recognition for some of America’s best urban biking.

    Disclaimer: We’re absolutely biased. We wrote the article.